By: Whitney Barnes, Director of Communications and Advocacy
Kelley Foxx brought nearly 20 years relationship building, risk mitigation strategy development and stakeholder engagement when he joined the Instacart team as the company’s Public Policy Manager this year.
His interesting career path includes roles as the Anchor Relationship Manager for World Business Chicago (WBC) and Senior Manager of Government Partnerships for Bird.
“My time at WBC as a relationship manager allowed me to engage with business leaders across the Chicagoland area in an effort to help them diversify their spend to benefit minority contractors —a fulfilling and challenging position to say the least,” Foxx said.
Foxx was introduced to the tech world through his position with the cutting-edge scooter company Bird.
“The speed and innovation of the tech industry is a sight to behold,” Foxx said. “There are so many talented, passionate and driven folks who push the edge of what’s possible in an effort to address the problems we encounter in our daily lives. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside many of the folks I now count as friends.”
“At Instacart, our mission is to create a world where everyone has access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together,” Foxx said
As the Public Policy Manager responsible for the markets within the midwestern region of the U.S. and Canada, Foxx uses his role to advocate for both those who use the service as a convenient way to put food on the table for their families, and for those who use the service because they are unable to go to the grocery store themselves for a whole host of reasons.
“I stand in the gap to use my knowledge and expertise to expand opportunities for workers across all demographics, ethnicities, and backgrounds,” Foxx said. “I take my role seriously and the importance of protecting those communities that rely on independent workers and app-based services for their essential needs.”
Like the rest of the planet, Instacart has been forced to change, re-work and adapt in 2020. Unlike many other services, Instacart has become an essential service for millions of families relying on them to deliver their groceries and household goods amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The great need for their services has resulted in significant impacts to their business and the company has had to expand to meet the demand. In response, they are growing the shopper community to meet the surge in customer demand.
“While the pandemic has been difficult for us all, it’s particularly acute for those in under resourced communities,” Foxx said. “While we are always working to make the lives of those with whom we interact better, we have dedicated a considerable amount of effort toward ensuring food for all.”
This summer, Instacart partnered with Local Market and Special Service Area #42 Commissioner Amena Karim to help reduce the food desert on Chicago’s South Side. In the fall, they announced a partnership with ALDI to introduce EBT SNAP payments for same-day online grocery delivery and pickup.
“For the first time ever, EBT SNAP participants are now able to access fresh food and pantry staples via same-day delivery and pickup from Instacart,” Foxx said.
In October, Instacart rolled out their Senior Support Service which has proven to be a valuable tool for individuals over 60 who not only want to limit in-person visits to grocery stores during the pandemic, but also benefit from extra assistance with adopting online grocery delivery.
They have more than 150 dedicated Care Specialists ready to assist with a range of high-touch services — from setting up an account, to filling a virtual cart and placing a first order, to providing tutorials on key Instacart features like setting preferred replacements and chatting with their shopper, to troubleshooting problems or questions about an existing order.
“Throughout this pandemic, the health and safety of our shoppers has, and continues to be, our number one priority,” Foxx said. “We’ve invested more than $20 million to support the health and safety of shoppers, including introducing new health guidelines and sick leave policies, as well as pay for those affected by COVID-19. We are continually looking at ways to support the shopper community during this time.”
For instance, as so many schools transitioned to online formats, here in Illinois, Instacart offered financial assistance for September to eligible shoppers who serve as a child’s primary caregiver to help navigate this new normal.
As a result of the increase in consumer demand this year, Instacart has seen an influx of new partners turning to the platform for their same-day delivery needs. They have recently welcomed another beloved grocer — Meijer — to the Instacart marketplace.
“Meijer pioneered the ‘one-stop shopping’ concept, and we’re excited to welcome them to our marketplace so customers can access everything they need from the comfort and safety of their home,” Foxx said.
As the COVID-19 crisis continues, customers are turning to Instacart for a broader selection of items available for fast delivery.
“While grocery remains our foundation and focus, over the past year we’ve expanded with new and existing partners to provide greater selection and choice for customers,” Foxx said.
The company has seen increased demand for the same-day delivery of electronics and technology products on Instacart as people nationwide settle into remote work and distance learning routines.
Today, Instacart has the largest alcohol delivery service in North America and offers office supplies with Staples in both the U.S. and Canada. They also offer: household items, decor and essentials delivery with Walmart, Big Lots and Bed, Bath & Beyond, pet supply delivery with Petco, baby necessities with Buy Buy Baby, beauty, health and wellness goods with Sephora and The Vitamin Shoppe, convenience items with 7-Eleven, and pharmacy delivery from CVS and Rite Aid as well as prescriptions with Costco.
“To help meet demand and offer more selection and choice for customers, we continue to bring new partners to the platform to meet consumer needs,” Foxx said.
Besides a wealth of experience, his extensive civic ties, general excitement for improving his community and the support of his family have allowed Foxx to flourish in the role in a time when the world needed the company the most.
“I’m, first and foremost, a husband and father,” said Foxx, who has four daughters with his wife, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. “I was fortunate enough to have married up to a beautiful, brilliant and talented woman.”
His passion to make the world a better place to raise his family has him constantly looking forward for innovation and improvement. Though his first year with the company was one for the record books, Foxx is excited for all they can build upon in the years to come.
“We are working to educate stakeholders on the issues and have a listening ear for new ideas to solve society’s most pressing problems,” Foxx said. “I’m very proud of what we have been able to accomplish so far and I’m looking forward to doing even more in 2021.”