PC Express explained

PC Express
Predecessor:Loblaws Click & Collect
Website:
iOS app
Num Locations:737
Num Locations Year:2024
Parent:Loblaw Companies

PC Express is a grocery click and collect & delivery service owned by Canadian retail conglomerate Loblaw Companies. The service began in October 2014 and the company now has over 700 pickup locations and delivers to ~70% of Canadian households.[1] [2] These locations include curbside pickup, self-serve kiosks, refrigerated vans, and Shoppers Drug Mart locations in urban areas.[3] The Loblaw Companies banners participating in PC Express are Dominion, Fortinos, Loblaws, Maxi, No Frills, Provigo, Real Atlantic Superstore, Real Canadian Superstore, Valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer and Zehrs Markets. A service fee of $3 to $5 is added to each order, unless a customer has a PC Express Pass subscription.[4] Delivery is provided by Instacart contractors. A rapid delivery option with marked up item costs is also available, which uses DoorDash Dashers to pick and deliver each order.

History

Click and Collect at Loblaws stores began in fall 2014 with a product selection of around 20 thousand items, and had expanded to 60 active locations by June 2016.[5] The first location had a drive-through; however, subsequent locations have used dedicated parking spots instead.[6] By November 2015, the program had expanded to include Real Canadian Superstore locations in British Columbia.[7] In December 2017, Loblaw Companies began offering click and collect in Atlantic Canada, starting with Halifax.[8] By the start of 2018, about 300 stores were on the PC Express network, with plans to significantly expand the program to over 700 locations by year end.[9] In February 2018, Loblaw Companies signed a partnership with Metrolinx to begin offering grocery pick-up at some GO Transit stations in the greater Toronto area.[10] In November 2018, Loblaws began testing a self-checkout like feature in the PC Express mobile app at five of its Ontario stores, allowing customers to scan items as they shop and pay at the checkout.[11]

In 2020, Loblaw initiated a pilot program with Gatik, an American autonomous vehicle company to trial driverless trucks for online order deliveries. In 2022, some driverless trucks were launched for select orders, with a safety driver in the passenger seat.[12]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Loblaw launches click and collect service. 24 October 2014. Canadian Grocer. 30 August 2018.
  2. News: 'Blanket the country': Loblaw plans nationwide home delivery rollout to counter Amazon. Shaw. Hollie. 2 May 2018. Financial Post. 27 August 2018.
  3. News: Groceries on the GO: Loblaw customers can pick orders at select stations. Sagan. Aleksandra. 26 February 2018. CityNews. 30 August 2018.
  4. News: Loblaw launches click-and-collect service. Kopun. Francine. 24 October 2014. Toronto Star. 30 August 2018.
  5. News: Online grocery shopping 'click-and-collect' program expands in Canada. 16 June 2016. CTV News. 30 August 2018.
  6. News: Loblaws' 'Click And Collect' Brings Drive-Through Groceries To Canada. 24 September 2014. HuffPost Canada. 30 August 2018.
  7. News: Real Canadian Superstore ups online shopping ante. Penner. Derrick. 12 November 2015. Vancouver Sun. 30 August 2018. Postmedia Network.
  8. News: Loblaw launches online grocery shopping service Click & Collect. Taylor. Roger. 4 December 2017. The Chronicle Herald. 30 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180831104433/http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1526428-loblaw-launches-online-grocery-shopping-service-click-collect. 31 August 2018. dead.
  9. News: Loblaw signs deal with Metrolinx to let customers pick up online grocery orders at GTA GO stations. 26 February 2018. Edmonton Journal. 30 August 2018. Postmedia Network.
  10. News: Loblaw signs deal to allow customers to pick up orders at GO Transit stations. Sagan. Aleksandra. 26 February 2018. Global News. 27 August 2018.
  11. News: Loblaws launching scan-while-you-shop phone app in Toronto today. Gladysz. Kayla. 22 November 2018. Daily Hive Toronto. 25 November 2018.
  12. Web site: Loblaws partners with self-driving company Gatik in Canadian first: driverless grocery trucks . CBC News . www.cbc.ca . 14 June 2023.