Asda plans three home shopping centres in online expansionAsda is to open three new home shopping centres, and expand its click and collect operation as part of a five year plan to expand its online retail business.
Plans include the acquisition of an automated click and collect “pod” technology concept that will see orders delivered to a temperature controlled unit ready for collection by the customer.
It will increase the number of click and collect points from 400 to 600, expand its Drive-Thru click and collect points to 200 and expand same day click and collect services to 100 new sites; bringing the total up to 350.
The first pods will be trialled in early 2015. The technology has been developed in Holland and sees online food and general merchandise shopping orders delivered to stand-alone temperature controlled units where customers can collect their purchases at a time that is convenient to them.
President and CEO Andy Clarke said: “In what is still a challenging market, I am delighted that we are able to make an investment that will not only step on delivery of our strategy, but also bring new and convenient ways for our customers to shop with us.
“We’re also creating an online experience that logically fits with how our customers want to shop and focuses on the areas that our customers love. Ultimately, we want to give more people access to the price, quality and style that we are famous for.”
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Asda uses Highgate tube station as a collection point.
The retailer launched the first tube station collection points in London, and has trialled automated collection lockers at its Pudsey store in Leeds.
Asda is also restructuring its online stores. Currently Asda.com is used to access three online stores: Grocery Home Shopping, George.com, and Asda Direct.
From February, 80 per cent of Asda Direct ranges will be merged into Asda’s Grocery Home Shopping and George.com online stores. Large electrical and DIY items will no longer be available from Asda.com but will continue to be available in Asda Stores. George.com will become Asda’s online lifestyle store.
