PnP, Woolies intensify delivery battle

The on-demand grocery delivery space has become more competitive, with Pick n Pay and Woolworths both announcing improved on-demand delivery offerings this week.

On Monday Woolworths announced it will be merging its online shopping and delivery modes – Woolies Dash and the Woolworths App – into a single comprehensive app. And on Tuesday, Pick n Pay announced customers in selected areas of Cape Town and Johannesburg can now buy over 10 000 products on the Takealot-owned Mr D Food app.

These are attempts by the grocery retail giants to catch up with Checkers which has stayed ahead of the curve with its Sixty60 offering, which launched in 2019 and has since cemented its reputation as the go-to grocery delivery platform for many households.

Pick n Pay

Pick n Pay’s partnership with Mr D Food was announced in May when the group launched its new growth strategy, the Ekuseni strategic plan.

The partnership will allow Pick n Pay customers to buy products on the Mr D app at the same prices charged in-store – and earn the Smart Shopper points and eBucks they would on regular shopping.

Plans are to expand the service to 300 stores by December.

The retailer has also followed Sixty60’s lead, promising order deliveries within a 60-minute time frame. “The demand for online grocery shopping has grown rapidly, and there is huge potential for further growth,” says Vincent Viviers, executive co-head of omnichannel at Pick n Pay.

Woolworths

Woolworths says the move to merge its online shopping and delivery offerings will be available at 100 stores across the country.

Customers will be able to choose between scheduled delivery, click and collect, or on-demand delivery. “A seamless omnichannel experience is at the heart of strategy,” says head of online Liz Hillock. “Our customers have expressed their preference to have one app to do all of their Woolies shopping and manage their services.”

Woolies stores will be transitioning to the consolidated omnichannel up until today, and Woolies Dash will officially stop taking orders tomorrow.