Instacart has announced new features for its Caper Carts, aiming to make grocery shopping more affordable and efficient. The enhancements include the ability for customers to track which items are eligible for Electronic Benefits Transfer for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (EBT SNAP), clip digital coupons, earn cash back through Cart Cash rewards, and sign up for store loyalty programs—all directly from the cart’s built-in screen.
David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart, said: “Caper Carts are transforming everyday grocery trips into a more affordable, rewarding, and personalized experience for customers. With the ability to track EBT SNAP eligibility, access digital coupons, and sign up for loyalty programs directly on the cart, we’re giving customers powerful new ways to save right in the aisle. Retailers are also seeing how Caper Carts drive omnichannel purchases, grow basket size, and strengthen loyalty. In just the last year, we’ve nearly tripled the number of stores with Caper Carts spanning nearly 100 cities across 15 states, underscoring the growing demand to bring digital convenience into the grocery aisles.”
The company reports that these carts now allow users to see both EBT SNAP-eligible and non-eligible totals in real time as they shop. This helps reduce surprises at checkout and ensures shoppers can maximize their benefits. When checking out, shoppers scan a barcode on the cart’s screen at the register before finalizing payment with their EBT SNAP card.
Instacart was an early adopter of EBT SNAP acceptance online beginning in 2020 and is now available in all 50 states plus Washington D.C., reaching almost all households that use this benefit by partnering with over 30,000 stores nationwide.
Cart Cash is another feature being introduced that allows shoppers to earn rewards by clipping exclusive coupons or completing milestones such as making three in-store purchases within a month. Customers can redeem these rewards during checkout after joining a retailer’s loyalty program—an action that can be completed using either a phone number or QR code on the cart’s display.
Retailers have seen notable results from these initiatives; one major retailer reported that one out of four new users signed up for its loyalty program via a Caper Cart. Once enrolled in a loyalty program, customers gain access to additional features like Buy It Again (which highlights previously purchased items) and a digital shopping list where coupons or products can be saved for future visits.
Caper Cart’s updates also focus on omnichannel savings—helping customers find deals before their visit through email or text reminders about promotions if they opt in. In-store mode within Instacart-powered apps will soon deliver similar offers while navigating physical aisles. After shopping trips conclude, special discounts become available through retailers’ e-commerce platforms powered by Instacart.
The smart carts are already deployed across U.S. and international retailers such as Coles, Kroger, Schnucks, Wakefern Food Corp., McKeever’s supermarkets and others—with new features rolling out at select locations including some under Wakefern Food Corp.’s cooperative umbrella.
Tim Cosens of McKeever’s commented: “Caper Carts have made shopping more efficient for our customers, while helping them stay on budget,” adding excitement about offering tools like EBT SNAP tracking and Cart Cash to help manage budgets further.
Christopher McCrae from Wakefern Food Corp said: “When customers shop with Caper Carts our Wakefern Members want to provide them with a convenient way to access their EBT SNAP benefits. Caper Carts offer convenience and discretion letting customers monitor their running grocery bill as they shop… We continue to expand our Caper Cart footprint across more Wakefern Member stores as we believe every customer deserves a seamless personalized shopping experience.”
A video demonstrating these capabilities is available at https://instacartcorp.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/New-Caper-Carts-Savings-Capabilities-Video.mp4