UK supermarket Morrisons is working with DPD to add a new home grocery delivery channel for vulnerable customers forced to stay home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The new food box service offers £30 worth of basic, everyday groceries with a £5 delivery charge and next-day delivery available at no extra cost. Customers can order two boxes per order.
Customers are provided with a tracking number to track their order via DPD’s website.
Drivers offer a contact-free delivery service and can place the box on a doorstep or in a safe place.
The news comes as the UK’s grocers struggle to meet a surge in demand via their own delivery fleets. The UK government has asked elderly people and those with underlying health conditions to remain home as much as possible during the coronavirus pandemic.
Major retailers such as Tesco and Asda report having no slots available for several weeks and are asking customers that can go to stores to do so to free up slots for those in the vulnerable group. Sainsbury’s has created a list of customers who fall into the vulnerable group in order to give them priority slots.
Meanwhile, pure-play online grocer Ocado had to suspend ordering completely due to an excess of demand.
UPDATE 2/4/20: M&S has also launched its own box of basic groceries, which can be ordered from its website.
