Amsterdam’s Just Eat Takeaway pilots grocery delivery service through its own dark store in Berlin

Amsterdam-based Just Eat Takeaway, Europe’s biggest food delivery company, announced on Tuesday that it has launched a pilot grocery and convenience delivery operation with its own dark store in Berlin. Lieferando Express opened in Berlin, where Just Eat Takeaway.com will leverage its network of thousands of employed couriers across the city.

The test programme comes after the company implemented a successful comparable strategy, called Skip Express Lane, across Canada.

With its latest pilot programme, Just Eat Takeaway’s goal is to grow its delivery network globally, particularly through operations at convenience stores.

Market potential in Europe

Andrew Kenny, interim COO at Just Eat Takeaway, says, “Grocery and convenience represent an incremental market opportunity that further enhances our consumer proposition, drives networking effects and brand loyalty and improves our delivery fleet utilisation. After a successful roll-out in Canada, the pilot store in Berlin will provide us with more insight into the market potential in Europe.”

The company has set up a specialised team for its convenience grocery partners, which include conventional supermarkets, internet merchants, convenience stores, bakers, and other specialists. It is already supporting about 25,000 stores globally for renowned grocery and convenience brands like Albert Heijn, 7-Eleven, Asda, Casino Group, One-Stop, Coop, and SPAR.

Just Eat Takeaway is targeting a delivery time of approximately 20 minutes. The service is initially available in a 2 KM range from the store located in Berlin Charlottenburg.

Lieferando Express will provide more than 1,000 products, ranging from fresh fruits and bread to household cleaning supplies and infant products, by working directly with a variety of local vendors and businesses like ROY Kombucha, Berliner Kaffeerösterei, and Zeit für Brot. Consumers will receive products immediately.

It is also anticipated that the delivery-only grocery shop will generate new jobs and reach a large number of Berlin consumers with snacks, groceries, household goods, and fresh produce.

About Just Eat Takeaway

Just Eat Takeaway claims to be one of the largest online food delivery marketplaces outside China. It is focused on connecting consumers and restaurants through its platforms. The company mainly collaborates with delivery restaurants. 

It also provides its proprietary ‘restaurant delivery services’ to restaurants that do not deliver themselves. It is connected with nearly 634,000 restaurants and operates in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Switzerland, as well as through partnerships in Colombia and Brazil.