French retailer Auchan is launching a new click-and-collect service in the Saint-Etienne area, which it says is the largest of its kind in the country.
The new facility features 250 temperature-controlled lockers, where customers can collect their online grocery orders.
Auchan says that the new lockers offer shoppers a flexible service. Customers can choose from up to 8,500 products online, and select a collection time that suits them. The service is free and the centre is open Monday to Saturday, from 8.30 am to 9.30 pm.
The retailer adds that the area is carefully monitored, and that lockers offer three different temperature levels - ambient, chilled and frozen - to ensure that groceries remain fresh.
New Concepts
Jean-Charles Fhal, general manager of Auchan France's online grocery service, said that the company will be following the results of this trial carefully, as it plans to extend the concept further if it is successful.
He added that the service "combines the best of physical commerce with the potential of digital to offer consumers varied shopping routes".
Auchan says that it is committed to building a unique, multi-format brand, to meet changing consumer needs in France.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Lidl opened a similar grocery locker collection service in Belgium.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
