Foodstuffs details Uber Eats trial

1st December 2021 By Staff Reporter | news@foodticker.co.nz | @foodtickernz

Foodstuffs has shared more details about its trial partnership with Uber Eats which it says unlocks the first grocery offering available on the platform in New Zealand.

As reported by Food Ticker last week, the supermarket co-operative has teamed up with the New Zealand division of the food delivery service, which has formed similar partnerships with supermarket chains elsewhere around the globe in an effort to shorten grocery delivery times – in some cases to within the hour.

Foodstuffs linked the service to “last-minute grocery needs” as well as the so-called top-up shop as competition for e-commerce grocery dollars and the last-mile delivery space heats up.

New entrants including Sydney-based online supermarket Geezy Go are coming to New Zealand, with plans to build up a network of dark stores in Auckland initially and then Wellington, promising 20-minute deliveries to customers.

The Foodstuffs partnership would be tested with 22 selected New World and Four Square stores in the North Island, where customers can select the ‘grocery’ option in the Uber Eats app and then pick the storefront closest to them to begin their order. Liquor and tobacco are excluded from the trial at this stage.

The first store – Auckland’s New World Metro Queen Street – went live on 17 November followed by the rest of the stores, with the final Four Squares set to join the platform today.

The operator of Metro Queen Street, Steven Yin, said there was no clear pattern yet to what shoppers were buying via the platform.

“We’re seeing both large and small orders coming through with the top five most purchased items in the first few days of operation were mandarins, avocados, 1.5L water bottles, apples and soda.”

There is no delivery fee on grocery orders over $20 for people with an Uber Pass membership – although service fees still apply.

Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin said the partnership would help open more dynamic shop offerings and expand accessibility to New World and Four Square customers.

“We’re always looking for ways to offer our customers the best shopping experience, and in partnering with Uber Eats we’re able to help them get what they want even faster, making groceries within the hour now possible.”

Operationally, Foodstuffs said once customers placed their order online it was then sent to a tablet instore where the New World or Four Square store team picks and packs the order for an Uber Eats delivery person to collect and deliver.

“The feedback we’ve had from customers has been extremely positive so far and we’re looking forward to hearing more from our customers in the coming weeks,” said Quin.

Uber Eats’ regional general manager of grocery and retail, Lucas Groeneveld, said: “Kiwis are searching for ultra convenience and faster delivery is a big part of the new normal following Covid”.

“By linking up with retailers like New World & Four Square, Uber Eats is well-positioned to usher in a new era of ease for households across Aotearoa – strengthening our platform’s appeal as the place to head to go anywhere or get anything.”

Participating New World stores and live dates:

1. New World Metro Queen St – 17th Nov

2. Fresh Collective Alberton – 23rd Nov

3. New World Ormiston – 23rd Nov

4. New World Metro Shore City – 23rd Nov

5. New World Victoria Park – 24th Nov

6. New World Metro Willis St – 25th Nov

7. New World Metro Railway – 25th Nov

8. New World Wellington City – 30th Nov

Participating Four Square stores and live dates:

1. Four Square Torbay – 18th Nov

2. Four Square Ellerslie – 23rd Nov

3. Four Square Cherrywood – 24th Nov

4. Four Square Papamoa Beach – 24th Nov

5. Four Square Hokowhitu – 25th Nov

6. Four Square The Lakes – 25th Nov

7. Four Square Edmund Road – 30th Nov

8. Four Square Hillcrest – 30th Nov

9. Four Square Heaphy Terrace – 30th Nov

10. Four Square Te Puna – 30th Nov

11. Four Square Super Seven – 1st Dec

12. Four Square Awapuni Discount – 1st Dec

13. Four Square Karor – 1st Dec

14. Four Square Mahora – 1st Dec