Uber Eats Enters UK Convenience Market With Costcutter Partnership

In the delivery app’s reported first foray into the U.K. convenience sector, Uber Eats has entered into a nationwide partnership with Costcutter. With the newly launched partnership, retailers in the symbol group will have the ability to sign up for the delivery platform via the Costcutter Supermarkets Group (CSG) after a pilot in stores throughout London and “the south east,” The Grocer reported.

Retailers within the symbol group operate with the Costcutter, Simply Fresh, Supershop, Kwiksave and Mace banners. CSG retailers have the ability to sign up for the platform with multiple regional roadshows to take place throughout the country in the weeks to come to show the app. A host of items can be delivered through the app, with the inclusion of essentials like butter and bread, milk, “meal for tonight” options, sweet treats and alcoholic drinks.

“With 28% of food and groceries now purchased online in the UK, our partnership with Uber Eats is a great way to reach new customers and demonstrates our continued commitment to helping our independent retailers thrive,” said Costcutter Marketing Director Sean Russell, according to the report.

Uber Eats noted per the report that retailers in the pilot benefited from an average of £1,500 added to monthly retail sales. And, through the CSG’s Shopper First dashboard that offers merchants insights into the local shopper behavior, the range on the app can be customized to satisfy demand. 

In separate Uber Eats news stateside, Uber Eats recently announced that it has rolled out a new pickup feature nationwide. The function was tested in San Diego, Phoenix, Austin, Texas and Dallas. It was made available across the country on Oct. 18. The company’s rivals — DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub and — already offer a pickup service to their customers.

“This gives eaters more flexibility in how they access food and provides them the option to order through Uber Eats and collect the food themselves,” Elspeth Rollert, Uber Eats U.S. head of restaurant brand marketing, told USA Today per past reports.