A.F. Blakemore Working With Gorillas

-

It has been confirmed that SPAR wholesaler A.F. Blakemore is a supply partner of rapid grocery delivery firm Gorillas.

According to trade publication betterRetailing, staff at a Gorillas ‘dark site’ in London revealed its main supply of ambient goods was being provided by Blakemore Wholesale Distribution.

One employee at the site is quoted as saying: “Our big suppliers are the national wholesalers where we get the majority of our ambient goods. Blakemore is the one we use the most.”

A raft of new firms, including Getir, Gopuff, and Gorillas, are offering deliveries within minutes of ordering, prompting traditional supermarket groups to rethink their business models. They are also becoming competition to independent convenience stores due to the speed and ease of their service in local areas.

Last month, Morrisons teamed with Gopuff to further expand its presence in the rapid grocery delivery market. Waitrose also recently began a trial of Deliveroo Hop, a dark store-based rapid grocery delivery service Deliveroo debuted in partnership with Morrisons in September last year. And last October, Tesco teamed up with Gorillas in an arrangement that saw the German start-up open micro-fulfilment sites at five Tesco stores, with orders delivered by e-bike within minutes.

Responding to a request by betterRetailing to comment on the partnership with Gorillas, Blakemore Wholesale’s Managing Director James Russell said: “E-commerce continues to transform the grocery industry as customer habits demand instant satisfaction. We were very quick to identify this growing trend and as a leading delivered wholesaler and supply chain provider, we are helping fulfil these demands in this developing segment of the market. Like many other distribution and wholesale providers, we supply a variety of customers in the marketplace including immediate convenience.”

Popular posts from this blog

Savory, sweet, or something else? British snack preferences

-
Image
As  more Britons incorporate snacks into their daily routines , understanding their preferences could be essential for brands looking to capture a share of the market. From fruits and vegetables to indulgent confectionary and savoury treats, the snacking landscape in the UK is diverse. When it comes to daily snacking frequency, fruits and vegetables lead the way. Research shows that 57% of Britons snack on fruits daily, while 41% eat vegetables just as often. These healthy options are staples in the British diet; however, indulgence also has its place in the snacking routine.  Confectionary items are a popular choice, with 45% of Britons indulging weekly. Similarly, crisps (41%) and savoury biscuits (32%) are go-to snacks for many, highlighting the nation’s love for salty and crunchy treats.  Yogurt is another favoured option, with 24% of Britons enjoying it daily and 30% weekly. Despite being promoted as nutritious options, only a small percentage of respondents consume ...
Read more

Inside Lidl’s strategy for in-store bakery (and how suppliers can help)

-
Image
Lidl is making a major play for in-store bakery and it’s not afraid to shout about it. The discounter – which is currently the sixth largest grocer in the UK by market share [Statista] – recently overtook Tesco to secure the biggest slice of in-store bakery (ISB). Data from Kantar showed that Lidl, which was crowned  Bakery Retailer of the Year  at the 2023 Baking Industry Awards, had pipped the UK’s largest supermarket  with 18.2% of the ISB market compared to Tesco’s 18%. Speaking at the British Society of Baking conference earlier this year, Holly Bleach, head of buying at Lidl, described bakery as “critical” to Lidl as it’s one of the categories that drives overall customer satisfaction. “We’re set up to be really successful in bakery in the UK due to the prominence of our bakeries in store. More often than not, they’re right by the front door so every customer that walks in has to pass the bakery and not many can resist stopping and obviously picking up an item,” she...
Read more