SA retailer Pick n Pay pilots in-store pick-up of online orders

The pilot store is in upmarket Table Bay Mall. The service was launched a week before Christmas and reached collection capacity within two days, according to a media statement.

Pick n Pay says it wants to increase the number of in-store collections and will add more stores to the pilot programme over the coming weeks.

“We aim to run the pilot for three months to gauge the value it provides customers, but the results after two weeks are already very promising,” explained Ansgar Pabst, Pick n Pay Head of General Merchandise: Ominchannel.

Customers can reserve a pick-up day in advance

Takealot customers can pick up most of their online orders, except very large appliances. The service is operational during store opening hours and customers can reserve a collection day in advance.

The two companies say a pick-up point is convenient for customers who aren’t available to wait for a delivery, or for those living in areas that don’t qualify for Takealot home delivery.

“We are thrilled to be piloting our first Takealot Pick-up Point in Pick n Pay. We see it as a great way to create more convenience for our shoppers by offering them a hassle-free, fast way to pick up their orders while shopping for groceries,” says Frederik Zietsman, Takealot.com CEO.

Adds Pabst: “Our stores have evolved from just a place to shop for your groceries. They are a place for time-strapped customers to pay their bills…or do their banking, to name a few. We are now taking this a step further to let customers combine their online purchases pick-up with their grocery shopping. We believe this will save them time and maximise convenience.”

Takealot is facing increased competition from Checkers, the FMCG retailer owned by Shoprite, which has a popular 60-minute home-delivery service called Sixty60. Amazon is also entering the online retail sector in South Africa within the next month or two.