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Yelitza Esteva, a contractor for Instacart, bagging groceries for an order in Florida this month. Photo by AP

Instacart Swings to First Profit as Pandemic Fuels Surge in Grocery Delivery

Photo: Yelitza Esteva, a contractor for Instacart, bagging groceries for an order in Florida this month. Photo by AP

Instacart’s financial picture has been completely redrawn by the pandemic.

In recent weeks, the online grocery delivery service has turned profitable for the first time ever, thanks to skyrocketing sales. Instacart sold about $700 million worth of groceries per week in the first two weeks of April, up 450% on sales in December, according to a person familiar with its performance. 

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