Metadata file requirements
The metadata file contains a list of items featured in each store's flyer and the date range when the flyer is displayed on your storefront. This file can also include optional fields for enabling a shoppable flyer experience.
SFTP upload folder
sftp://sftp-partners.instacart.com/flyers
General attributes
| Column | Type | Required | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
upc | String | Yes | Product identifier. Must match the upc value defined for this product in the catalog. | "00842096100802" |
tag | String | Yes | Describes the type of flyer. | "weekly" |
storenumber | String | Yes | Specifies which store a specific item belongs to. Must match the values defined in your warehouse data. | "1" |
startdate | String | Yes | Specifies when the flyer is visible on your storefront. The timezone is set based automatically based on store location. Format is YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS | "2025-05-13 00:00:00" (beginning of the day) |
enddate | String | Yes | Specifies when the flyer is no longer visible on your storefront. The timezone is set based automatically based on store location. Format is YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS | "2025Y-05-20 23:59:59" (end of the day) |
locale | String | No | Specifies the language. Defaults to en_US if not provided. | "en_CA" |
Shoppable attributes
To enable a shoppable flyer experience, include the following attributes in your metadata file.
| Column | Type | Required? | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
activityid | String | Yes | Used to group promotions across store locations into a collection. This corresponds to a "block" on the flyer page | "20230101_12345" |
pagenumber | Integer | Yes | Specifies the page of the print flyer where this promotion is located. Can be used to help identify top deals. | 1 |
promotitle | String | Yes | Primary copy (title) displayed for the promotion. | "2 for $7" |
promodescription | String | Yes | Secondary copy (description) displayed for the promotion. | "Organic blueberries and raspberries" |