Which? research flags significant rapid delivery app markups on UK supermarket products
Ordering groceries via a delivery app can cost more than a third extra than buying direct from a supermarket, even before factoring in a delivery charge, according to a new Which? report.
Some items were more than twice the cost via an app the study that focused on a basket of 15 items from Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Iceland and Waitrose via the grocers’ own websites and on Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats.
Which? said: “Ordering groceries from Deliveroo, Just Eat or Uber Eats is undeniably convenient. In some areas, you can get your shopping list delivered to your door in as little as 30 minutes. But there can be a significant cost attached to this convenience.”
Deliveroo charges 99p to £4.49 fee for orders under £15, plus a service fee of between 99p and £2.49.
At Just Eat, this ranges from between nothing and £4.50, alongside a “small order fee” set by the supermarket, and a further service fee of between 50p and £1.99, according to Which?.
Uber Eats, meanwhile, has no minimum spend, but there’s a service fee of between 99p and £2.99.
Buying direct from a supermarket’s website also means paying delivery charges, and spending a minimum amount of £25 at Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, or £40 at Asda, Iceland and Waitrose.
Waitrose said: “Deliveroo offers a convenient service for our customers who want Waitrose food and drink within 30 minutes. Our prices are clearly marked on their app and are a fair reflection of the costs involved in running this service, including assembling and packing orders.”
Asda said: “The pricing of products ordered through our rapid delivery partners reflects the speedy service that is being provided. Products are selected in-store by colleagues and delivered by partners to customers doors in less than an hour.”
Sainsbury’s said: “These popular rapid delivery services allow our customers to order items from their local store and prices are influenced by a range of factors.”
Uber Eats said: “Everyone who partners with Uber Eats sets their own prices and we always encourage them to match the prices offered in-store.”
Just Eat said: “As independent businesses, any restaurant or grocer using Just Eat are in control of their menus and set the prices they charge. We continue to work closely with our partners to bring value to our customers.”
Deliveroo said: “The prices for grocery items available on the Deliveroo platform are set by our grocery partners.” It added that Morrisons and Asda had agreed that the price of hundreds of their most popular items would be the same in-store as on the app.
Both Morrisons and Iceland did not respond to our request to comment.
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