Technology: Tech crunch
7th May 2021
Zoom calls, video streaming, remote working. Coronavirus has turbo-charged the uptake of new technology in many aspects of our daily life – and independent convenience retailers are no exception.
During the first lockdown, many quickly realised their businesses needed the capability to do things like accept payments and orders remotely, first over the phone and then, increasingly, via the internet. This was crucial in order to keep up with the requirements of shoppers, who turned to online shopping and home delivery in their droves. A report from market analyst Lumina Intelligence earlier this year found nearly one in five shoppers had changed their primary method of grocery shopping to online, while 8% of convenience stores were now offering delivery.
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7th May 2021
The news that former Sainsbury’s boss Justin King is to invest a “substantial” sum of money in home delivery platform Snappy Shopper – and become a special advisor to the group – comes as a ringing endorsement of the independent convenience sector as it faces up to the challenges of the post-pandemic retail landscape.
The sector is facing massive competition for on-demand groceries at the moment. On the one hand there are the big multiples such as Waitrose, which has just expanded its deal with Deliveroo to more than 100 stores, offering groceries in as little as 20 minutes.
Then there are new operators such as Getir and Weezy, who are looking to deliver from a network of their own ‘dark stores’ around the country and effectively put independent corner shops out of business.
The way shoppers allocate attention and make choices at the point of purchase hasn’t changed
As we emerge into what we hope is the start of the post-Covid recovery, what has changed in our marketplace, what is the same, and what are the implications?
First, the way the UK eats. What has changed? More eating at home than pre-Covid. More in-home snacking, lunch and evening meals, as foodservice struggles to recover.
What is the same? The kind of food and meals we eat. If it’s a weeknight, it has to be easy, quick and familiar. If it’s a weekend, we either have a bit more time and energy to cook or we want a complete night off. If it’s quick lunch, it is super simple, cheap and mess-free. There is talk about a return to cooking and food involvement but this is slight, not radical. The implication? Stay focused on ease and speed to capitalise on the new in-home occasions.
Justin King joins tech platform the Snappy Group
- Industry veteran Justin King to join tech platform the Snappy Group as Senior Adviser and investor
- Appointment follows the launch of Series A fundraise to continue rapid expansion in the convenience and hospitality sectors
- The Snappy Group is formed of two businesses, Snappy Shopper Ltd and Hungrrr Ltd, operating in the growing UK convenience grocery sector and the hospitality sector respectively
- The Company s mission is to democratise e-Commerce technology by providing an affordable solution to local businesses enabling them to compete in the fast-growing home delivery market
LONDON, April 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/
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26th April 2021
Former Sainsbury’s boss Justin King has become a senior adviser to the Snappy Group, the technology platform that connects consumers with their local businesses, and has made a significant investment in the business.
King was chief executive of Sainsbury’s between 2004 and 2014. Before joining Sainsbury’s, he was head of food at Marks & Spencer, and has held many high-profile roles in a 30-year career spanning consumer goods and grocery retailing.
The Snappy Group currently has partnership agreements with several regional Co-ops, Nisa and Spar.
King said: “I have been hugely impressed by the Snappy Group’s affordable solution, leadership team and rapid growth. The company is championing the needs of businesses in their local community. Its proprietary technology provides local businesses with an affordable delivery solution which enables them to compete in this fast-changing market segment. This not only caters to the trend for top-up shopping bu