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DoorDash learns how to play fetch with new PetSmart partnership

Similarly to food and groceries, pet food and other items are necessary and recurring purchases for pet owners. Photo: Lynne Gilbert/Getty Images

DoorDash is branching out from food and grocery delivery with a new partnership with PetSmart to provide same-day delivery in more than 1,400 stores.

Why it matters: DoorDash is reportedly gearing up to go public soon (it confidentially filed with regulators for an IPO in February). Expanding its business could broaden the company's appeal to investors.

Background: DoorDash is far from the first company to turn to non-food retail in search of additional revenue streams.

  • Uber provided delivery services to retailers and merchants for a few years before shuttering its UberEverything business, while Postmates has inked a number of deals with the likes of Apple’s stores.
  • DoorDash itself has a bit of experience with delivering drugstore items via its partnerships with Walgreens and Walmart, and delivering flowers through its delivery service for businesses.

Between the lines: Despite food delivery's boom during the current pandemic as Americans stay home much more, it's probably wise for a company like DoorDash to expand into additional categories.

  • Similarly to food and groceries, pet food and other items are necessary and recurring purchases for pet owners.

Go deeper: DoorDash CEO Tony Xu on the employee vs. contractor debate

Go deeper

Joann Muller, author of Navigate
Nov 21, 2020 - Economy & Business

Pandemic pooches fly in style

Photo illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios. Photo: Reg Speller/Getty Images    

One travel job that is booming during the pandemic is pet delivery specialist.

Why it matters: "A desperate nation needs puppies," writes the Wall Street Journal. Pet adoptions and sales have soared during the pandemic, but getting pets to their new homes sometimes requires a long journey on an airplane.

Deep Dive (8 min. read)Arrow
Alayna Treene, Shawna Chen
2 mins ago - Politics & Policy

McConnell circulates revised GOP coronavirus stimulus plan

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) talks with reporters in the Mansfield Room at the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Image

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell circulated a new framework for coronavirus stimulus legislation to Republican members on Tuesday that would establish a fresh round of funding for the small business Paycheck Protection Program as well as widespread liability protections, according to a copy of the plan obtained by Axios.

Driving the news: The revised GOP relief draft comes after McConnell's meeting with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, during which they went over in detail what provisions would get backing from President Trump.

Read the framework (<1 min. read)Arrow
Zachary Basu, Alayna Treene
27 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Barr appoints special counsel to continue investigating origins of Russia probe

Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Attorney General Bill Barr told the AP on Tuesday he appointed veteran prosecutor John Durham as a special counsel on Oct. 19 to continue investigating the origins of the FBI's 2016 probe into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Why it matters: It's an extra layer of protection for Durham to continue investigating possible misconduct by Obama-era intelligence officials past Joe Biden's inauguration as president.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow