Katherine Wastell swaps Co-op Digital Technology for Public Digital
Katherine Wastell has departed Co-op Digital Technology, where she served as Head of Experience Strategy and Design, and is joining digital transformation consultancy Public Digital.
She tweeted yesterday: “Today’s my last day at @coopuk after 5 years leading design and CX teams. I’ve learnt loads, pushed for change (and faced a lot of challenge), and met good friends. But it’s time to move on.”
According to Wastell’s LinkedIn profile, she was responsible for “shaping the future Co-op experience, creating compelling journeys between digital, physical, offline, customer service, and marketing touchpoints.”
“Back in 2020 I made a case to focus our effort on the holistic experience across Co-op, taking what I'd done with digital design into the wider brand experience. I won exec-level support and set up customer experience as a new function at Co-op in January 2021.”
Amazon and robots
In September of last year, Co-op announced a new partnership with Amazon and an acceleration of robot deliveries.
The moves were part of the UK retailer’s plan to more than double online sales from £70 million to £200 million by the end of 2022
The partnership with Amazon gives Prime customers the ability to do their full Co-op grocery shop on Amazon UK, with same-day delivery and two-hour scheduled time slots (included with Prime membership on orders over £40, and £3.99 for orders under £40, minimum value £15).
Initially launching in Glasgow – including surrounding areas such as Hamilton and Paisley - the initiative was rolled out to other parts of the UK by the end of the year, with an ambition that it would become a nationwide service.
Co-op also confirmed the extension of its partnership with Starship Technologies, which was launched by the co-founders of Skype, allowing the delivery of groceries in as little as 20 minutes.
This increased the number of autonomous vehicles operating and delivering Co-op groceries from 200 to 500 by the end of 2022, bringing them to five new towns and cities, including Cambridgeshire, and extending the service into the north of England.
Steve Murrells, Group Chief Executive at Co-op, said: “The pandemic has accelerated changes in consumer shopping trends and we’re driving forward with exciting plans to provide rapid kerb to kitchen grocery delivery services.”
“We are delighted to be working with Amazon. Its reach and leading technology and innovative approach means greater convenience for people in their communities. This, combined with our extended partnership with Starship Technologies, marks a significant milestone in our online strategy.”
Jo Whitfield, Chief Executive at Co-op Food, commented: “Co-op stores across the country are well placed to serve shoppers locally and a key part of our strategy is to further develop our e-commerce offer by using the competitive advantage of our store footprint to provide ultra-fast home deliveries.”
“As a convenience retailer, the ability to come into stores will always be important to customers, but we also know that they want flexible options online.”
“Our commercial strategy is focused on getting closer to where they are to provide what they need, however and wherever they choose to shop with us.”
