Dive Brief:

• PetSmart will offer on-demand, same-day delivery through DoorDash at more than 1,400 of its locations across the U.S., according to a company press release emailed to Retail Dive.

• Customers can order products for same-day delivery through the PetSmart mobile app or website. PetSmart will use DoorDash Drive, the delivery company's fulfillment platform which directly transports items for businesses, to execute the deliveries, per the company statement. 

• Shoppers can place PetSmart same-day delivery orders for free through Sept. 20. Deliveries are contactless, with customers designating their preferred location for product drop-off, the company said.

Dive Insight:

PetSmart joins a growing list of retailers enlisting DoorDash for its delivery services. Besides adding stores like 7-Eleven and Walgreens to its roster, the delivery platform also ventured into managing and delivering its own inventory with the recent launch of its digital convenience store service, DashMart. 

"The pandemic has pulled the future forward for retail, where changes that once might have taken three years have instead happened in three months," Casey North, vice president of DoorDash Drive, said in a statement. "We're thrilled to partner with PetSmart, marking our entry into the pet retail space, to power their store-to-door delivery experience and provide pet owners with the animal essentials they need on demand."

Pet stores overall have seen a boost due to the pandemic, with shoppers still willing to spend on their animal companions. Pet retailers, like grocery stores, remained open even as nonessential retailers temporarily shut this spring, either voluntarily or by government mandate, to help stop the spread of COVID-19. 

"We understand that our customers need many different shopping options during this time, so ensuring they can make those purchases however they need is important to us," Will Smith, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of PetSmart, said in a statement.