Tesco launches same-day delivery at select shops

Tesco has fired the latest salvo in what has been dubbed the "time wars" between food retailers by launching a same-day click and collect service for grocery orders.

Tesco's entry into the league comes on the back of encouraging sales figures from Kantar Worldpanel on Tuesday, which rekindled hopes of the company's turnaround.

Some commentators pointed out in June, Amazon took on the UK's supermarkets by offering Prime members in London for same-day deliveries for a range of 130,000 fresh and frozen grocery items (See: Amazon adds one-hour delivery in London, bring Prime Now to UK). Sainsbury's followed by announcing, also in June, that it would trial a same-day grocery delivery service at just three stores. The number would expand to 30 shops by Christmas.

Sainsbury's is currently conducting trials of its same-day delivery service, which would extend to 30 stores by Christmas.

However, Tesco had gone further to announce yesterday plans to roll out same-day click and collect services at 300 of its larger shops across the country.

Meanwhile, according to retail analysts Mintel, online grocery sales would surge 73 per cent by 2020 shooting from £8.6 billion a year to £15 billion.

Amazon Fresh allowed users to sign up to its 'Prime' service, which cost £79 a year, to get same day delivery on its range of 130,000 fresh, frozen and ambient goods on orders placed before 1pm.

Tesco would allow shoppers to collect any orders placed before 1pm from their local store after 4pm.

Shoppers would be charged £2 for a two-hour collection slot from Monday to Thursday and £3 for slots on Friday or Saturday.