The Start of Instacart

Millions of years ago, deep inside the lush shadowy green flora of Africa, the ancestors of gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans mingled with one another. Just like us, these primates had piercing eyes that could see a plethora of colors, nimble digits that could manipulate numerous tools, and complex minds that could outwit the remaining crop of animals in the rainforest. Throughout the years, this lineage sprouted species of animals with sly brains; species that didn’t need to be the fastest nor the strongest of their respective ecosystems. Remember that Mother Nature rewards adaptability and punishes stagnation. The only constant is change.

In the wild, the law of the land is survival and reproduction. Prey, parasites, predators, scavengers, and photosynthesizers all know this. The rule is to eat and avoid getting eaten. Prey play hide-and-seek. Parasites parasite for nourishment. Predators enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Scavengers scavenge for carcasses. Photosynthesizers use photosynthesis for energy. No matter what role an organism fits into, it can’t pass on its genes if it’s dead. Thou shall be fruitful and multiply, else thou shall be cast into oblivion. Indeed, a bloodline ends with its first members that fail to produce offspring.

With respect to the food chain, most species of primates are both prey and predators. The same monkey that consumes crunchy crickets must avoid being clutched by the crusty caiman. Before advanced civilizations came into existence, humans were both the hunters and the hunted. During the Ice Age, for example, we hunted wooly mammoths to complete extinction and ran away from saber-toothed tigers for continual existence. For most of human history, we were at the mercy of the natural environment, just like every other organism on Earth.

Once humans could raise livestock and grow groups of plants, a significant historical turning point occurred. We started to seize control of the environment. The life cycles of bovines, fowls, and swine would end right on our fine china. Grains could be grown to make baked goods and pasta. This dominance over the land eventually led to the development of towns and cities. No longer did we have to worry about lions, tigers, or bears. We therefore shifted our focus into learning how to live among each other en masse.

As towns and cities formed, so did markets. People would trade resources with each other; ten chickens for a cow, a sword for a shield, a pair of shoes for a shirt and shorts. Not being supernatural and immortal, humans need materials to survive. Civilized people need shelter and clothes. All people need water. All living things need an energy source.

While civilization was still in its infancy, trading livestock was a tedious task. Remember that, at this point in history, automobiles won’t be built for another hundred plus years. Also, not everyone had access to a horse. As a result, people locomoted the best way they knew how in those times – putting one foot in front of the other. However, they didn’t think this was tedious. They thought nothing of the endeavor, no differently than an orca thinks of being in the ocean. From the perspective of the townsfolk, this was normal.

Centuries later, the first cars were created. These vehicles became a hit. People adored the shortened commute to and from markets. Saved time could be dedicated towards other activities – cooking, gardening, neighborhood parties, etc. To accommodate this new societal advancement, grocery stores became more spacious and allotted land for parking.

On an average day, people could shop for groceries without being cramped. You know the saying, “Once you go [blank], you can never go back,” right? This applies to speed. If you’re able to shop for groceries, you won’t seriously consider going out into the woods daily to hunt for game and look for berries. You, along with every other living being on this planet, are designed to expend only the energy you need to keep you alive. You are not designed to needlessly waste energy for giggles. Evolution does not function this way.

Until the 1960s, all shopping was done in-person. You had to leave your house to purchase any item you wanted. Like it or not, this was the norm. The first ever commercial online service was CompuServe. Decades afterwards, Amazon and eBay would each complete a million transactions online. For the two corporations, business was booming. Looking to expand their horizons, several other companies such as, but not limited to, PayPal, Google, and Apple would follow suit.

This is all fine and dandy, but what about food? Will there ever be a time that people can run their weekly errands without shoes or feet? Yes, there will. Fast forward to the year 2015 and go to San Francisco where a small start-up called Instacart is located. As the years went by, the grocery delivery service grew splendidly. A major reason for the company’s success is simple. San Francisco is a major metropolitan city. People in densely populated areas live busy lives. For a fast-paced lifestyle, time efficiency is important. Capitalizing on people’s desire to save time, along with the concept of the “gig economy,” Instacart was bound to become a success from its inception.

While that may be obvious, a less known fact is that bananas are the most sold item on the platform. Who would have thought? You’d think the most popular item would be a common staple like bread or butter.

Nevertheless, you can purchase bread and butter via Instacart. Click here.