Grocer Gold Awards 2022: online supermarket of the year

Winner: Tesco

Tesco added one million new customers to its online service through the pandemic, and many have remained since lockdowns eased. 

That’s a testament to the continued development of Tesco’s online services. Ranking first for online (among other metrics) in our Britain’s Favourite Supermarket survey, Tesco got the basics right, adding a further 100 new Click & Collect locations last year, while the momentum behind plans to open 25 urban fulfilment centres to enable faster pickup and quicker deliveries – delayed by the pandemic – picked up, with a fifth ufc opening last month.

Co-located in existing stores and fulfiling online orders using automated technology, they make picking less disruptive to customers, while allowing Tesco to offer even more home delivery slots.

But it’s Tesco’s investment in rapid delivery that’s been the most marked development of the last year, with the launch of Whoosh in May 2021, which promises deliveries within 60 minutes and fulfils orders from the supermarket’s convenience store estate, already available from 200 stores, and at least 600 stores will offer the range by the end of next year, supported by a strategic partnership signed with Uber Eats in May.

Tesco also partnered with rapid grocer Gorillas in October to trial 10-minute deliveries. The ongoing pilot uses co-located physical warehouses with around 2,000 products inside five large Tesco stores.

Shortlisted:

• Asda
• Iceland Foods
• Ocado Retail