Online delivery has emerged as the new battlefront in the supermarket price war.
Tesco this week claimed customers could save up to £252 a year as it cut the price of morning and evening mid-week deliveries to £1 (from a previous low of £3) and its 12-month anytime Delivery Saver subscription fell from £72 to £60.
The announcement immediately sparking retaliatory claims. Asda said it has already been providing £1 slots, though Tesco claims to have more, and free click & collect. Sainsbury’s said it too offered free click & collect, as well as free delivery on four days of the week for orders over £100, unlike Tesco.
Ocado, which launched a subscription service in 2009, pointed to the recent launch of its Free Delivery Wednesday initiative.
“Cutting the cost of delivery will prevent some shoppers from having their heads turned by rivals,” said Kantar Retail analyst Bryan Roberts.
Robin Terrell, group multi-channel director at Tesco, said Tesco was determined to offer “market leading” delivery costs.
How do grocers’ online delivery offers match up?
| Standard prices | Subscription deals | Click & collect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | £1 for off-peak midweek only to £6 peak times | £3 per month for six months midweek-only Delivery Saver to £60 a year for 12 months’ anytime delivery | Free |
| Sainsbury’s | Standard delivery £3.95 or £5.95 for next day, named day or Sat deliveries | 12-month Delivery Pass anytime £100, or £75 for annual midweek delivery only pass | Free |
| Asda | £1 slots for midweek evenings up to £5.50 peak | £8 for one month Delivery Pass or £24 for three months | Free |
| Ocado | From free to £6.99 depending on timeslot | £109/yr anytime Smart Pass or £69/year for midweek only | N/A |
| Morrisons | £1 “quiet” slots to £5 peak currently only in Birmingham, Warwickshire and West Yorkshire | Not yet launched | Not yet launched |
1 Readers' comment