UK retailer Marks & Spencer has introduced an online grocery service, which can deliver to customers in under an hour, according to the Guardian.
Last week, the retailer launched a one-hour delivery trial at its Camden store in North London, offering free home delivery within a three-mile radius. A limited range of ready meals can be delivered within an hour, while larger grocery orders are delivered in two hours.
A second trial has been introduced at its store in Woodley, near Reading, however, this is only a click-and-collect service. Both trials are open to members of the retailer's loyalty scheme, Sparks.
Expanding Online
Although Marks & Spencer has not offered delivery services for basic grocery items in the past, it is likely that competition from other retailers has spurred this move.
In June, Tesco announced the introduction of a one-hour grocery-delivery service to customers in London, in response to Amazon's growing presence in the UK capital.
“We have started two small food online trials with selected Sparks members as we explore what works for our customers,” an M&S spokesperson said.
© 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.
