By the end of the month, Sainsbury’s says it will be able to deliver 700,000 online grocery orders per week.
The ambitious goal would help the UK supermarket retailer hit a new milestone on its home delivery and Click & Collect service by doubling its online capacity since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March.
Sainsbury’s has added almost 200 new Click & Collect locations and will feature 1,000 more delivery vans on the road in the coming months in comparison with last year. There will be 1,000 vans out delivering fo”r Argos.
“Doubling our groceries online orders in six months to 700,000 is an incredible milestone,” said Nigel Blunt, Director of eCommerce at Sainsbury’s: “It has been a huge team effort and also demonstrates the strength and flexibility of our online model. Over the past six months, customers have adapted to shopping increasingly online and we’re hearing really positive feedback from shoppers using this service. With our strong availability, outstanding stores and amazing colleagues, we’re ready to serve our customers however and whenever they want to shop.”
Sainsbury’s says it will continue to grow its online offer over the coming months to ensure more customers can shop this way.
The supermarket also is planning to extend online delivery times, starting early morning orders half an hour earlier while late night deliveries (up until 11:30pm) will also extend by a half an hour later than previously available and will be available from most stores.
One the big pluses for customers is Sainsbury’s Delivery Pass subscription service. New subscriptions were up over 120 per cent in the first week they were available versus last year. And the retailer says many customers have using SmartShop in Sainsbury’s supermarkets, which helps them spend less time in store and reduces contact by letting shoppers scan their own shopping and then check out through a dedicated till area.
Sainsbury’s will deliver 700,000 online grocery orders a week by the end of October. The new milestone, which covers home delivery and Click & Collect, means the supermarket will have doubled its online capacity since the beginning of March. Sainsbury’s will continue to grow its online offer over the coming weeks and months to ensure more customers than ever can shop this way.
The supermarket is also is extending online delivery times, starting early morning orders half an hour earlier from 6:30am while late night deliveries will be dropped off right up until 11:30pm, half an hour later than previously available. The new delivery times will be available from most stores and put in place over the next month.
To meet demand almost 200 new Click & Collect locations have been added and there will be nearly 1,000 more Groceries Online vans on the road in the coming months in comparison with last year. There will be 1,000 vans out delivering for Argos.
To ensure that customers not only find great availability online, but also fantastic value, Sainsbury’s has re-opened its Delivery Pass subscription service to new customers. New subscriptions were up over 120 per cent in the first week they were available versus last year as many customers plan to continue to do their weekly grocery shop online.
Many customers have also been enjoying using SmartShop in Sainsbury’s supermarkets, which helps them spend less time in store and reduces contact by letting shoppers scan their own shopping and then check out through a dedicated till area. SmartShop is now available in all of Sainsbury’s supermarkets and SmartShop Mobile Pay is being rapidly rolled out to Sainsbury’s convenience stores, offering till-free and contactless shopping. The app will be live in over 250 Sainsbury’s Locals by the end of this week.
Nigel Blunt, Director of eCommerce at Sainsbury’s, said: “Doubling our groceries online orders in six months to 700,000 is an incredible milestone. It has been a huge team effort and also demonstrates the strength and flexibility of our online model. Over the past six months, customers have adapted to shopping increasingly online and we’re hearing really positive feedback from shoppers using this service. With our strong availability, outstanding stores and amazing colleagues, we’re ready to serve our customers however and whenever they want to shop.”
