Product Categorization for Shipt

Understanding Shipt Product Categories

Shipt has revolutionized the grocery delivery industry by connecting shoppers with personal shoppers who hand-pick items from local stores and deliver them to customers' doors, often within an hour of ordering. Founded in 2014 and acquired by Target Corporation in 2017, Shipt has grown to serve millions of customers across the United States through partnerships with major retailers including Target, Meijer, H-E-B, Petco, CVS, and many regional grocery chains. Understanding Shipt's product categorization system is essential for brands and retailers who want to maximize visibility on this increasingly important same-day delivery platform.

The Shipt marketplace operates differently from traditional e-commerce platforms because products are sourced from physical retail locations rather than centralized warehouses. This means product categorization must align not only with Shipt's digital taxonomy but also with how items are organized in partner stores. Our AI categorization system understands these dual requirements, ensuring products are properly classified for both the digital shopping experience and the physical picking process that Shipt shoppers follow in stores.

Shipt's category structure is designed with the grocery shopping experience in mind, organizing products in intuitive ways that mirror how customers naturally think about their shopping needs. The top-level categories include Fresh Produce, Meat and Seafood, Dairy and Eggs, Frozen Foods, Pantry Staples, Beverages, Snacks and Candy, Bakery, Deli, Health and Beauty, Household Essentials, Baby Care, Pet Supplies, and Alcohol where available. Each of these categories branches into more specific subcategories that help customers quickly find exactly what they need.

One of the unique aspects of Shipt categorization is the emphasis on freshness and quality indicators. For perishable items like produce, meat, and dairy, the categorization system accommodates special handling requirements and helps Shipt shoppers understand which items need careful temperature management during the delivery process. Our API includes freshness metadata in categorization responses, helping retailers properly flag items that require special handling during the same-day delivery window.

The platform's integration with Target has made it particularly important for consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands to understand Shipt categorization. Products sold through Target's same-day delivery option via Shipt must be properly categorized to appear in relevant searches and browse experiences. Our system is trained on Target's specific category requirements within the Shipt ecosystem, ensuring products are optimally positioned for discovery by Target shoppers using the Shipt service.

Shipt Category Structure

Shipt's category taxonomy reflects the way modern consumers shop for groceries and household essentials. The structure prioritizes discoverability and convenience, making it easy for customers to browse by department or search for specific items. Understanding this structure is crucial for product managers and data teams responsible for catalog optimization on the Shipt platform.

The grocery categories form the core of Shipt's taxonomy. Fresh Produce encompasses fruits, vegetables, herbs, and prepared salads, with organic variants prominently featured. Meat and Seafood covers fresh cuts, prepared proteins, and plant-based alternatives that have become increasingly popular. Dairy and Eggs includes not just traditional dairy products but also the growing array of plant-based milk, cheese, and egg alternatives. These categories require particularly careful classification because shoppers often filter by specific attributes like organic certification or dietary restrictions.

Core Shipt Categories

Beyond the fresh departments, Shipt organizes shelf-stable products into logical groupings that mirror traditional grocery store layouts. Pantry Staples includes everything from canned goods and pasta to cooking oils and baking supplies. This category is particularly broad and requires nuanced subcategorization to ensure products appear in relevant searches. Our AI understands the difference between pasta sauce in the pantry section versus refrigerated pasta sauce in the dairy department.

The Beverages category spans water, soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages where permitted by local regulations. Shipt has specific requirements for alcohol categorization due to age verification requirements and delivery restrictions in certain areas. Health and Beauty products require careful categorization to distinguish between cosmetics, personal care items, over-the-counter medications, and vitamins and supplements, each of which has different placement requirements.

Household Essentials covers cleaning supplies, paper products, laundry care, and home organization items. Baby Care is a specialized category that demands precise classification of diapers, formula, baby food, and childcare essentials. Pet Supplies rounds out the major categories with food, treats, and care products for dogs, cats, and other companion animals. Each of these categories has its own subcategory structure optimized for the Shipt shopping experience.

API Integration for Shipt

Integrating our product categorization API with your Shipt catalog management workflow streamlines the process of getting products properly classified for same-day delivery. Whether you're a CPG brand updating product data across multiple retailers or a grocery chain preparing your inventory for Shipt integration, our API provides the accuracy and speed you need.

The API accepts standard product information including title, description, brand, UPC, and nutritional data. For grocery products, providing detailed ingredient and allergen information improves categorization accuracy and enables automatic dietary attribute detection. The response includes Shipt-specific category codes, confidence scores, and relevant product attributes that enhance searchability on the platform.

Python Integration Example

import requests
import json

def categorize_for_shipt(product_data):
    """
    Categorize a product for Shipt same-day delivery marketplace.
    Returns Shipt category and delivery attributes.
    """
    api_url = "https://api.productcategorization.com/v1/categorize"

    headers = {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }

    payload = {
        "title": product_data.get("title"),
        "description": product_data.get("description", ""),
        "brand": product_data.get("brand", ""),
        "upc": product_data.get("upc", ""),
        "ingredients": product_data.get("ingredients", ""),
        "marketplace": "shipt",
        "include_dietary_attributes": True,
        "include_storage_requirements": True,
        "return_multiple": True
    }

    response = requests.post(api_url, headers=headers, json=payload)
    result = response.json()

    shipt_category = result["categories"][0]

    return {
        "category_path": shipt_category["full_path"],
        "category_id": shipt_category["shipt_category_id"],
        "confidence": shipt_category["confidence"],
        "storage_type": shipt_category.get("storage_type", "ambient"),
        "dietary_attributes": shipt_category.get("dietary_attributes", []),
        "is_perishable": shipt_category.get("is_perishable", False)
    }

# Example usage for Shipt grocery products
products = [
    {
        "title": "Organic Baby Spinach 5oz Container",
        "brand": "Earthbound Farm",
        "description": "Fresh organic baby spinach, triple washed and ready to eat",
        "upc": "714762100258"
    },
    {
        "title": "Oat Milk Barista Edition 32 fl oz",
        "brand": "Oatly",
        "description": "Plant-based oat milk perfect for coffee and lattes",
        "upc": "752919002008"
    },
    {
        "title": "Greek Yogurt Vanilla 32oz",
        "brand": "Chobani",
        "description": "Creamy vanilla Greek yogurt, high protein",
        "upc": "894700010014"
    }
]

for product in products:
    result = categorize_for_shipt(product)
    print(f"Product: {product['title']}")
    print(f"  Category: {result['category_path']}")
    print(f"  Storage: {result['storage_type']}")
    print(f"  Perishable: {result['is_perishable']}")
    print(f"  Dietary: {result['dietary_attributes']}")
    print()

JavaScript Integration Example

const categorizeForShipt = async (productData) => {
    const response = await fetch('https://api.productcategorization.com/v1/categorize', {
        method: 'POST',
        headers: {
            'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
            'Content-Type': 'application/json'
        },
        body: JSON.stringify({
            title: productData.title,
            description: productData.description || '',
            brand: productData.brand || '',
            upc: productData.upc || '',
            marketplace: 'shipt',
            include_dietary_attributes: true,
            include_storage_requirements: true
        })
    });

    const result = await response.json();

    return {
        categoryPath: result.categories[0].full_path,
        categoryId: result.categories[0].shipt_category_id,
        confidence: result.categories[0].confidence,
        storageType: result.categories[0].storage_type || 'ambient',
        dietaryAttributes: result.categories[0].dietary_attributes || [],
        isPerishable: result.categories[0].is_perishable || false,
        requiresRefrigeration: result.categories[0].storage_type === 'refrigerated',
        requiresFreezing: result.categories[0].storage_type === 'frozen'
    };
};

// Batch categorization for grocery catalog
const categorizeGroceryCatalog = async (products) => {
    const results = await Promise.all(
        products.map(product => categorizeForShipt(product))
    );

    // Group by storage type for delivery optimization
    const grouped = results.reduce((acc, result, index) => {
        const storage = result.storageType;
        if (!acc[storage]) acc[storage] = [];
        acc[storage].push({ ...products[index], shipt: result });
        return acc;
    }, {});

    return grouped;
};

// Example: Process grocery items
const groceryItems = [
    { title: 'Whole Milk Gallon', brand: 'Horizon Organic', upc: '742365003127' },
    { title: 'Frozen Pizza Pepperoni', brand: 'DiGiorno', upc: '071921001234' },
    { title: 'Canned Black Beans 15oz', brand: 'Goya', upc: '041331025560' }
];

categorizeGroceryCatalog(groceryItems).then(console.log);

cURL Example

curl -X POST https://api.productcategorization.com/v1/categorize \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "title": "Almond Butter Creamy 16oz",
    "description": "Stone ground creamy almond butter, no added sugar",
    "brand": "Justins",
    "upc": "855188003045",
    "marketplace": "shipt",
    "include_dietary_attributes": true,
    "include_allergen_info": true
  }'

Best Practices for Shipt Categorization

Success on the Shipt platform depends on accurate product categorization that helps shoppers find items quickly and enables Shipt's personal shoppers to locate products efficiently in stores. Following these best practices ensures your products perform optimally on this same-day delivery platform.

• Accurately Flag Temperature Requirements

  Properly indicate whether products require refrigeration, freezing, or can be stored at ambient temperature. This information is critical for Shipt shoppers to maintain product quality during the delivery window and affects category placement.

• Include Dietary and Lifestyle Attributes

  Shipt shoppers frequently filter by dietary preferences like organic, gluten-free, vegan, or keto. Ensure these attributes are properly identified in your product data to maximize visibility in filtered searches.

• Provide Accurate UPC Data

  UPC codes are essential for product identification in Shipt's system and help personal shoppers locate exact items in stores. Ensure all UPC data is current and matches physical product packaging.

• Include Size and Unit Information

  Product size (ounces, count, quantity) is crucial for grocery shopping. Customers often search for specific sizes, and accurate unit data helps distinguish between similar products in different pack sizes.

• Flag Allergen Information

  Food allergens must be accurately represented for customer safety and proper categorization. Our API can extract allergen information from ingredient lists to ensure proper labeling.

• Keep Inventory Data Current

  Same-day delivery requires accurate availability data. Integrate categorization updates with your inventory management system to ensure products are properly categorized when in stock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Marketplace Guides

Expand your grocery and household delivery presence with our categorization guides for other major platforms. Many successful Shipt partners also sell through these channels.