The Co-op has announced plans to launch a 24-hour grocery delivery service, aimed at catering to the increasing demand from shift workers, parents, and late-night revellers. The new service, set to roll out in September this year, will be available via Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats in select cities, including Manchester, Leeds, and London.
The grocery chain has chosen these locations due to strong online demand during non-traditional shopping hours. Co-op noted that these areas have a high concentration of shift workers and delivery drivers, as well as stores that are already staffed around the clock for restocking purposes.
A recent survey revealed that approximately 40% of shoppers using fast delivery services would opt for an 11pm to 5am delivery window if it were available. The figure rises to 50% among consumers aged 18 to 44, with the service expected to be most popular among 18 to 24-year-olds.
An estimated six million UK adults cited work patterns or shifts as the primary reason they would use a 24-hour grocery service, further highlighting the demand for flexible shopping options.
Chris Conway, Co-op’s e-commerce director, explained the company’s decision: “With a convenience store based in every postal code area in the UK, we’re able to identify and meet the demands of shoppers at the local level, which enables us to provide solutions like our new 24-hour delivery service. We’re always looking at ways to evolve our online offer to provide the very best service for shoppers, whenever and at whatever time they choose to shop with us.
The service is expected to appeal to a broad range of customers, from those with unconventional working hours to busy parents and late-night shoppers, and aims to make grocery shopping more accessible across the country.
The survey, conducted by Opinion Matters, interviewed 2,000 UK adults between August 14 and August 16, shedding light on the growing demand for flexible grocery delivery options in the UK.
