Waitrose to launch drive-through click & collect
Waitrose is to launch a drive-through ‘click & collect’ service as part of a multimillion pound investment.
The first drive-through will open at Waitrose Cheltenham in March, followed by services in branches in Southend, Salisbury, Wolverhampton and Lincoln.
The new service will enable shoppers who order groceries online to pick them up from a collection area in the Waitrose branch car park in designated time slots.
Waitrose said the free service will complement its established in-store grocery collection service and will be rolled out to further branches based on customer feedback.
Never Miss a Retail Update!In a further move, the supermarket will also trial self-service collection pods in an undisclosed number of locations by the end of the year.
The pods will have chambers at different temperatures which shoppers can drive up to and unlock with a code supplied to them at the time of placing their online order.
Waitrose e-commerce director, Robin Phillips, said: “This investment marks a turning point in our ambitions to become a truly omni-channel retailer.
“The introduction of drive-throughs and, later this year, collection pods gives time-pressed customers even greater choice about how to receive orders made through Waitrose.com.
“The free service will appeal to busy parents with kids in tow as well as young professionals and anyone who wants to collect pre-picked and packaged orders when it suits them.”
