Waitrose has become the first supermarket in the UK to launch a trial of automated, temperature-controlled lockers for online grocery orders in third-party locations.
The first two locations in the ten-location trial are now live at TfL London Underground Stations Chorleywood and Ickenham, with a further eight sets of lockers to launch, including additional TfL Stations as well as Gatwick North and Gatwick South Terminal Long Stay Car Parks.
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 through www.waitrose.com (on their computer, tablet or mobile phone) or the Waitrose smartphone app, and will be sent a text message with a PIN.
They can then drive up to the Click & Collect lockers, enter the PIN and collect their shopping. Delivery options for the Click & Collect locker service are the same as those already available for orders collected at Waitrose branches, and, furthermore, orders placed before 11.45am can be collected the next day.
Andrew Newton, Waitrose e-commerce proposition development manager, said: 'This reflects the changing way that our customers live and shop, with convenience a prime motivation for shoppers in the 21st century. One of the dominant trends in retailing is the growth of the 'transumer' – people who want to shop while they are on the go. And we hope this exciting innovation will appeal to those with busy lifestyles.”
The automated lockers are Waitrose’s latest innovation to increase its grocery Click & Collect offering.
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