Loop is to stop delivering its refillable groceries to its customers’ homes when it transfers the service offline into branches of Tesco, the company said today.
InternetRetailing reported last week that Tesco would start selling refillable Loop products from its stores, as it added an offline service. Now it has emerged that the retailer will only operate the service in stores.
Loop describes its online deliveries as a pilot phase of the service that is to come to an end as it launches in Tesco branches instead. Shoppers who use the service will be able to continue to do so until July 15, but from then should return their empty containers and tote bags, either to a collection point or to a Tesco store, and withdraw their deposits from the Loop webstore. The website is scheduled to close on September 13.
The company says today in a marketing email, and on its website: “Following the success of loopstore.co.uk, we are excited to announce that we are now ready for the next stage in building the Loop reuse ecosystem in the UK. Our pilot phase, loopstore.co.uk, is coming to an end, giving way to launch Loop in Tesco stores.
“From autumn onwards, you’ll find Loop products in selected Tesco stores, enabling you to buy reusable products and return your empty containers in-store.”
Tesco has worked with Loop since the refillable service launched in the UK a year ago. Over that time it has sold refillable containers of brands including Heinz, Coca Cola, Persil, Nivea and Danone and delivered them to homes.
The online service has also operated in France in partnership with Carrefour, and in the US in partnership with Kroger and Walgreens. At launch, Loop, owned by TerraCycle, said that it was reimagining the traditional milk delivery service, with everyday essentials, “available in durable, functional packaging that’s beautiful enough to display”.
While Tesco is far from the only retailer to move into refillables, as part of its sustainability strategy, it is now unusual in doing so online. Waitrose and Marks & Spencer are among the grocers that have enabled shoppers to fill their own containers when they visit stores.
