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Tesco reveal drive through supermarket - just 42 miles away
(August 12, 2011)First ‘drive-through’ supermarket for Southampton shoppers
Tesco has opened its first drive-through supermarket in Southampton to help busy customers who want their shopping picked and packed for them but who don’t have the time to wait at home for delivery.
Run by the Tesco dotcom team – who deliver more shopping to more homes than any other grocery retailer in Europe – the service means Southampton shoppers can pick up their groceries at Tesco Southampton on Tebourba Way without having to leave their cars.
“We believe this will be especially popular with busy mums who have the school run and children’s activities to manage,” explained Ian Crook, Tesco.com Marketing Director. “It offers a solution to parents who want to avoid the challenge of shopping in a busy store with children in tow but can’t afford the time to stay in for the shopping to arrive to their door.
“We also expect it to help young professionals who want the convenience of a pre-picked and packed shop but who cannot commit to waiting at home for delivery. They can collect their shopping on the way home from work or at any other time that suits them during our extensive collection hours.”
Steve Cox, Store Manager at Southampton Store, is pleased to be able to offer this new service to his customers:
“We’re very excited about offering this new ‘drive-through’ service to our customers here in Southampton. I speak to customers every day about their shopping experience, and this new service will offer our customers even more choice in how they buy their shopping. Customers who are stretched for time, can now buy the same great products, at the same great prices, without having to leave their car!”
Tesco was the first retailer to trial drive-through supermarkets in its Baldock Extra and Romford Gallows Corner Extra stores, in August 2010. Following its success, the trial is now being extended to another twelve stores using new permanent collection point designs that will house the groceries in fully temperature controlled units until the customer is ready to drive through and pick up.
Customers order their shopping as usual on the Tesco.com website, choosing the ‘Click & Collect’ option and booking a two-hour collection slot. They can collect anytime inside this two-hour window.
Customers drive up to the drive-through collection point, which will be signposted, and pull into the covered space to show a member of staff their shopping reference details. Staff come to the customer’s car window so there is no need to get out, and the shopping is then packed into the boot.
The charge for picking and packing these groceries starts from just £2. Customers who would like help placing their first order can call Tesco’s dedicated UK-based call centre for new customers on 0845 0700811.
As with home delivery grocery orders, the charge is
added to the shopping bill so no money transaction takes place at the Click
& Collect point. Once the
shopping is packed, the customer then simply drives home.
Warminster resident Margaret Broughton comments
'Regarding the new Tesco supermarket
drive thru' in Southampton, I hope customers will use it and they will
then realise, whilst waiting in the queue[probably longer than the
check-out queue] that as always it will be Mr. Tesco who laughs all the
way to the Bank'