The most trusted grocery delivery service is…

Amazon leads in many aspects of omnichannel commerce, but not when it comes to online grocery delivery.

According to a new study of 501 U.S. consumers by business website The Manifest, more than half (53%) of respondents said they most trust Instacart and its partner companies to safely deliver their online grocery orders. Amazon Fresh trailed in a distant second place with selection by about one-fifth (21%) of respondents.

Other responses included Peapod (5%) and Walmart (4%). Peapod parent Stop & Shop is replacing the service with direct delivery via the Stop & Shop site or app.

More than half (52%) of respondents said the main benefit of grocery delivery services is saving time. Other popular benefits include being safe during the pandemic (11%) and reducing parking and gas costs (10%). Conversely, almost one-quarter of respondents (22%) say their main challenge with grocery delivery service is the extra fees for service and delivery. Others noted bad produce (17%) and inconvenient drop-off times (11%).

Sixty-two percent of respondents are continuing to shop in-store for their groceries. Regardless of whether people are using grocery delivery services or shopping in the store, the survey indicates spending at grocery stores has changed as a result of COVID-19. More than half of respondents (53%) said their grocery spending changed, with 38% spending more. Forty-seven percent report no change in spending since the outset of the pandemic.