Morrisons has launched a new rapid delivery service, ‘Morrisons Now’, allowing customers to order up to 30 grocery items for delivery in as little as one hour.

The service, which costs £4.50 per delivery with a £15 minimum spend, is available from 158 stores and will expand to 420 locations by the end of October.

Customers can place orders via Morrisons.com or the supermarket chain’s Groceries app, choosing from a wide range of fresh and ambient items.

Orders are fulfilled by Morrisons’ courier partners and can be tracked in real time from store to door.

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The retailer said the new offer is designed for speed and convenience, catering to “forgotten ingredients, surprise guests or last-minute cravings.”

It is understood shoppers can also earn More Card points and access existing loyalty promotions while using the service.

“We are delighted to offer this service to our customers across the country, supporting them with fresh food delivered fast. We know that life is busy and Morrisons Now is here to make those everyday moments easier,” said Morrisons group online director Charlotte Exell.

The news follows fellow retailers ramping up their rapid grocery delivery services in recent years. In February Co-op launched million-pound rapid delivery grocery app, ‘Peckish’, offering a technologically-advanced service to thousands of independent retailers in a grocery retailer first.

Meanwhile in April, Tesco expanded its ‘Whoosh’ service with a new white label solution in partnership with Deliveroo, offering grocers and retailers an on-demand delivery service that operates through their own online channels.