Co-op launches 24-hour grocery delivery service from city centre stores

Co-op has unveiled a 24-hour online grocery delivery service, launching this month in Leeds, London and Manchester.

The convenience retailer said they are responding to growing demand for increased access to quick commerce grocery delivery services from consumers such as shift workers, parents of young families and late-night revellers requiring top-ups to keep their gatherings going.

Co-op said its research has showed that over 40 per cent of q-comm shoppers would use a 11pm to 5am delivery service if available. This figure rises to around almost one in two consumers aged between 18-44, with the service most popular for Gen Z shoppers aged 18-24 (52.3%) who are most likely to use the 24hr service.

Further data from Co-op’s research suggested that those in London were most likely to use the round-the-clock service (55.2%) with the data suggesting that those in Wales were least likely (26.47%). An estimated six million UK adults believe the main reason they would use the extended service was due to their work pattern or shift.

The 24hr service is launching this month in Leeds, London and Manchester stores where there is strong online grocery demand at non-traditional times, with stores selected based on the local demographic, a concentration of delivery driver availability and where stores are already staffed around the clock for replenishment purposes.

Groceries will be delivered through the retailer’s ecommerce partners Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats.

In addition to the new 24-hour service, Co-op has also extended its online availability in more than 1,600 stores within the store’s existing opening hours.

“Meeting the needs of our member-owners and customers is at the heart of our approach and is aligned to our strategy to grow our share of the quick commerce market through both our own online shop and, strategic partners,” Chris Conway, Co-op ecommerce director, said.

“We focus on ease, speed and convenience from our local stores, which are well placed in the heart of communities. Societal behaviours including changing lifestyles and shift working is increasing the requirement for online groceries to be delivered quickly and conveniently at non-traditional times of the day.”

Co-op has grown its quick commerce operation at pace and estimates more than 80 per cent of the UK population now has access to Co-op groceries either through its own online shop – shop.coop.co.uk – or through its delivery partners including Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo.

The online grocery delivery business is one of the retailer’s fastest growing channels, providing a record number of online sales in 2023 of £311m. Additionally, last year Co-op increased its share of this market to 23 per cent and its aims to quickly grow to over 30 per cent, by focusing on both its own Co-op platform and Q Comm partners.

Conway continued: “We are committed to enhancing and developing our online offer and provide the quality and reliable service that our member-owners and customers want, whenever they choose to shop with us.”