We’re focusing on the part technology plays in grocery and food shopping in today’s InternetRetailing newsletter. Interesting figures from Neilsen suggest that customer behaviour is still weighted firmly in favour of the store when it comes to groceries. It’s not that shoppers don’t buy food online, it suggests, but that those small top-up trips into store are much more likely to happen in person rather than via an app or website. It seems likely, beyond the weekly shop, customers buy food when they need it, and that means more immediate delivery.
That’s relevant to our round up of news from takeaway food specialists Just Eat and Domino’s Pizza to the autonomous robots of Starship Technologies, which are all making it easier for customers to get hold of their next meal fast, and meeting strong consumer interest in doing so.
Getting hold of a takeaway while it’s still hot is, of course, more time sensitive than taking delivery of groceries. It may take time for the technologies that takeaway retailers can now employ to make financial sense for grocers outside key London postcodes. In the meantime, for supermarkets looking for nationwide coverage, it seems a large number of stores remains vital. The mooted tie up between Sainsbury’s and Asda would mean a new business with about 2,800 stores. That is still well short of the more than 3,700 stores currently operated by market leader Tesco, but one that seems likely to mean more flexibility for shoppers keen to shop wherever, whenever and however they want. We also cover Sainsbury’s full-year results.
Meanwhile, omnichannel flexibility appears to have been key to growth at Yours Clothing in its latest financial year, where sales have risen both online and offline.
We report on Made.com’s five-year expansion plans following a £40m equity investment, and we report as Metail shows off its fashion technology by giving shoppers the chance to virtually try on potential Meghan Markle wedding dresses.
Today’s guest comment comes from Andreas Brueckner of Attraqt, who discusses how retailers can consistently optimise onsite search so that it is rewarding for both buyer and seller.
Image courtesy of Starship Technologies
