Sainsbury’s launches long-awaited click and collect service

Sainsbury’s has become the latest retailer to launch a click and collect service, with plans to roll out the service across its estate over the coming years.

Customers will be able to select a free click and collect option on online orders of more than £20, with 100 stores set to offer the service by the end of 2015.

Orders, which will be served from a refrigerated van parked outside each Sainsbury’s store and manned by a worker, can be placed up to 20 days in advance and no later than 11pm to qualify for next day delivery.

“This is yet another step in Sainsbury’s increasingly popular online service, and giving customers more convenient ways to shop with us,” said Sainsbury’s online director Robbie Feather, who revealed that Sainsbury’s will have 20 locations live by the end of March.

The supermarket giant, however, is late to the party with market leader Tesco and second biggest grocer Asda starting respective click and collect services in 2010 and 2011.

Tesco offers click and collect at 300 of its 2,650 stores.

Asda, meanwhile, offers it at all 592 of its stores as well as through London tube stations, with upmarket retailer Waitrose also teaming up with Transport for London to offer click and collect on commuter routes. Asda plans to roll out over 1000 Click and Collect points by the end of 2018 to increase customer’s physical access to its brand from 54% to 70%.

Click and collect growth is expected to accelerate over the coming years as consumers continue to seek convenience. Planet Retail estimates that 76% of online UK shoppers will use click & collect by 2017

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