Grocemania has launched its first dark store in Kingston, Surrey.
The new store has been launched as part of the grocery delivery app’s commitment to support local retailers by digitally connecting them to customers, with deliveries made within 10-15 minutes for users in the same areas as the dark stores.
The grocery delivery app allows customers to buy and get their groceries delivered from local convenience stores, which include Nisa, Budgens, McColls and Londis, alongside Spar stores located in BP petrol stations.
It also allows customers to purcahse from local independent retailers such as butchers, fishmongers and producers.
Grocemania also unveiled plans to open a second dark store in Twickenham, Middlesex in July, with plans to open 16 further stores across England by the end of the year.
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The move follows the company successfully raising £173,000 in its latest pre-seed funding round earlier this year, almost doubling its initial target of £100,000.
“Dark stores have disrupted the food delivery sector in recent years. They offer local stores a more cost-effective storage system, while typically providing consumers with a quicker, more efficient service,” Grocemania founder and director Askar Bulegnov said.
“It was a logical next step, therefore, that Grocemania would expand into this exciting space – we are constantly looking for ways to improve and innovate our offering, and our dark store expansion strategy will help us do just that.
“With an even quicker delivery service for users, and superior stock management technology, we are confident that our plan will allow us to better support both local businesses, and satisfy the needs of our valued app users.”
Grocemania currently operates in London, Bristol, Sheffield, Leeds, Cardiff and Birmingham.
