Co-op launches rapid delivery grocery app for independent retailers

The new app dubbed “Peckish” is being hailed as a “grocery retailer first” and offers a technologically advanced service for thousands of small, independent grocery businesses, shops, and other co-operative retail societies to provide an online grocery shopping and delivery service.

Co-op is making an initial £1m investment for Peckish’s first year, following a 30-store trial across Nisa last year. It will target a sign up of over 1,000 stores during this period, with the opportunity to triple that in three years.

The Peckish app allows smaller-scale stores to have a presence online, and it has been designed to overcome barriers faced by independent retailers when selling online, including cost, scale and resource.

The Co-op said using its scale, experitse and technoogy means it can “pass this economy of scale to thousands of independent retailers” to help them thrive online.

Shoppers can use the Peckish app to choose from a range of products listed by the individual retailer. Retailers select the price and can choose to deliver the online orders themselves, or for it to be managed through the Co-op’s order management system and delivered quickly through delivery partners such as Just Eat and Uber Direct in 30 minutes.

Retailers who sign up will receive data, trends and insight from Co-op’s quick commerce team, point of sale material, window stickers, leaflets, shelf talkers, digital and social media assets, posters and banners.

Co-op food managing director Matt Hood said: “The growth and popularity of quick commerce in the UK is exceptional, as consumers’ appetite for a convenient grocery delivery service in as little as 30 minutes from ordering, increases almost weekly. 

“We are experts in running small, local convenience shops and the leading quick commerce operator, and I’m excited about being able to share this expertise with all our neighbouring independent retailers, to help them extend their customer reach and services online, which in turn, can help transform their businesses.

“We know that smaller local shops, like our own, operate at the heart of the local community life. More than a shop, they are a community hub, creating value locally through job creation, community participation and their support of local suppliers.

“The ‘shop local’ sentiment is strong among consumers, and Peckish can help more retailers connect quickly with their customers, providing greater consumer choice locally, and promoting healthier and more viable high streets and communities.”