UK independent parcel carrier Yodel and online flower company Nova Blooms are now delivering 1,000 food boxes a day following a successful trial period. Launched during the Covid-19 lockdown, the service marks Nova Blooms’ first step into the food market and allows customers to select the contents in their box to include everything from locally grown fruit and veg to fresh pasta and artisan bread.

Having increased from 10 orders per day when the service launched in April, the growth is largely in response to a desire from customers to find alternatives to supermarkets for their groceries, at a time when many were self-isolating. The expansion comes as a recent report from Kantar shows online sales accounted for 10.2% of overall grocery in the 12 weeks to 19 April as consumers settled into lockdown, versus 7.4% for the previous month.

Customers ordering a Nova Blooms food delivery box will have access to Yodel’s Xpect service, which provides customers with regular updates on their food box, including a two-hour window for delivery on the morning that it is due. 

Sam Holden, chief commercial officer at Yodel, commented: “Independent food delivery services have been one of the success stories in retail as consumers look for reliable, convenient ways to get their desired produce

“With specialist skills and expertise in food delivery, we pride ourselves on ensuring that perishable goods are handled with care and delivered on time. We’ve been working with Nova Blooms to deliver their flowers since December 2019, and we’re looking forward to being able to continue the partnership in the future.”

Ionel Luccaci, Managing Director at Nova Blooms, commented: “As the country braced itself for lockdown, we wanted to make it as easy as possible for our customers to receive their essential goods. That is why we took a decision to launch the boxes and get fresh food delivered direct to doorsteps. This wouldn’t have been possible without the help from the team at Yodel, whose expertise in handling fresh food has allowed us to quickly introduce the boxes to our customers.

“We love hearing that we’re making a genuine difference to customers’ lives in what has been a testing time. Given the overwhelmingly positive response to our food boxes, we will stand by our loyal customers and offer the service in the long-term.”