Woolworths Group and Uber Eats are partnering to make same-hour grocery delivery a reality across Australia, with Woolworths Metro set to feature on the Uber Eats app.
From next week, a dozen Woolworths locations will begin to become visible on Uber Eats for account holders based in Sydney and Melbourne, giving Australians fast access to fresh fruit and vegetables as well as hundreds of household staples delivered in under 60 minutes.
“At Woolworths, we’re always looking to make it easier for our customers to shop in ways that work for them,” Woolworths Metro general manager Justin Nolan said.
“This partnership will give our customers a fast, reliable and effortless way to get groceries delivered to their door within an hour. It will be an ideal option for those smaller top up or last-minute shopping needs and complement our existing eCommerce offer.
“Importantly, it will also help us meet the needs of customers seeking to limit their community outings during the pandemic.”
The partnership will begin in Sydney and Melbourne from 30 August, before expanding across the eastern seaboard in the coming weeks. A network of Woolworths locations will be available nationally on Uber Eats under the Metro brand by early next year.
“Through COVID-19, we’ve seen demand for home-delivery grow as people look for ways to get what they need while staying at home,” Uber Eats regional general manager for Retail ANZ Lucas Groeneveld said.
“This demand is only set to continue as customers increasingly look for faster delivery as the new normal.
“By linking up with Woolworths, Uber Eats is well positioned to usher in a new era of ease for Australian households – strengthening our platform’s appeal as the place to head to go anywhere or get anything.”
Each delivery placed on Uber Eats from a virtual Woolworths storefront will be packed by Woolworths personal shoppers, before being passed on to Uber Eats delivery people to fulfil the delivery.
The partnership extends beyond ordering directly from Woolworths on the Uber Eats app. This month, Uber will also partner with Woolworths to provide more delivery options for customers ordering through the supermarket’s website.
This will see Uber provide last mile delivery solutions to Woolworths’ existing online retail operation, commencing in Brisbane and Toowoomba before rolling out to other locations to help Woolworths meet customer demand.
The launch stores will be Balaclava, Hadfield and Hawthorn in Melbourne, and Bondi, Maroubra Beach, Padstow, Park Sydney (Erskineville), Pyrmont, Randwick, Redfern, Rose Bay and Rozelle in Sydney.
The stores will offer customers a curated range of around 1,200 products.