Competitor Watch

Parcel carrier Yodel and online flower company Nova Blooms are delivering 1,000 food boxes a day following a successful trial period.

Launched during the Covid-19 lockdown, the service marks Nova Blooms’ first step into the food market and allows customers to select the contents in their box to include everything from locally grown fruit and veg to fresh pasta and artisan bread.

Growth has been rapid, starting at just 10 orders a day. Yodel said demand is driven by customers seeking an alternative to sourcing their food from supermarkets, with many customers self- isolating.

The service has been so successful the company decided to continue it beyond lockdown. The expansion comes as a recent report from Kantar shows online sales accounted for 10.2 per cent of overall grocery sales in the 12 weeks to 19 April as consumers settled into lockdown, versus 7.4 per cent for the previous month.

Customers ordering Nova Blooms food delivery boxes have access to Yodel’s Xpect service, which provides customers with regular updates on their food box, including a two-hour window for delivery on the morning that it is due.

Sam Holden, chief commercial officer at Yodel, said: ‘Independent food delivery services have been one of the success stories in retail as consumers look for reliable, convenient ways to get their desired produce.

‘With specialist skills and expertise in food delivery, we pride ourselves on ensuring that perishable goods are handled with care and delivered on time. We’ve been working with Nova Blooms to deliver their flowers since December 2019, and we’re looking forward to being able to continue the partnership in the future.’