Uber Eyes Supermarket Delivery In Europe

Uber Eyeing Supermarket Delivery In Europe

Uber is talking to European supermarkets about partnering up for a potential grocery delivery service to compete with rivals like Deliveroo and Amazon, according to a report by Bloomberg

The company was in talks with the second largest grocery chain in the U.K., Sainsbury’s, which announced a recent partnership with Deliveroo this month to deliver hot pizza to homes in four U.K. cities. 

“We’re currently speaking with a number of the major supermarkets around Europe,” an Uber spokesman said.

Amazon recently led a $575 million investment round in Deliveroo, which the company said it was going to use to expand and grow past rivals like Uber. 

“We talk to many companies about potential partnerships that could help our customers access convenient and affordable products,” a Sainsbury’s spokesman said. 

Shares in online grocer Ocado Group dipped on the news and then bounced back 2.3 percent higher in London. Uber shares went up 1.5 percent and Sainsbury’s dipped 0.6 percent. Ocado partnered this year with Marks & Spencer Group on grocery delivery, and antitrust regulators in the U.K. started investigating the Amazon Deliveroo deal.

In other grocery delivery news, Sam’s Club recently announced that some of its shoppers using Instacart can now receive same-day alcohol delivery.

The service is now available in more than 200 locations in select markets, with plans to expand to additional locations in the coming months. The delivery options allow customers to get any of the hundreds of Sam’s Club’s alcohol options — including Member’s Mark Sangria, Member’s Mark Asolo-Prosecco and Member’s Mark Moscato D’Asti, as well as member favorites like Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, Modelo Especial and Tito’s Handmade Vodka — in as fast as one hour.

Sam’s Club is focused on offering quality products, unexpected finds and better customer experiences,” said Racquel Harris, the company’s vice president, adult beverage, in a press release. “Now you can select the perfect bottle of wine to complement your dinner or stock up on your favorite beer or spirits for the big game with the convenience of delivery.”