Rapid grocer Gopuff is preparing to offer UK couriers the option of per-order payment for deliveries, The Grocer understands.
At present Gopuff pays its delivery drivers an hourly rate of around £10 with an additional 50p for every delivery made. Drivers – the company prioritises vehicle couriers over bike riders – use Gopuff’s Godrive app to book shifts of between six and eight hours.
But the company – which launched in the UK in November promising delivery of groceries within 15 minutes – is preparing to turn on the option of ‘unscheduled’ work. Couriers would head to a dark store location and accept orders when offered on the app, similar to the model utilised by Deliveroo and Uber Eats.
This option was made available in the US, where Gopuff was founded, last year. Riders there report dark store operators prioritise couriers with scheduled shifts over unscheduled ones.
Regarding the UK rollout of the employment model, a Gopuff spokeswoman confirmed only that “at the moment riders cannot accept individual deliveries”.
Speaking to The Grocer on Gopuff’s consideration of the ‘gig economy’ employment model, Alberto Menolascina, UK general manager at Gopuff said the firm was in “constant dialogue with our riders to assess their needs”.
“We understand that all around the world, employment models are complex and rapidly evolving, so we always ensure we are following local regulations,” he added.
A job advert for Gopuff UK delivery drivers posted this week states applicants will be “independent contractors” and receive a “per-order commission” although also notes a “guaranteed hourly minimum”. Unlike most rapid players, which give riders an electric bike or moped and cover their insurance and any fuel – something Gopuff did on launch in the UK – the drivers sought in the Gopuff ad are expected to use “their own reliable car” and must have their own insurance.
Gopuff’s expected switch to gig working is markedly different to the direct employment model currently adopted by Gopuff’s rapid grocery rivals. However, many of its peers are now considering turning on the on-demand option in response to cost pressures and what they say are requests from riders for greater flexibility.
Despite the sector’s 15-minute delivery promise, the use of gig economy couriers is feasible. Deliveroo’s rapid grocery service Deliveroo Hop already uses the company’s existing network of gig-economy riders rather than directly employing any, although its rider base is significantly higher than the rapid players.
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