PROVIDENCE, R.I. — United Natural Foods Inc. has entered into a reseller agreement with DoorDash with the aim of bringing on-demand grocery delivery solutions to independent retailers nationwide through the DoorDash marketplace.

“Our relationship with DoorDash will make it easier for independent retailers to offer online grocery ordering and delivery,” UNFI chief strategy and innovation officer Matt Whitney said. “We know demand for this functionality continues to be very strong, and to remain competitive retailers need solutions that offer simple installation and avoid extra labor costs. As the leading last-mile logistics company, DoorDash already has the extensive logistics network in place for grocers to leverage.”

UNFI’s arrangement with DoorDash will give local grocers the opportunity to leverage the DoorDash platform to build an e-commerce and delivery offering that meets the needs of their customer base while enabling UNFI to expand its end-to-end and last-mile-delivery services to its suite of eCommerce solutions for retailers of all sizes, the companies said. With grocery delivery through DoorDash, consumers can order their groceries and essentials on DoorDash’s marketplace app and website with no time slot, queues, or minimum order size required.

The agreement is meant to help independent grocery retailers grow their businesses, attract new shoppers and retain their current customer base with the ability to service more online customers in hard-to-reach areas, UNFI said. The combination of increased convenience and a wider delivery area should drive greater loyalty and increased basket size among online shoppers.

“We are excited to work with UNFI to empower local grocers to build an e-commerce and delivery offering that will give customers access to robust local grocery selection on the DoorDash app,” said Fuad Hannon, Vice President of New Verticals at DoorDash. “We are proud to play a part in helping local grocers grow their businesses and helping consumers access convenient, on-demand grocery delivery from their local neighborhoods.”

UNFI says it offers a comprehensive suite of services for independent retailers, helping them succeed by saving them money and simplifying their operations. Services offered range from eCommerce solutions to pricing support and store remodels, allowing retailers to keep pace with the changing landscape of grocery and stay focused on what matters most: their competition and their customers.