DoorDash Frames $17 Billion Instacart Deal as Small-Business Shield Amid Antitrust Scrutiny

DoorDash is positioning its $17 billion acquisition of Instacart as a means to help small retailers compete against Amazon and Walmart, launching the "Shop Local Together" campaign on Thursday ahead of a potential FTC review. The companies said the combined entity would offer more resources, reach and technology to help brick-and-mortar grocers counter e-commerce giants, and claimed merging their subscription fees would save consumers $100 million annually. They also plan to cancel exclusivity agreements, letting local grocers work with any delivery platform. The deal is likely to clear federal antitrust review under the Trump administration but faces state and local opposition. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized the deal Thursday, citing higher prices and economic inequality. DoorDash recently settled lawsuits with New York City over delivery-worker pay and with Chicago over deceptive practices.