Co-op strikes partnership with Amazon

The Co-op has inked a partnership with ecommerce giant Amazon that will allow customers across the UK to do their entire grocery shop online via Amazon Prime with same-day delivery.

The UK supermarket chain will also extend its robot deliveries as part of a push to increase online sales from £70.0m to £200.0m.

The partnership has already launched in Glasgow and surrounding areas and will soon be rolled out to other parts of Britain before the end of 2021.

Same-day delivery with two-hour scheduled slots will be offered for free on all orders over £40, with all orders required to come to a minimum value of £15. Any order below the £40 mark will be slapped with a £3.99 delivery fee.

The Co-op, which already operates autonomous robot vehicles made by Starship Technologies for delivery in Milton Keynes and Northampton, also intends to hike the number of robots operating and delivering groceries from 200 to 500 by the end of the year, extending the service into Cambridgeshire and northern England.

Co-op chief executive Steve Murrells said: "The pandemic has accelerated changes in consumer shopping trends and we're driving forward with exciting plans to provide rapid kerb-to-kitchen grocery delivery services.

"We are delighted to be working with Amazon. Its reach and leading technology and innovative approach means greater convenience for people in their communities."

However, trade union GMB's national officer Andy Prendergast slated the move, stating it was "really disappointing" that a firm with "a proud ethical heritage" would team up with "a tax-evading multinational" with "a horrifying health and safety record".