Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
In a world first, Asda has announced that it is working with Transport for London (TfL) to offer grocery Click and Collect locations at six underground stations.
The service will offer same day offering before noon – meaning commuters can order their shopping before midday and collect it after 4pm. The first stations will be East Finchley, Harrow and Wealdstone, High Barnet, Highgate, Stanmore and Epping.
The move comes just days after Asda set out its five year strategic priorities which included a major push into the London and south-east market, where it has lower awareness and fewer stores than its competitors.
“Customers in the south-east tell us that they want the prices and quality provided by Asda value but they can’t access it easily. This tie-up with TfL solves that,” said Asda retail director Mark Ibbotson.
“We’ve led the way in Click and Collect by bringing Asda to where customers are rather than expecting them to come to us. From park and ride locations to business parks, now London Underground station car parks are another significant step on that journey.
“We believe customers will value the convenience of collecting shopping at their home tube station rather than carrying the products bought in premium convenience stores on their commute home. Same day collection completely changes the notion of convenience for online customers and we are delighted to offer this service to Londoners.”
The technology has been developed together with Walmart labs in California, part of Asda’s parent company. It comes after similar, successful operations in Nottingham at a Park and Ride facility and at Green Park business park in Reading.
Ordering will be available seven days a week with customers able to order from a laptop, tablet or smartphone via Asda.com or the Asda App to access food and groceries, general merchandise and George clothing.
If the initial Click and Collect locations at London Underground station car parks are successful, Asda will seek to extend the scheme into other areas of London and the south- east. The supermarket chain is already working on developing other formats and collection locations across the region.
