Tesco testing expansion of Click & Collect service beyond store network, allowing customers to pick up orders from locations across their communities, including schools, libraries, sports centers, in effort to make pickup more convenient

Cindy Allen

CHESHUNT, England , October 18, 2013 (press release) –
Trial launched in three locations in York and will roll out to two more cities by Christmas
IGD research reveals that Click & Collect is growing in popularity as nearly 1 in 5 online grocery shoppers have used it in the last month

Parents dropping their children off at school may soon be able to collect their groceries at the same time, thanks to a handy new service from Tesco.

The service, which is currently being trialled in three locations in York, will allow Tesco customers to ‘Click & Collect’ from convenient locations across their community, including schools, libraries and sports centres. It is the first time that Tesco has extended its Click & Collect service beyond its store network and underlines its commitment to making shopping as convenient as possible for customers.

Delivery

Click & Collect is growing in popularity as it combines the benefits of shopping online with the convenience of picking up groceries at a time that suits customers. According to the IGD, almost one in five online grocery shoppers have used Click & Collect in the last month, and a third said that they intend to use it more over the coming year.

Tesco was the first supermarket to launch Click & Collect Grocery Drive-Through in the UK in 2010 and it is now available in 200 Tesco stores across the country; a number that will rise to 300 next year.

Simon Belsham, Managing Director of Tesco.com said: “Customers up and down the country already love using Click & Collect because they can do their shopping trip in a matter of minutes, even with the whole family in tow. We think customers are really going to like the extension to the service because it makes things even more convenient for them and it means they can fit their shopping in around their lifestyles.”

Cllr Dave Merrett, Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability at City of York Council, said: “We’re delighted that Tesco has chosen to pilot an extension to their Click & Collect service in York. Over four million passenger journeys take place on York’s five Park & Rides a year and we’re supportive of any new service which will provide commuters - including some 200,000 residents and 7.2million tourists - with an even better experience as they travel in York. We hope this trial provides shoppers with the option to make a shorter trip to get their shopping, which in turn will result in lower volumes of traffic and lower emissions on York’s roads.”

Tesco plans to trial the new service in two more locations in the UK before Christmas, including London and Dingwall, Scotland.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

* The trial in York is running from Huntington Secondary School, Monk Bar Car Park (near York St. John University) and Grimston Bar Park and Ride.

About Click & Collect (www.tesco.com/collect)

Why use Click & Collect?

Customers like the convenience and speed of the service – it takes just 2-3 minutes

Three quarters of those who have used it say they’ll use it again

Who uses it?

It’s ideal for:

Mums who have the school run and other children’s activities to manage (some order online at school gates using their smart phone and then pick up next day)
Parents who want to avoid being in store at busy times with children in tow (putting extra items in the trolley when mum’s not looking!)
People who can’t wait in for delivery
Customers who want to grab their groceries quickly on the way back from work. Those who do not want to spend time waiting in or shopping in store at the weekend
People on their way back from holiday with an empty fridge at home

How does it work?

Customers order their food shopping online and select their chosen collection point. For a trial period, our York customers will be able to choose from Huntington Secondary School, Monk Bar Car Park and Grimston Bar Park and Ride.
They select which slot suits them to go and collect their shopping, which takes a matter of minutes.
Collect it from their chosen collection point.

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