Sainsbury’s to launch Argos click-and-collect service in 100 convenience stores

The supermarket giant said the initiative, which will allow shoppers to pick up Argos and Tu clothing orders placed online, would be completed by the end of 2017.

It comes following a successful trial of the scheme in six Sainsbury’s Local stores.

Sainsbury’s, which acquired Home Retail Group in a £1.4bn deal a year ago, has quickly set about leveraging the Argos and Habitat businesses.

Mini Habitat trials

The grocer has already opened 100 Argos digital shop-in-shops across its supermarket estate and is also trialling mini Habitat concessions in six larger sheds.

Sainsbury’s plans to have 250 Argos digital shop-in-shops by March 2019, six months ahead of its original target.

Britain’s second-biggest grocer is also stepping up its fulfilment capabilities as part of boss Mike Coupe’s vision to serve customers “whenever and wherever they want to shop”.

Last September, Sainsbury’s added thousands more central London postcodes to its Chop Chop app, offering shoppers one-hour home delivery on up to 20 items for £4.99 per order.

Fulfilment drive

Last month the retailer revealed it was introducing a 30-minute click-and-collect option to the app as it stepped up the grocery fulfilment war.

Sainsbury’s said introducing the Argos click-and-collect option to 100 c-stores would further enhance its fulfilment proposition by allowing shoppers to “collect their purchases closer to where they live or work”.

Coupe said: “As customer shopping habits change, people increasingly want flexibility, speed and choice. More customers than ever are ordering online and choosing to collect from a store, which makes their lives easier and frees up their valuable time.

“Offering the Argos click-and-collect service in Sainsbury’s Local stores makes it even more convenient for our customers to buy our products.”