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The Tube adds click & collect partners

By Retail Technology | Monday February 10 2014

Major retailers to bring click & collect services to the London Underground network, following an initial tie-up with one UK supermarket

Transport for London (TfL) has revealed that it is entering into partnership working with several companies, including fulfilment operators and major retailers.

Tesco, Waitrose and automated parcel locker company InPost are all set to establish 'click & collect' facilities at stations, creating new service propositions to customers as they move around the transport network. 

TfL has been developing click & collect services at London Underground (LU) station car parks since November of last year, with a six-month trial with Asda Grocery Click and Collect services at six station car parks. The announcement said the trial had been successful and that TfL is in discussions with Asda to expand the service.
 
Graeme Craig, director of commercial development at TfL, stated: “We are delighted to be working with so many retailers to bring the services they provide to our customers as they travel around London. The trial with Asda has proven very successful and we look forward to establishing new partnerships and developing new concepts with other retailers.”

Kieran Shanahan, Asda e-commerce director, said: “We're very proud of our partnership with TfL, which was a retail first when we launched last year. It gives more customers convenient access to Asda alongside our Click and Collect sites at business parks, park and ride plus of course, at our stores.”

Building on existing investments

Click & collect enables customers to place orders online, which they then pick up from stations or station car parks on their way home. With the rise in smartphone devices and the introduction of Virgin Media Wi-Fi at over 120 LU stations, customers can also make their purchases as they move around the network.

Subject to final testing at the locations, the transport network said this year Tesco and Waitrose will install click and collect facilities at up to six stations each and InPost, which provides parcel delivery services for multiple retailers, will install lockers at three stations.

TfL is also working with small businesses and start up companies to offer a diverse range of services and goods. It cited LOLA’s Cupcakes, which launched its first cart at King’s Cross St Pancras London Underground station and will be trading at a further five LU stations later this year. TfL also worked with Rockflower in late January to open the world’s first retail and vending flower kiosk at Blackfriars London Underground station.

Andrew McAlpine, chief executive of Rockflower, said: “Being able to buy a beautifully designed, affordable, flower bouquet 24/7 has been a dream of mine for a long time. We at Rockflower are delighted that Transport for London shares our vision to bring London's commuters fresh flowers at all hours through our unique in-station retail and vending concept.”

Supporting new retail concepts

TfL also stated the agreements with the major retailers will secure income streams as part of a wider commercial strategy, which is currently forecast to generate £3.5 billion over the coming years. 

Mike Brown MVO, managing director of London Underground, said: “Over 11 million journeys take place on our public transport network each day and there is a fantastic opportunity for us to work with commercial partners to deliver products and services that our customers want, and as a result also grow revenues that we then reinvest in improving the transport network.” 

Andrew Yaxley, Tesco managing director for London, commented: “Our customers really enjoy the convenience of click & collect because it makes shopping so much easier. The additional TfL pick-up locations will give even greater flexibility to our customers because they will have more options to collect their shopping at a time and location that’s most convenient to them.”
 
Robin Phillips, Waitrose director of e-commerce, added: “Giving our customers as many ways as possible to buy and collect their groceries on the move is key to building on the phenomenal growth seen at Waitrose.com. 

"Collection lockers will unlock the potential to reach customers in locations where we don’t have a shop and which are very convenient, such as on the way home from work or the school run. More and more people are adding an online shopping mission to their way of buying from Waitrose and we will continue to invest in making sure that we give them what they want, when they want it.”

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