Regulatory review is the central open question, and the details of any filing are not yet public. The American Economic Liberties Project is urging regulators to block the deal, arguing the combined company would control nearly 60% of the third-party grocery delivery market. Analysts expect the Federal Trade Commission to examine competition and grocery pricing effects. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly opposed the deal, saying, "Corporate consolidation means higher prices, harsher exploitation, and greater economic inequality for New Yorkers." Whether the deal's promised benefits, including faster deliveries and lower costs, materialize has not been tested.
For attorneys, the deal's review path is the item to track. Watch for an FTC second request or other agency action, state-level challenges, and any scrutiny of the market share claims. Labor counsel should note the terms: DoorDash will keep the Instacart brand and app, and Instacart's roughly 9 million independent shoppers will be able to choose whether to take DoorDash orders or work only through Instacart. Consumer terms also matter. Instacart's network covers nearly 100,000 stores, DoorDash would add more than 50,000 more, and DashPass and Instacart+ members will move to a single membership fee instead of two. Competitive pressure from Walmart and Amazon in same-day and one-hour grocery delivery is the backdrop for regulators weighing the deal.