Co-op aims to rev up sales with a new pedal powered online delivery service that launched on 22nd March. It is the first time the retailer has offered online deliveries via a dedicated website, and orders will initially be fulfilled using zero emission electric cargo bikes, which are human powered but feature an electric motor for assistance.

The Co-op online delivery service enables shoppers to order products at shop.coop.co.uk, and receive delivery within two hours at a convenient allocated time. The service will initially be available to shoppers within a four kilometre radius of a store on the Kings Road in Chelsea, before being rolled out to a further eight London stores.

Ultimately there are plans to make online shopping available in a significant number of UK towns and cities.

Chris Conway, Head of Food Digital at the Co-op, said: “This is an exciting time for the Co-op, with trials underway on a number of new, online initiatives. As the leaders in convenience shopping we want to look at different ways of bringing our award-winning products closer to shoppers, and this new service does exactly that.”

Shoppers will initially receive their orders within two hours during the trial, and there is a standard £5 delivery charge and a £15 minimum spend. All prices are the same as they are in stores, and a free click and collect service is available.

Through the Co-op Local Community Fund, members shopping online receive a five per cent reward for themselves, with a further one per cent going to local causes when they buy own-brand products.

James FitzGerald, Managing Director of e-cargobikes.com said: “We are thrilled that a highly respected national brand like Co-op are demonstrating environmental leadership by launching their online delivery service using e-cargobikes. We are reimagining grocery deliveries and exploring a more sustainable transport system with our e-cargobikes that can do the same job as a van while requiring a fraction of the energy.”

The Co-op is exploring a number of different home delivery schemes, and has recently announced a free service by taxi for groceries at eight stores in towns and cities around the UK.

Co-op is also trialing the use of robots in Milton Keynes, where autonomous robots - developed by Starship Technologies - are being used to make small deliveries from a local store.