Central England Co-op links up with unique app to allow shoppers to get food and essentials delivered to their door

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 11/11/2020

Central England Co-op has linked up with Appy Shop to provide customers with the chance to have their food and essentials delivered right to their door whenever they want.

The trial service, which is running in parts of Norfolk, Leicester, Stafford and Burton, allows shoppers to order their co-op shop via a dedicated app and have it delivered to their door at a time of their choosing.

Shoppers choose items using the app which are then picked and packed at a nearby Central England Co-op store by local colleagues before being delivered to them via a special electronic vehicle.

Furthering its eco-credentials, the trial will also see all shopping delivered without the use of plastic bags.

Donna Jones, Food Store Manager, said: “We are proud to be one of the main hubs hosting this exciting trial that will allow local shoppers quick and convenient access to get food and vital essentials from their local Central England Co-op store.
“Recent times have really showed us all the benefits of being able to shop local with a trusted, community focused retailer and this trial with Appy Shop is another great extension of that way of thinking and how we, as a Society, are always trying to come up with more ways to improve the shopping experience for our customers and members.

“We are also pleased that the trial will see products picked and packed by colleagues at a local store and then delivered in an environmentally-friendly way with our special electronic vehicles.

“We are delighted to be able to help make shopping as easy and convenient as possible for customers so they can get what they want, when they want it direct to their door.”

Customers ordering via the Appy Shop website or app will have access to hundreds of products including everyday groceries, alcohol and snacks and be able to handpick a delivery slot which suits them.

All prices will be the same as in-store, there will be a £3 charge for delivery and there is a minimum order of £15. However, free delivery is being offered for first-time orders.

People can start ordering online now by downloading the Appy Shop app via the App Store or Google Play.

James Widdowson, Group Sales and Marketing Director for Appy Shop, said: “We are delighted to be working with Central England Co-op and to be recognised as the marketing leading online shopping solution in the convenience and forecourt sectors.

“To team up with Central England co-Op, an award-winning retail group, is a perfect match. Central England Co-Op are one of the UK’s most forward-thinking retail groups and it is very clear that they want the best solution for their customers.

“In what has been a difficult time for many, we are really pleased that our collaboration will help many groups of people and their communities.”

Notes to editors

Picture caption: Central England Co-op has teamed up with Appy Shop to offer home deliveries for customers.

About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK with interests in food, funeral, floral and property investment.

Co-operatives have always been there for their communities; they were formed to protect them and help them flourish. 

Our 7,550 colleagues who serve Members and customers work hard to ensure that co-operative values, principles and spirit flow through everything we do to help support and improve our local communities.

Owned by hundreds of thousands of Members, we have over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. 

We are proud of our reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.

We invest a percentage of our trading profit into local communities through our Community Dividend Fund scheme, have donated over £1.3 million to our corporate charity partner Dementia UK and also operate a pioneering food redistribution partnership with FareShare Midlands so unsold food goes to those in need.

Visit www.centralengland.coop for more information or follow us on Facebook or Twitter using @mycoopfood

Press office contacts: Rob Smyth and James Brindle

Phone - 01543 421390

Email - publicrelations@centralengland.coop

About Appy Shop

Appy Shop is part of the APPY TECH family (APPY Technologies Ltd), where the focus and ethos is to promote and help consumers shop locally and at their convenience, ‘Shop Local Anytime’.

Appy Shop is a marketing leading online shopping platform designed specifically for convenience stores, supermarkets and forecourts to enable their stores to offer a home delivery and or click and collect services. 

Founded in 2018, Appy Shop has gone from strength to strength, with nationwide coverage across the UK and some of the biggest names in retail now partnering with Appy Shop.