The Co-op Group has announced the trial of a home delivery service in Northern Ireland, in partnership with Snappy Shopper.
The pilot, launched from Group’s store in Shankill Road, Belfast, has now been extended to a second store in Kings Road, Gilnahirk. It is part of the retailer’s efforts to grow its online offer, with a focus on quick convenience.
The Group’s head of online development, George Hayworth, said: “Working with Snappy Shopper fits with our quick and convenient approach to e-commerce – a model which sees products picked fresh in the local store, so the high street store benefits from increased online demand.
“We continually look for new ways to expand and grow our online offer, and are pleased to launch a trial with Snappy Shopper to provide increased customer choice and access to our products – serving our member-owners and customers close to our stores with what they want and need, when and where they need it.”
The move is the latest step in the Group’s efforts to quickly grow its e-commerce business – a multi-stranded project using its own online shop.coop.co.uk platform alongside partnerships with Amazon; Deliveroo; Just Eat and Uber Eats, and autonomous robot deliveries in partnership with Starship Technologies.
Snappy Shopper already has delivery partnerships in place with several indepedent retail co-ops, including Chelmsford Star, Heart of England and Southern.
Related: Marriage of convenience? Partnerships in the retail co-op sector
CEO Mike Callachan said: “Expanding into Northern Ireland with Co-op marks the next step in our q-commerce strategy – supporting retailers to drive sales with our seamless technology, and helping consumers with convenient access to groceries.
“Working with retailers such as Co-op provides shoppers with even more choice when it comes to home delivery solutions.”
Deliveries during the trial with Snappy Shopper are priced at 99p, with orders delivered to homes and workplaces within approximately a 2.5 mile radius of the stores in as little as under 60 minutes.
