Retail Technology
| Log in | Subscribe



Subscribe | Log in
Retail Technology
Subscribe

Waitrose trials automated grocery click & collect

By Retail Technology | Tuesday August 12 2014

Grocery chain expands click & collect offering this Autumn with trials of automated, temperature-controlled lockers

UK grocery chain Waitrose will be trialling fully automated grocery click & collect lockers, which will be launched this Autumn on the transport networks.

In what is understood to be an industry first, the retailer is to become the first supermarket in the UK to test automated, temperature-controlled lockers for online grocery orders in 10 third-party locations on the transport network.

In-house trials

The lockers have been trialled over the past year by Waitrose employees at the company’s head office in Bracknell, Berkshire and will be installed in those locations subject to planning permission. 

The trial locations include Gatwick North and Gatwick South Terminal Long Stay Car Parks, four TfL Underground stations (Chorleywood, Watford, Ickenham and Chalfont & Latimer) and Green Park Business Park in Reading, a 195 acre business community which is home to over 40 businesses and 6,000 people) A further three locations on the transport network will be confirmed shortly.

Text message collection

Orders will be stored in ambient, chilled and frozen temperature-controlled lockers, which can be refilled several times in a day. Customers can place orders online on their computer, tablet or mobile phone or using the Waitrose smart phone app. 

They then receive a text message with a PIN, which they can use to collect their shopping at the lockers. Delivery options for the click & collect locker service are the same as those already available for orders collected at Waitrose branches. In addition, orders placed before 11.45am can be collected the next day.

“We are very excited to be able to offer our Waitrose customers this innovative service across the transport network which, if successful, we hope to expand further,” commented Robin Phillips, Waitrose e-commerce director. “We are committed to finding shopping solutions that make the most sense for our shoppers and are as convenient as possible, as well as being ambitious in terms of the technology used.”

The current Waitrose click & collect service is currently available in 179 Waitrose branches.


Related items

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

By Retail Technology | Retail Technology

A revolution in the back office: Life beyond PIM

By Angus Hayman, Akeneo | Angus Hayman, Akeneo

Happy Easter!

By Retail Technology | Retail Technology

Waitrose extends supply chain partnership

By Retail Technology | Retail Technology

Waitrose launches Pinterest campaign

By Retail Technology | Retail Technology

selfologi nails online launch

By Retail Technology | Retail Technology

The Platinum Jubilee

By Retail Technology | Retail Technology

Waitrose rolls out parking app

By Retail Technology | Retail Technology

Waitrose introduces parking app

By Retail Technology | Retail Technology

Waitrose implements dark store

By Retail Technology | Retail Technology