Woolworths Expands Online Shopping To Queensland

Woolworths Expands Online Shopping to Queensland
Cheap delivery charges and more specials delivered straight to the kitchen bench


Monday 7 September 2009: Cheap delivery charges, best quality produce and a more personal service are being promised as Woolworths announces residents of the Gold Coast will be the first in Queensland to experience its online supermarket when the service launches this week.

From Thursday 10 September customers living in the Gold Coast will be able to log onto Woolworths.com.au, search the supermarket aisles and place their order. Food deliveries will begin on Tuesday 15 September with Woolworths' drivers bringing the groceries all the way to the customer's kitchen bench.

Shoppers in Brisbane will also soon be able to try out online shopping with Woolworths at Woolworths.com.au.

The retailer is promising a reliable, simple to use service but also delivery prices cheaper than other full sized online grocery retailers. Keith Vickery, Queensland Regional Manager for Woolworths.com.au said, "Woolworths.com.au is a proven service that is a favourite for customers in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney so it's a pleasure to be able to bring our full sized supermarket to the desktops of Queenslanders."

Mr Vickery said that Woolworths.com.au had on average 3,000 specials online each week, that are identical in price to those in store, as well as cheaper delivery charges than any other full sized online supermarket, "With Woolworths.com.au having more specials than anyone else and cheaper delivery rates I'm confident customers will see that the savings they can make shopping online at Woolies will be far from virtual.

"Unlike most other retailers our delivery drivers are happy to try that little be harder and bring your shopping straight to your kitchen bench rather than leaving it out at the door."

Woolworths.com.au shoppers will be able to use their Woolworths Everyday Rewards cards, including the 4c off a litre fuel offer, and earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points just like they can in stores.

When customers go online their orders won't be sent to a distribution centre instead they will be sent to actual Woolworths stores in the region for dedicated staff to pick, pack and deliver, said Mr Vickery, "Woolworths' online customers can be confident their food is being picked and packed from the same shelves and aisles that customers browse through every day.

"Our dedicated team have a mantra and that is if a certain product isn't of a high enough quality to be in their own trolley they won't put it in yours, making sure customers always get the best quality fresh food"

As an introductory offer Woolworths.com.au customers on the Gold Coast can get free delivery for a six hour window, a reduced rate of $5 for a four hour window and $9 for a two hour window for a limited time a saving of up to $5.


Mr Vickery said experiences in Sydney and Melbourne showed that online grocery shopping served a useful role for many people, "For busy familles who have trouble fitting in all the kids activities as well as work, and for workers who never have enough time Woolworths.com.au is a great way to let someone else do all the hassle of shopping for you."

Mr Vickery also said pensioners and people organising one off big events could benefit from the convenience of Woolworths.com.au.

"If our customers in the Gold Coast haven't thought of taking a trip down the aisles of Woolies from the comfort of their own home, now's the time to try it out," said Mr Vickery.


NOTES

* Gold Coast customers will able to browse the aisles and place their orders with Woolworths.com.au from Thursday 10 September with deliveries straight to the kitchen bench beginning from Tuesday 15 September.

* Brisbane will be the next destination for online shopping.

* Woolworths already provides online shopping in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Newcastle.

* Woolworths.com.au offers customers unrivalled flexibility in standard delivery times and prices with a six hour delivery window costing customers just $5, with four hours at $9 and a tighter two hour window costing $13. These prices will be applicable at the end of the special, and even cheaper, introductory offer.

* The standard delivery charges are believed to be the cheapest non-promotional prices for any online grocer serving Queensland based on time windows and without any weight restriction.

* Standard prices online have are slightly higher than store prices to take into account the personal service of staff picking and packing your shopping for you. However, almost 3,000 advertised weekly specials in Woolworths' Queensland stores are also available to Woolworths.com.au customers.



One-on-one interviews and photo opportunities are available.

For further information please contact Benedict Brook at the Woolworths Press Office on (02) 8885 1033.


SOURCE: Woolworths