Convenience stores operating under the Londis, Spar and Jet fascias will be the first Dropzone outlets for goods bought on the internet. In July, Dropzone 1 will test the concept in the Reading area, but there are plans for a national launch by the end of the summer. The test area, which has 220,000 homes, will involve 25 stores. The service will be free to customers for the trial period, but will normally cost £1 per order, to be paid by the customer at the point of ordering online. The company ­ www.dropzone1.co.uk ­ will advise customers by e-mail when the goods have arrived. Dropzone 1 director Lynda Wallace said there would be no perishable goods ordered online and expected the key lines to be books, videos, computer software, games and wine. Wallace said she was confident of having 5,000 outlets in the scheme for the national launch, although they won't all be drawn from Jet, Spar and Londis. She said: "We are about to sign up another petrol chain and I believe we shall ultimately be working with six petrol and c-store groups." Wallace said the participating stores would receive a small handling fee, but believed they would benefit most from increased footfall. The e-tailing question was raised at last week's Association of Convenience Stores conference. Chief executive Trevor Dixon said: "We see it as an opportunity for c-stores, but the ACS board will need to take a view on it." He explained: "Our members are acting individually at the moment, but may ultimately decide on a collective approach. December will see the run-up to an e-christmas' and we mustn't squander the opportunity." {{NEWS }}

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