DoorDash overtakes rivals to become no 1 in US grocery and retail orders
Subscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest retail news.
DoorDash has moved beyond restaurant delivery to become the leading third party marketplace in grocery and retail order volume in the US as of December 2025, according to YipitData. The milestone reflects a broader shift in consumer behavior as everyday commerce moves further online and local merchants seek new channels to capture demand.
The company’s expansion is rooted in a simple proposition. When local businesses gain access to more customers, they grow. By connecting consumers to neighborhood grocers, national chains and specialty retailers, DoorDash positions itself as infrastructure for local commerce rather than merely a delivery app.
In 2025, that infrastructure reached new scale. Merchant partnerships expanded across grocery, convenience, alcohol and general retail. The result was not only higher order volume but deeper integration into routine shopping occasions.
Scale as a Growth Engine for Merchants
Momentum accelerated through a series of new partnerships. Kroger joined the platform in 2025, giving DoorDash relationships with six of the 10 largest food retailers on Progressive Grocer’s Top 100 list in North America. During 2025 and into early 2026, the company added 33 additional US grocery partners, ranging from local operators such as Citarella and Mollie Stone’s to regional chains including Schnucks and Northeast Grocers.
Retail categories also broadened. DSW, Family Dollar, Old Navy and PacSun joined the Marketplace, expanding selection in footwear, apparel and value essentials. DoorDash introduced new verticals such as toys and games, books and sexual wellness products, reinforcing its ambition to serve as a one stop destination for everyday needs.
Seasonal demand illustrates how scale converts into incremental sales. During Valentine’s Day weekend in 2026, more than one third of online flower delivery orders were placed on DoorDash, according to YipitData. On both Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day in 2025, consumers placed more than 1 million grocery, convenience, retail and alcohol orders each day on the platform in the US.
For merchants, these concentrated demand spikes offer access to high intent shoppers without requiring incremental marketing spend. DoorDash effectively aggregates traffic and distributes it across participating stores.
The company has also expanded SNAP EBT payment capabilities for on demand delivery. More than 50,000 stores now accept SNAP EBT through DoorDash, including Dierbergs Markets, Lowes Foods, New Seasons Market, Rouses Markets, Wegmans Food Markets Inc and Weis Markets. The move broadens access to online grocery while helping retailers reach underserved customers.
Bringing New Consumers Online
Third party data indicates DoorDash holds one of the highest shares of new to industry consumers across grocery and retail. For many shoppers placing their first online order for routine household items, the platform serves as the entry point.
This positioning has strategic implications. Winning customers early in their digital shopping journey can create durable habits. As consumers grow comfortable ordering weekly staples, they are more likely to expand into adjacent categories such as apparel, gifts or specialty foods.
More than 30 percent of monthly active users in the US now shop across grocery and retail categories, according to internal company data. Tens of thousands of retail stores are available on the platform nationwide, increasing the likelihood that consumers consolidate multiple needs into a single order.
DoorDash has also integrated grocery ordering into ChatGPT, allowing users to move from recipe inspiration to a completed cart with delivery from local or national grocers. The feature positions DoorDash earlier in the decision funnel, capturing intent at the moment of meal planning rather than at checkout alone.
The competitive landscape remains dynamic, with retailers investing in their own e commerce capabilities and alternative marketplaces vying for share. Yet DoorDash’s scale provides network effects. More merchants attract more consumers, which in turn draws additional merchants.
As everyday commerce fragments across channels, the ability to aggregate demand and provide reliable logistics becomes a critical differentiator. DoorDash’s leadership in US grocery and retail order volume signals that delivery platforms are no longer peripheral to retail. They are increasingly central to how consumers shop and how merchants grow.