Noord-Brabant-based Jumbo Supermarkets and Berlin-based grocery delivery startup Gorillas announced that they have agreed on a strategic partnership in the Netherlands and the Flanders region in Belgium.
According to a statement, this partnership will focus on the growing market for instant online groceries deliveries in larger cities. Both companies are convinced that they can benefit from each other’s expertise while strengthening their own market position.
About Jumbo
Jumbo is a Dutch chain of supermarkets of the Royal Jumbo Food Group. With a market share of 21 per cent, it is the second-largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, behind Albert Heijn.
Currently, Jumbo has more than 700 supermarkets, including a number of Food Markets, Jumbo City(s), and online order and delivery services via Jumbo.com.
Jumbo City is a convenience store concept and the group combines elements of the regular Jumbo stores, Foodmarkt, and restaurant chain La Place. Jumbo wants to make tasty and healthy food easily accessible to everyone.
In 2009, Jumbo took over the supermarket chain Super de Boer and then took over C1000 (a Dutch supermarket chain) in 2012. At the beginning of 2016, Jumbo also acquired the foodservice formula La Place. In 2018, the acquisition of part of EMTÉ followed. It opened its first stores across the Belgian border in 2019.
Aim of this partnership
Under the terms of the agreement, Jumbo will supply a large part of its range to Gorillas, including various A-brand, Jumbo Own Brand, organic, and exclusive La Place products. Jumbo online customers in urban areas will be able to get their purchases delivered through Gorillas.
Speaking on the development, CEO of Jumbo, Frits van Eerd, says, “We notice that online customers in big cities need to get their groceries delivered at lightning speed at certain times. We want to be there for our customers anytime, anywhere. Just like Jumbo, Gorillas stands for a high level of service and stands out with its customer-oriented approach. Through this collaboration, we can further expand our service and increase the options for our online customers.”
Gorillas, which is already active in 11 Dutch cities and in two cities in Belgium, will further increase its local footprint across both countries in 2022. The collaboration with Jumbo in the Netherlands will be rapidly scaled up. The agreement also contains arrangements for the bundling of marketing activities in the field of ‘lightning-fast’ grocery delivery. Jumbo and Gorillas see opportunities for expanding their propositions for customers, strengthening the digital customer relationship, and possible joint site development.
Recently, Gorillas also collaborated with national retailers in other markets such as Tesco in the UK and Casino Group in France.
Gorillas CEO and founder Kagan Sümer says, “This collaboration will bring unprecedented value to Jumbo and Gorillas’ customers. They will get access to Jumbo’s extensive range of quality products through the Gorillas’ app and Jumbo’s online customers will soon have the opportunity to have their groceries delivered to their homes in no time.”
Gorillas: Fastest unicorn in Europe
Founded in 2020 by Kağan Sümer, Gorillas is a grocery delivery provider that claims to deliver desired goods from cart to doorstep in just 10 minutes. Its users benefit from access to more than 2500 essential items at retail prices for a delivery fee of just over $2.
In 2021, the company raised approx €1.29B in funding and currently sits at a valuation of $3.1B – also making it the fastest unicorn in Europe.
The company provides all riders with fixed employment contracts, health insurance, employer-financed accident insurance, and paid vacation. Currently, their app is available in Germany, France, Italy, the US, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, and Denmark.
In September 2021, Gorillas expanded its executive leadership team with two prominent hires – Elmar Broscheit as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Adrian Frenzel as Chief Operating Officer (COO), after having appointed HR executive Deena Fox as Global Chief People Officer in early August 2021. The company wanted to execute a new growth strategy, focusing on building a sustainable and profitable business.
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