Tesco’s plans to open the UK’s first drive-through supermarket will give the leading retailer the edge in the online grocery business by giving shoppers what they want, greater convenience, according to analyst Verdict.
Simon Chinn, retail consultant at Verdict, said: ‘Tesco’s trial of the ‘Click and Drive’ model illustrates its willingness to try new retail concepts and techniques that have proved successful in other parts of the world.
“In the UK, Tesco will have the first mover advantage with the service and if the trial in Hertfordshire proves successful we expect Tesco to progressively roll out the scheme to additional stores across the country.
“There is also significant potential for Tesco to extend the service to its so called ‘dark stores’, dotcom-only stores that handle online orders. Using a similar model pioneered by Auchan’s Chronodrive in France, Tesco could create pick up areas at these dotcom distribution warehouses to allow customers to collect their online grocery orders from these locations.”
Source: Verdict
