Walgreens Boots Alliance mentioned it will develop the Deliveroo partnership – first trialled in August final yr – to cowl 125 shops throughout the UK and supply customers home-deliveries on greater than 750 well being and sweetness merchandise. While Boots UK had lengthy had next-day click on and gather providers, the tie-up with Deliveroo marked its first foray into on-demand deliveries.
‘Extra handy and private procuring expertise’
Paula Bobbett, chief digital officer at Boots, mentioned: “The unique trial in 14 shops was an enormous success and gave us the chance to study in a short time what our clients need from a fast supply service. Now, as we develop to 125 shops throughout the UK, we may be positive the merchandise obtainable on the service are properly matched to buyer wants.”
The Deliveroo app gave customers entry to a variety of Boots’ well being and sweetness merchandise throughout make-up, skincare, child care, sexual wellness, fragrances and toiletries, together with from manufacturers like No7, Soltan, CeraVe and Paco Rabanne. Customers may additionally place house supply orders on meals, drink and snack gadgets from Boots, in addition to medicines for minor illnesses. Long term, the aim was to additionally introduce extra Boots gifting ranges to the providing, to assist with last-minute current concepts.
Walgreens Boots Alliance mentioned the Deliveroo partnership fashioned a part of a wider, ongoing funding in digital that aimed to offer customers with “a extra handy and private procuring expertise”.
Digital investments and development ‘overdue’
Again in Might 2022, Boots reported on-line gross sales by way of its web site had nearly doubled versus pre-COVID years throughout its third quarter (Q3). It additionally mentioned the Boots App now had greater than 5 million lively customers, up 32% year-over-year (YOY).
Late final yr, retail professional Chris Elliot, head of market insights at Edge by Ascential, mentioned it was good to see Boots investing extra in its digital enterprise, describing the Deliveroo partnership as “an excellent transfer, if not overdue”.
Elliot advised CosmeticsDesign-Europe the funding was particularly well timed, given the corporate was predicting it will lose market share over the following 5 years and rivals like Superdrug had been recording far stronger on-line gross sales.
“There are usually not too many market leaders shedding share. They’re clearly related information and realising they should do one thing,” he mentioned.
Deliveroo providing ‘higher selection and availability’
Deliveroo was additionally happy with the partnership growth.
Carlo Mocci, chief enterprise officer for UK and Eire at Deliveroo, mentioned the Boots partnership meant the app may present even “higher selection and availability to folks throughout the UK”.
“…Boots is a implausible companion for Deliveroo and vastly valued by our clients,” Mocci mentioned.
Deliveroo already labored with a number of well being and sweetness retailers and types throughout the UK, together with Holland & Barrett, Lloyds Pharmacy and Profit Cosmetics, regardless of remaining largely devoted to restaurant and grocery.
