UK-based Zapp is an on-demand delivery service. The app lets you order snacks, drinks, essential groceries, and other everyday items for delivery within minutes, 24/7. It does that by operating its ‘Zappstores’ across London. The ‘Zappstores’ stock thousands of products, including local favourites such as bakery Vlaamsch Broodhuys, De Pindakaaswinkel peanut butter, and Gebrouwen Door Vrouwen beer.
Zapp launches in Amsterdam
In a recent development, the startup announced that it has launched its services in Amsterdam. Additionally, Zapp has also revealed that Dutch entrepreneur and celebrity icon Bas Smit has become an investor in the company.
Bas initially learned about the company through his long-time friendship with the Zapp Founders and decided to get involved as he saw it become popular amongst friends in London.
Smit says, “I’m Zapp’s biggest fan after witnessing how friends in London have been wowed by the service. Right from the beginning I knew we needed Zapp in the Netherlands and I’m delighted to help make this happen. Finally I can get my favourite wines, ice cubes, gluten free crackers, games and Nespresso cups to my home, work or meeting place in minutes, 24/7. For people like me who have a busy social, work and family life, Zapp really delivers.”
The company says its services are immediately available in the Amsterdam Ring, with Amsterdam Noord and Buitenveldert soon to follow. The Netherlands marks the official start of Zapp’s international expansion, with more European cities soon to follow.
About Zapp
The company was founded in London in 2020 by entrepreneurs Joe Falter – who was part of the founding team at Jumia where he led the on-demand services business through to the group’s IPO; and Navid Hadzaad, who most recently was a product leader at Amazon’s Seattle HQ after founding GoButler and scaling several ventures at Rocket Internet. The Zapp leadership team also includes former employees of Deliveroo, Just Eat, Domino’s and Tesco.
The company claims to be building the future of convenience retail by delivering everyday items to customers within 20 minutes, 24/7. It does that by operating its own micro fulfillment centres, ‘Zappstore’, wherein it stocks around 2,000 products ready to be picked, packed, and delivered.
Zapp is backed by some of the world’s leading investors, including Silicon Valley’s Lightspeed, and Europe’s Atomico, the venture capital firm that previously invested in MessageBird, one of Amsterdam’s most successful technology scale-ups. Notable angels, such as Mato Peric, Christopher North (former Amazon UK CEO) and Stefan Smalla (Westwing CEO), have also invested in Zapp.
How does it work?
After downloading the app, customers need to enter their location. They can then search or browse from the available products. Once an order is placed, products are picked and delivered. Delivery is within 20 minutes and there is no minimum order. A flat delivery fee of €1.80 is charged per order – for orders over €30, the delivery fee is waived off.
Sustainability
The company has an all-electric fleet and uses a mix of e-bikes and e-mopeds, and its products are delivered in recyclable paper bags. Most recently, Zapp partnered with Planetly to track and reduce its carbon footprint and invest in a number of carbon offsetting projects.
Speaking on this, Steve O’Hear, VP of Strategy at Zapp says, “Zapp is building the future of convenience and that future must be sustainable. Our delivery fleet has been all-electric from day one, we only use sustainable materials for our own delivery packaging, and have committed to finding further ways to reduce our emissions as we scale the business while offsetting where that isn’t yet possible.”
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