Tesco has surpassed its own goal of rolling out the rapid delivery service, Whoosh, by 25%, with the option now available from 1,000 Express stores, as per a recent announcement by the supermarket. Tesco had originally aimed to offer the Whoosh service from 800 stores by the end of March. Currently, 55% of UK households can access the service that delivers 2,500 to 4,500 essential products in as little as 30 minutes, with delivery fees set at £2.99 for orders of £15 or more. Despite the one-hour delivery promise, more than 90% of orders arrive within 30 minutes, as per the figures from Whoosh delivery partner Stuart revealed in October.

The one-hour Whoosh service, which was silently launched from a single store in 2021, is now available from half of Tesco’s estate of Express convenience stores. Tesco has been refining the service since its launch, with new features added to the app, such as live tracking of the rider on a map and 15-minute delivery window estimates. “Our Whoosh service is rolling out at a rapid pace, opening in two Express stores a day on average this year,” said Greg Bertrand, head of Whoosh. “We’ve beaten our own target, and we are seeing growing evidence that customers love the quality, speed and convenience of the service.”

The Grocer’s George Nott’s article states that the Whoosh service offers customers a curated list of essential products for delivery. Since the service was launched, Tesco has expanded the range of products available on Whoosh to 2,500 to 4,500 items. Tesco’s Whoosh is increasingly popular among customers, with Greg Bertrand stating, “We are getting faster, and our availability is at a consistently high level. Whether it is a missing ingredient as you start to prepare a meal or ordering a Finest meal deal to eat that night, Whoosh can quickly come to the rescue.”

Tesco’s Whoosh is part of its strategy to expand its online business and reach out to younger customers. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have accelerated the shift to online grocery shopping, and Tesco’s rival supermarkets are also focusing on increasing their online offerings. The Whoosh service has undoubtedly given Tesco an advantage over its competitors, and Tesco’s efforts to improve and expand the service will likely enhance its customer base further.