Tesco partners with Gorillas to trial quick-delivery service
Tesco will launch a pilot fast-delivery service, joining up with successful start-up Gorillas who transport products to customers in 10 minutes, the supermarket announced.
Customers will now be able to buy Tesco goods through the Gorillas app and have them delivered to areas where the company’s delivery service operates.
Gorillas’ fast-delivery service is currently available in certain areas in the UK including London, Cambridge, Manchester, Nottingham, Reading and Southampton.
To carry out the new partnership, Gorillas will set up their small-scale warehouses, often known as ‘dark grocery stores’, at five of Tesco’s Superstores. Here, riders will pick up the products, pack, and deliver them to customers in no longer than 10 minutes, which Tesco Plc say is: “the time it takes to pre-heat the oven”.
The first dark store will be set up at the Thornton Heath Tesco Superstore, using its empty warehouse space to hold around 2,000 products. The products in stock will aim to meet the last-minute needs of customers that are often forgotten in a regular shop ranging from dinner options to milk or nappies.
Tesco UK & ROI CEO, Jason Tarry said: “The idea that we can reach our customers in just ten minutes is really exciting. We are committed to being easily the most convenient choice for our customers, enabling them to shop whenever and however they want.”
This isn’t the first time that the grocery chain have launched a quick grocery-delivery service. This year has also seen the launch of Tesco Whoosh, which delivers products within an hour to their Express stores. They currently deliver to 50 but want to extend this to 100 by the end of 2021. The supermarket has said the service has been particularly valuable to customers doing top-up shops.
Gorillas COO, Adrian Frenzel said: “We’re thrilled to be announcing this first-of-its-kind commercial and real estate partnership with Tesco. As a fast-paced company at the forefront of the on demand grocery industry, we are always looking for ways to innovate, and this co-location partnership will bring unprecedented value to our customers in the UK who will now have the possibility to be delivered the best of Tesco within minutes thanks to Gorillas.”
This year has seen Tesco test out several innovative services in the U.K. to improve customer retail experience such as a reusable packing service and several queue and checkout-free stores.
