Waitrose boosts partnership with Deliveroo

Waitrose has announced it is expanding its partnership with Deliveroo and will be trialling Deliveroo Hop, the delivery service that reportedly brings groceries to customers’ doors within 10 minutes.

Deliveroo launched Deliveroo Hop in September 2021 with the aim to complement the company’s existing on-demand grocery service and provide an improved consumer experience, in partnership with major grocery partners.

The first ‘Hop’ delivery-only store, in partnership with Waitrose, will open in Bermondsey later this month.

The store will give “rapid” on-demand access from 8am-midnight everyday to Waitrose products within 10 minutes. Waitrose said this is in line with the “current quickest delivery time within the rapid food delivery market”. 

Shoppers will be able to use the Deliveroo app to choose from more than 1,000 Waitrose lines, including ready meals, free-from and vegan ranges, prepared fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, snacks and store cupboard staples, as well as wine, champagne, flowers and seasonal foods.

The trial builds on Waitrose’s existing partnership with Deliveroo, which delivers food from 150 Waitrose shops across the UK within 20 minutes.

James Bailey, executive director for Waitrose, said: “It’s important that we continue to evolve along with shopping behaviour to give our customers more options for how and when they want to shop with us. 

“Deliveroo has given us more flexibility in meeting customers’ needs and expanding our successful partnership to trial ‘Hop’ gives us an exciting opportunity to introduce more new customers to the excellent food and drink we offer.”

Carlo Mocci, chief business officer UK&I for Deliveroo, added: “We are delighted to announce that Waitrose will trial Deliveroo Hop, our new rapid grocery service. Deliveroo Hop complements our existing on-demand grocery service and will build on our successful partnership with Waitrose.”