LONDON, UK — Start-up in the United States that specialises in same-day delivery Gopuff announced on Friday that it had teamed with Morrisons, a British grocery store, to deliver items to people’s doors in minutes.
Gopuff will sell Morrisons products through its app in more than 20 cities across the United Kingdom as part of the multi-year deal. Morrisons will serve as Gopuff’s distributor, delivering vital supplies from a network of dark stores, or small warehouses.
Morrisons Chief Executive David Potts stated in a statement, “This relationship will enable us to deliver a very robust selection of Morrisons fresh food and customer favourites to front doors across the U.K. in a matter of minutes.”
It’s Gopuff’s first partnership with a competitor retailer in Europe. According to the corporation, it does not have any equivalent agreements in the United States.
The rapid grocery frenzy has swept the United States and Europe, with several start-ups including as Getir, Gorillas, and Jokr now offering 10-minute deliveries.
Deliveroo, a British food delivery company, launched Hop, a speedy grocery delivery service with Morrisons, in September. Hop is only accessible in London for now.
The market for same-day grocery delivery is already showing symptoms of consolidation. Following the purchase of quick delivery start-ups Dija and Fancy, Gopuff only recently launched in the United Kingdom and France. Meanwhile, Getir, based in Istanbul, has bought Weezy, a British competitor.
The purchase will help Gopuff continue its expansion in the United Kingdom, according to the company, which has raised $3.4 billion in capital to date from investors including SoftBank.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with one of the largest and most beloved brands in the industry as we continue to extend Gopuff’s presence and product range across the United Kingdom,” Gopuff CEO and co-founder Yakir Gola said.
Morrisons is currently being sold for $10 billion to Clayton, Dubilier and Rice (CD&R), a private equity group based in the United States.
On Thursday, the UK’s competition authority expressed concern that the merger could raise gasoline costs in the country, threatening to launch an in-depth investigation if those worries aren’t addressed.
