Vroom Delivery partners with Uber Direct to offer alcohol delivery via Pennsylvania convenience retailers

Vroom Delivery has partnered with Uber to enable alcohol delivery for its convenience retailers in Pennsylvania via the Uber Direct platform.

Retailers will be able to offer alcohol delivery on their apps and websites to consumers through Vroom Delivery’s first-party ordering software, with orders delivered by Uber couriers.

Orders must adhere to all state requirements. For example, there are regulatory limits on the volume of beer and wine that can be placed in a single order that must be enforced by the online ordering platform, Vroom Delivery. couriers delivering via Uber Direct are also required to attain physical or digital permits to deliver alcohol.

“Helping retailers meet their customers’ expectations and grow their businesses through their own channels is at the heart of what Uber Direct offers," says Bernie Huddlestun, General Manager of Uber Direct for US and Canada.

"Research shows 75% of consumers expect express delivery as an option. By working with Vroom Delivery to help make alcohol delivery possible for Pennsylvania retailers in a seamless way, we look forward to helping local businesses meet their customers’ expectations and continue to grow.”

Several pilot stores launched the joint programme in Pennsylvania in September, and over 200 additional stores across the state are set to launch within the next two months.

In addition to alcohol, retailers will be able to offer everything in their store, tapping Vroom Delivery’s Automated Menu Management (AMM) system that automatically lists all inventory that is in-stock within the physical store without any manual menu maintenance by the retailer.

This allows for large, accurate menus with thousands of SKUs as well as the same deals and offers that are available in-store. Stores will also be able to utilise their loyalty programmes online for customers that are already enrolled and new customers may elect to sign up when placing an order.

“Before we launched this partnership with Uber, Pennsylvania retailers who wanted to offer online ordering of alcohol had to work through the intricacies of State regulations alongside a compliant courier service in what was a cumbersome and time-consuming process,” says John Nelson, CEO at Vroom Delivery.

“We have now made this process generalisable so that any retailer on Vroom Delivery that sells alcohol in-store can now do so online in a compliant manner. We are excited to see what this can do to boost the online sales and customer base for our partner retailers not only in the alcohol category, but also to their food service offerings as this becomes an increasingly important part of the industry.” 

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

On demand delivery is a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which is now open for entries.

The awards, sponsored by CADS, 3D Cloud, Retail Technology Show 2025, and Business France, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.