Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, has warned on Wednesday that home delivery slots will not be available for most people amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Tesco COVID-19 updates Changes to online home delivery and Click+Collect. Find out about how we're helping the most vulnerable get home delivery slots and making sure everyone can get the essentials they need, while keeping you and our delivery drivers safe. Yes, we've introduced a limit of one order a week, which means you may be unable to see future delivery slots if you've recently made an order. This limit has enabled us to help thousands more customers secure a delivery slot and applies to all our customers, not just those with a Delivery Saver plan. Tesco says it has added 145,000 online delivery slots Credit: Getty - Contributor But despite upping its output, Tesco says 'there is simply not enough capacity to supply the whole market'. Tesco has apologised after its grocery website was overwhelmed with shoppers trying to book delivery slots for Christmas. Customers complained they had been forced to join an online queue for hours. The latest news on online supermarket deliveries from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and Ocado. Delivery slots, food boxes and priority booking information here.
The store says sales rocketed almost a third as shoppers stockpiled. But up to 90% of food sales will require a store visit.
People self isolating, and especially the extremely vulnerable staying home for 12 weeks, are desperate for grocery deliveries.
The reality is that despite huge efforts to boost delivery capacity, supermarkets can't provide enough to meet demand. And that's the same story across the whole grocery sector.
What Tesco did deliver on Wednesday was its annual results.
In the first weeks of this crisis sales rocketed 30% (with signs people in the south east did the most stockpiling).
There's been 45,000 new recruits at Tesco In the last fortnight. But despite a 20% increase in delivery capacity, the store says between 85 and 90% of food sales will rely on store visits.
On one hand Tesco is getting £585m of business rates relief - but on the other it's handing £900m to shareholders.
Increase in Tesco's sales in the weeks leading up to the coronavirus lockdown.
The company says the tax break only covers about half of the up to £925 million of extra costs it now faces - with staff absences and store changes. It says the money for shareholders is based on the strength of performance over the last year.
Worth mentioning that other supermarkets too are reporting a boost to online capacity. On Wednesday, Morrisons announced a new partnership with Deilveroo, the online food delivery firm. Via their app or website, customers can order from a list of essentials to be sent to their homes.
Despite efforts like that not everyone will get supermarket slots so friends, family and neighbours are crucial. And thousands of local vulnerable groups are helping with shopping.
Tesco Not Releasing Delivery Slots Online
You can find details here on the Covid Mutual Aid website.
Tesco Book A Slot
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As most of us have discovered, bagging a supermarket delivery right now is on a par with winning the lottery – the booking slots are snapped up straight away, meaning many vulnerable customers are struggling to find a solution to getting their food shopping. The government has provided stores with a list of clinically vulnerable people who qualify for priority booking, however, some are still unsure of how to book their delivery slots. We contacted Tesco to find out exactly how these customers can book online shops…
A spokesperson for Tesco told HELLO!: 'We have been working hard to increase the capacity of our online delivery service to help more customers gain access to this service when they need it.'
© Provided by Hello! tesco-signTesco are prioritising their vulnerable customers
How many vulnerable people have Tesco contacted?
Tesco COVID-19 updates Changes to online home delivery and Click+Collect. Find out about how we're helping the most vulnerable get home delivery slots and making sure everyone can get the essentials they need, while keeping you and our delivery drivers safe. Yes, we've introduced a limit of one order a week, which means you may be unable to see future delivery slots if you've recently made an order. This limit has enabled us to help thousands more customers secure a delivery slot and applies to all our customers, not just those with a Delivery Saver plan. Tesco says it has added 145,000 online delivery slots Credit: Getty - Contributor But despite upping its output, Tesco says 'there is simply not enough capacity to supply the whole market'. Tesco has apologised after its grocery website was overwhelmed with shoppers trying to book delivery slots for Christmas. Customers complained they had been forced to join an online queue for hours. The latest news on online supermarket deliveries from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and Ocado. Delivery slots, food boxes and priority booking information here.
The store says sales rocketed almost a third as shoppers stockpiled. But up to 90% of food sales will require a store visit.
People self isolating, and especially the extremely vulnerable staying home for 12 weeks, are desperate for grocery deliveries.
The reality is that despite huge efforts to boost delivery capacity, supermarkets can't provide enough to meet demand. And that's the same story across the whole grocery sector.
What Tesco did deliver on Wednesday was its annual results.
In the first weeks of this crisis sales rocketed 30% (with signs people in the south east did the most stockpiling).
There's been 45,000 new recruits at Tesco In the last fortnight. But despite a 20% increase in delivery capacity, the store says between 85 and 90% of food sales will rely on store visits.
On one hand Tesco is getting £585m of business rates relief - but on the other it's handing £900m to shareholders.
Increase in Tesco's sales in the weeks leading up to the coronavirus lockdown.
The company says the tax break only covers about half of the up to £925 million of extra costs it now faces - with staff absences and store changes. It says the money for shareholders is based on the strength of performance over the last year.
Worth mentioning that other supermarkets too are reporting a boost to online capacity. On Wednesday, Morrisons announced a new partnership with Deilveroo, the online food delivery firm. Via their app or website, customers can order from a list of essentials to be sent to their homes.
Despite efforts like that not everyone will get supermarket slots so friends, family and neighbours are crucial. And thousands of local vulnerable groups are helping with shopping.
Tesco Not Releasing Delivery Slots Online
You can find details here on the Covid Mutual Aid website.
Tesco Book A Slot
Coronavirus: Everything you need to know
Check the number of cases in your area with our interactive map
Listen and subscribe to our podcast
All the coronavirus information you need in one place - from health and work to what you can do to stop the spread of the virus
© @Copyright HELLO! Hello! Magazine
As most of us have discovered, bagging a supermarket delivery right now is on a par with winning the lottery – the booking slots are snapped up straight away, meaning many vulnerable customers are struggling to find a solution to getting their food shopping. The government has provided stores with a list of clinically vulnerable people who qualify for priority booking, however, some are still unsure of how to book their delivery slots. We contacted Tesco to find out exactly how these customers can book online shops…
A spokesperson for Tesco told HELLO!: 'We have been working hard to increase the capacity of our online delivery service to help more customers gain access to this service when they need it.'
© Provided by Hello! tesco-signTesco are prioritising their vulnerable customers
How many vulnerable people have Tesco contacted?
Tesco's CEO Dave Lewis said: 'On Thursday, we were given an initial list of 110,000 clinically and socially isolated people by the Government. From these, we were able to match 75,000 existing customers and we've already contacted them to let them know we're making home delivery slots immediately available to them. As we receive more data from Government, we'll make even more slots available.'
How do I book a Tesco delivery slot for a vulnerable person?
To book a slot for a vulnerable person, you need to go to tesco.com/groceries and log in. Vulnerable customers can book a priority slot with an eight-hour window for delivery.
MORE: Waitrose launches e-gift card for self-isolating customers during coronavirus
What if I don't have a Tesco account but am a vulnerable person?
If you don't currently have an account with Tesco but have received a letter from the NHS because you're classified as clinically vulnerable, you can create an account on their website or call Tesco on 0800 917 7359. The store can then check if you are on the government's list.
Is Tesco adding more online delivery slots?
Tesco CEO Dave Lewis said: 'We have increased our online delivery slots by 145,000 in the last two weeks with hundreds of thousands more due to become available shortly; but we know it's still difficult to get an online delivery slot at the moment due to high demand, and we ask those who are able to safely come to stores to do so, instead of shopping online, so we can start to free up more slots for the more vulnerable.'
Is Tesco recruiting more delivery drivers?
The supermarket is in the process of adding almost 200 new delivery vans and has recruited 2,500 new drivers and more than 5,000 pickers.
MORE:How to secure a Sainsbury's home delivery slot for a vulnerable person
What are Tesco's shopping times for vulnerable customers?
The Tesco website states: 'We want to help everyone through these uncertain times, especially those who need extra help. So all our stores (except Express stores) will be prioritising the elderly and most vulnerable for one hour between 9am and 10am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.'
