Quick commerce: an emerging channel
08 February 2022Explore the rise of quick commerce, driven by demand for rapid delivery, and the opportunities and challenges retailers face in this emerging channel.
‘Quick commerce’ or ‘Rapid delivery’ has been around for some time. Pre-pandemic, Deliveroo and Uber Eats had already established themselves as players in on-demand delivery in the UK. However, more recently, COVID-19 and the take-up for online shopping and delivery services quickly saw these last milers change focus to grocery.
In addition, the pandemic has hugely accelerated the development of businesses delivering groceries and essentials to shoppers quickly. 2021 saw the launch and expansion of additional specialist on-demand rapid delivery startups in one or more UK towns or cities, including the likes of Jiffy, Getir, Gopuff, Gorillas and Zapp, operating from dark stores.
With 1 in 3 using or interested in using quick commerce in the UK and a potential market size of £3.3bn, this emerging channel presents significant opportunities. However, first understanding the distinct shopper profile, which tends to be younger adults living in urban locations, will be key. Having the right range to meet the specific missions of quick commerce shoppers will also be fundamental to winning in this emerging channel. These include products for food-to-go and evening meals but there is also a need to explore emerging missions such as late-night munchies, last-minute party and event essentials, and of course, the morning after etc.
If you’re looking to capitalise on the quick commerce channel, start by asking yourself:
Do you know how shoppers are engaging with your brands on these platforms?
And do you know how to translate this into a winning quick commerce strategy?
Next steps
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