Tesco joins forces with Uber to expand Whoosh rapid delivery service

Uber Eats will fulfil Whoosh orders placed on Tesco’s website or its smartphone app from 20 of the grocer’s stores in Edinburgh, Bradford, Norwich, Portsmouth, St Albans and Letchworth.

Tesco launched Whoosh in May 2021, as revealed by Retail Week, offering customers the option to have their groceries delivered in less than 60 minutes. It has already expanded the service to 200 Express shops across the UK using other delivery partners.

The supermarket giant aims to roll out the proposition to 600 stores by the end of this year and has joined forces with Uber to accelerate that drive. 

Quick-commerce services grew exponentially during the pandemic, as grocers ranging from Marks & Spencer to Aldi partnered with the likes of Deliveroo to offer rapid home deliveries. 

But Sainsbury’s boss Simon Roberts revealed just last week that annual sales made through the grocer’s partnerships with Deliveroo and Uber, and its own Chop Chop service, are the equivalent of revenues made in just two supermarkets. 

Grocers, however, are continuing to invest in the expansion of their rapid delivery propositions in the belief the trend will outlast the Covid-19 pandemic. 

A Tesco spokesman said: “As we work to make Tesco Whoosh available to more customers, we are pleased to partner with Uber to help us deliver the same Tesco quality and value, all within the hour.”

Uber Eats head of new verticals and grocery Alex Troughton said: “It’s clear that the needs of businesses and consumers have been rapidly evolving in recent years and that trend is accelerating. This exciting new partnership will harness the best of Uber’s technology to power superfast Tesco deliveries across the UK. 

“The partnership is proof positive of the momentum we’re seeing in our groceries and retailer delivery offer and we’re committed to providing world-class solutions to our partners.”