DoorDash Secures Dominant Grocery Footprint in Canada with Empire Partnership
Event summary
- DoorDash has partnered with Empire Company Limited to add over 1,000 grocery stores across Canada to its platform.
- The partnership includes 12 grocery banners from Empire, representing a significant expansion of DoorDash's grocery offerings.
- DoorDash now partners with four of Canada’s five largest grocery companies by sales.
- Grocery represents a fast-growing category for DoorDash in Canada, with 25% of monthly active users engaging with grocery and retail categories in December 2025.
- A limited-time promotion offering 30% off grocery orders is being launched to coincide with the partnership.
The big picture
This partnership signifies DoorDash’s aggressive push to dominate the Canadian on-demand grocery market, capitalizing on accelerating consumer demand for convenience. Empire’s extensive network provides DoorDash with immediate scale and access to a broad customer base, but also introduces complexities in managing diverse brands and logistics. The deal underscores the broader trend of traditional retailers leveraging third-party platforms to meet evolving consumer expectations and compete in the digital age.
What we're watching
- Market Penetration
- The success of this partnership hinges on DoorDash's ability to effectively integrate Empire’s diverse banners and drive adoption among existing and new users, potentially cannibalizing in-store traffic.
- Profitability
- While expanding market share is positive, DoorDash must demonstrate that this expansion can be achieved profitably, given the competitive landscape and ongoing pressure on delivery margins.
- Competitive Response
- Other grocery chains and delivery platforms will likely respond to this consolidation, potentially triggering a price war or further partnerships that could impact DoorDash’s long-term market position.
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