Convenience store retailer the Co-op has extended its delivery partnership with Deliveroo to cover 400 of its stores in the UK.

The Co-op said more than 27 million potential customers could now access 600 of its grocery and household items via the food-delivery app, making the convenience store retailer “the most widely available supermarket” on Deliveroo

The partnership between the Co-op and Deliveroo was launched in 2019 and has accelerated rapidly. The retailer said that the service was most popular in big urban centres such as London, Manchester, Leeds and Brighton. 

The retailer noted changing customer behaviours due to the lockdown and ongoing coronavirus crisis, and said that customers were now “placing larger orders” via the app and were also “ordering more frequently” than previously. 

In a bid to continue growing the business, the Co-op said it had produced its first TV advert in partnership with Deliveroo, which would be aired from August 31. 

The retailer has also been looking to grow its own home-delivery business, and food boss Jo Whitfield said the Co-op’s goal for the end of the year was to make delivery and click and collect available from 650 stores. 

Co-op head of ecommerce Chris Conway said: “We are offering speed, flexibility and choice with on-demand, online convenience meeting consumer needs in our communities. We have accelerated our plans to roll out online delivery through our own online store and with partners. 

“Products are selected locally by Co-op stores which act as micro-distribution hubs and so also benefit from the significant increase seen in demand as consumer shopping trends change in the wake of Covid-19 and more people shop for food online.”

Deliveroo vice-president of new business Ajay Lakhani said: “We are delighted that the Co-op and Deliveroo partnership has been such a success and reached the milestone of 400 stores across the UK. At Deliveroo we want to play our role to help people get the food and household items they need and want in as little as under 30 minutes.”