DoorDash reportedly held exploratory sale talks with Instacart

DoorDash discussed buying Instacart

Instacart reportedly held preliminary talks with DoorDash and Uber about selling the grocery-delivery platform, according to reporting published by PYMNTS. The talks were exploratory, and no agreement was reached. Instacart has also worked with an investment bank while considering a sale, but an Instacart spokesperson declined to comment and PYMNTS said Uber and DoorDash had not responded to requests for comment.

Uber talks reportedly ended

The earlier reporting behind the story said Instacart also discussed a possible deal with Uber, although those talks were no longer ongoing. Instacart reportedly held sale talks with DoorDash and other companies as it explored its options, but the evidence reviewed does not establish a completed sale or an active agreement with either prospective buyer.

Revenue growth trails larger rivals

Instacart’s annual revenue growth slowed to 11% in both 2024 and 2025, compared with 19% in 2023, PYMNTS reported. Over the same 2024-to-2025 period, DoorDash’s revenue increased 28% and Uber’s rose 18%, according to the report.

Instacart’s second-quarter revenue increased 14% to $1 billion, while the company generated $480 million in free cash flow. These figures provide financial context for Instacart’s reported consideration of a sale, but the reviewed reporting does not identify a proposed price or describe any cash payment from DoorDash or Uber.

Market reaction followed the reports

Instacart’s shares rose more than 9.2% on Friday after the sale discussions were reported, while shares of Uber and DoorDash declined, earlier reporting said. The reactions reflected investor trading following the reports; they did not confirm that either company had reached an agreement to acquire Instacart.

No transaction terms disclosed

The reviewed reporting says Instacart contacted potential rivals about purchasing its platform, but it does not establish a buyer, seller or transfer of ownership. DoorDash’s role was limited to reported preliminary acquisition talks with Instacart; no cash payer, cash recipient, purchase price, share-transfer arrangement, regulatory approval or completion condition was disclosed.

Instacart had a market capitalization of more than $13 billion when the earlier reports were published. Any further sale process, renewed negotiations or regulatory review would remain unconfirmed unless and until the companies or another authoritative party announce a formal agreement.