Get your Tesco groceries in 10 minutes via Gorillas

Tesco is working with an ‘ultra-fast’ delivery group called Gorillas to enable shoppers to get certain groceries in just 10 minutes.

As part of a pilot scheme, from 12pm today, certain Tesco products will be available for purchase on the Gorillas app and ‘immediately’ delivered to customers in a selected area near its Thornton Heath store in Croydon.

Customers will need to set up their own Gorillas account to use the service and a delivery charge of £1.80 will be added to the order.

Speedy delivery: Tesco is working with an ‘ultra-fast’ delivery group called Gorillas to enable shoppers to get certain groceries in just 10 minutes

It will see Gorillas establish ‘micro-fulfilment’ sites at five big Tesco stores, where staff from the speedy delivery firm will pick, pack and deliver to customers, according to the supermarket, ‘in the time it takes to pre-heat the oven’.

The location of all the stores taking part in the pilot will be revealed within the next few weeks or months, Tesco said.

The first micro-fulfilment site will use excess warehouse space within the chain’s Thornton Heath Tesco store and stock a selection of around 2,000 products.

Tesco said the service will prove useful for ‘last minute needs, from forgotten items such as nappies or milk, to dinner for that evening.’

Jason Tarry, Tesco UK & ROI chief executive, said: ‘The idea that we can reach our customers in just ten minutes is really exciting.

‘We are committed to being easily the most convenient choice for our customers, enabling them to shop whenever and however they want.

Expansion: Rapid delivery group Gorillas has ambitious expansion plans

‘This pilot with Gorillas will help customers get their products right away, supporting those looking to buy food for tonight or last minute forgotten items. We look forward to hearing what our customers think.’

Earlier this year, Tesco rolled out ‘Tesco Whoosh’, a 60-minute grocery delivery service, to around 50 Express stores. It expects this service to be available from 100 stores by the end of the year.

Adrian Frenzel, Gorillas’ chief operating officer, said: ‘We’re thrilled to be announcing this first-of-its-kind commercial and real estate partnership with Tesco.

‘As a fast-paced company at the forefront of the on demand grocery industry, we are always looking for ways to innovate, and this co-location partnership will bring unprecedented value to our customers in the UK who will now have the possibility to be delivered the best of Tesco within minutes thanks to Gorillas.’

Tesco said it delivered to 99.8 per cent of UK postcodes, with over 400 ‘Click & Collect’ locations.

Rival: Morrisons products are available via Deliveroo in some areas, bringing groceries to the door in as little as 30 minutes

A string of other big-name supermarkets have launched their own speedy delivery services for shoppers in a hurry.

In certain locations, shoppers can order from Sainsbury’s to get their groceries delivered within one hour. The minimum spend is £15 and a £4.99 delivery fee applies.

The Co-op has a tie-up with Deliveroo which means shoppers in certain areas can get their groceries delivered from within 30 minutes. A minimum order sum applies, and a service fee and delivery fee will be added unless shoppers are part of the ‘Deliveroo Plus’ scheme.

Last year, Asda partnered with Uber Eats to enable shoppers to get their items delivered in around 30 minutes. The service is available from around 100 Asda stores, with delivery costing around £3.99 in addition to a service fee of 10 per cent of the order cost charged.

Morrisons products are available via Deliveroo in some areas, bringing groceries to the door in as little as 30 minutes.

There are around 200 items available, with delivery costing £4.99, unless a shopper has Deliveroo Plus. A small service charge also has to be paid.