Co-op has launched a new million-pound rapid delivery grocery app called ‘Peckish’. Described as a grocery retailer first, it offers an advanced technology service to independent retailers looking to provide online shopping to their local customers.
Aimed at independent grocery businesses, shops and other co-operative societies, the Peckish app is claimed to overcome the barriers that small firms face when trying to sell online, including cost, scale and resources. Co-op stated that the service would allow smaller-scale bricks & mortar retailers to have a presence online while offering more consumers the opportunity to shop locally and support their high street stores.
Co-op is making an initial £1m investment for year one in Peckish, following a “successful” 30-store trial last year. It is hoping to sign up over 1,000 stores in the first year, with the potential to triple that number by year three.
Co-op is already a leading quick commerce supermarket, operating across all the major platforms (Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats), with more than 86% of the UK population having access to its groceries online via its own online shop and delivery partners. The retailer said that by leveraging this expertise and technology, it can pass economies of scale on to thousands of independent retailers to help them build an online operation.
Shoppers can use Peckish to choose their shop from the range of products the individual retailer has selected to put online. Retailers select the price – enabling them to match in-store prices and can choose whether to deliver the online orders themselves or for it to be managed through Co-op’s order management system and delivered through its delivery partners, including Just Eat and Uber Direct, in as little as under 30 minutes.
Peckish will link with a retailer’s EPOS system, saving manual tasks such as pricing and stock control and management.
Retailers who sign up will also receive a range of support, including data, trends and insight from Co-op’s quick commerce team, point of sale material, window stickers, leaflets, shelf talkers, digital and social media assets, posters and banners.
“The growth and popularity of quick commerce in the UK is exceptional as consumers’ appetite for a convenient grocery delivery service in as little as 30 minutes from ordering increases almost weekly,” said Matt Hood, Co-op Food Managing Director.
“We are experts in running small, local convenience shops and the leading quick comm operator, and I’m excited about being able to share this expertise with all our neighbouring independent retailers to help them extend their customer reach and services online, which in turn, can help transform their businesses.
“We know that smaller local shops, like our own, operate at the heart of the local community life. More than a shop, they are a community hub, creating value locally through job creation, community participation and their support of local suppliers. The ‘shop local’ sentiment is strong amongst consumers, and Peckish can help more retailers connect quickly online with their customers, providing greater consumer choice locally, and promoting healthier and more viable high streets and communities.”
NAM Implications:
- Speed with accuracy can mean reduced inventory costs for retailers…
- …in times where every penny counts.
- Online options can be made viable via help with cost, scale and resources.
- A no-brainer opportunity from the Co-op…
