Co-op’s Delivery Robots Rolling Out In Yorkshire

 Namnews, 30th November 2022

Co-op is bringing its autonomous grocery delivery robots to the streets of Leeds in Yorkshire.

The service will be available to 20,000 residents initially within the Adel and Tinshill area of the city, with groceries picked in local Co-op stores on Spen Lane (Tinshill) and Otley Road (Adel).

Orders are made through the Starship food delivery app, with customers able to choose from a range of grocery items, schedule their delivery, then drop a pin where they want their delivery to be sent.

Customers can order their delivery to arrive in under an hour and watch the Starship robot travel in real-time via an interactive map. Customers receive an alert when the robot arrives, and can meet and unlock it through the app.

The expansion in the North of England for the first time follows the Co-op’s introduction of autonomous deliveries in Milton Keynes, Bedford, Northampton, Cambourne, and most recently Cambridge. Since the robots were first introduced into the UK, an estimated 1.1 million miles of car journeys have been saved with a 445-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.

Chris Conway, E-Commerce Director at Co-op, said: “Co-op is committed to exploring new and innovative ways to increase access to its products and services. Our members and customers lead busy lives and so ease, speed and convenience is a cornerstone of our approach.

“Co-op stores are well placed to provide quick home deliveries in communities with products picked fresh in our local stores – whether that is a full grocery shop or for those last-minute top-ups, treats for evenings at home or forgotten items. We are delighted to be expanding into Yorkshire to provide flexible, quick and convenient options online for shoppers in our communities.”