Co-op launches grocery app Peckish for independent retailers

Co-op has announced the launch of its new million-pound grocery delivery app, Peckish, which offers a “technologically advanced” service to thousands of independent retailers looking to serve their customers and communities online. 

Following a successful trial run in 30 stores last year, Co-op has pledged an initial £1m investment for the first year of Peckish. They aim to have over 1,000 stores signed up within the first year and potentially triple that number by the third year.

The Peckish app aims to overcome barriers that independent retailers face when moving to selling online, including cost, scale and resource. 

This app will allow smaller-scale bricks-and-mortar retailers to have a presence online and enable more consumers to quickly and conveniently shop local. 

According to Co-op, more than 86% of the UK population have access to its groceries online via its own online shop and Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats. 

Independent retailers who use Peckish can select the price, enabling them to match in-store prices and can also choose whether to deliver the online orders themselves, or for it to be managed through Co-op’s order management system and delivered “quickly and conveniently” locally through Co-op’s delivery partners in under 30 minutes. 

Peckish will link with a retailer’s EPOS system, saving manual tasks such as pricing and stock control and management. 

In addition, retailers who sign up will receive a range of support including data, trends and insight from Co-op’s quick commerce team, point of sale material, window stickers, leaflets, shelf talkers, digital and social media assets, posters and banners. 

Matt Hood, managing director of Co-op Food, said: “The growth and popularity of quick commerce in the UK is exceptional, as consumers’ appetite for a convenient grocery delivery service in as little as 30 minutes from ordering, increases almost weekly. We are experts in running small, local convenience shops and the leading quick comm operator, and I’m excited about being able to share this expertise with all our neighbouring independent retailers.

“We know that smaller local shops, like our own, operate at the heart of the local community life. The ‘shop local’ sentiment is strong amongst consumers, and Peckish can help more retailers connect quickly online with their customers, providing greater consumer choice locally, and promoting healthier and more viable high streets and communities.”