Set up in summer 2020 and already popular in London and Amsterdam, Zapp acts as both retailer and rapid delivery service by operating its own stores supported by an all electric fleet and employed delivery riders.
Unlike a number of competitors, Zapp isn’t targeting planned grocery shopping, but is more akin to a convenience store offering.
This sees the start-up cater for the ‘need it now’ occasions, such as entertaining last-minute, a spontaneous movie night in with the kids, an impromptu BBQ, or avoiding a mid-cooking disaster.
“Zapp is for when life can’t wait,” says Steve O’Hear, Zapp’s vice president of Strategy.
“Our sweet spot is spontaneity and urgent-need”.
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To start Zapping, customers simply download the Zapp app on iOS and Android and enter their location.
They can then browse close to two thousand curated products, including global brands such as Coca Cola, Red Bull, Moet Chandon and Haribo, as well as local favourites like Longley Farm, Cheshire Farm Ice Cream, Hip & Hop Kombucha, Salford Rum and Diablesse Rum.
Once an order is placed, products are picked, packed and delivered within 20 minutes - with Zapp riders going the extra mile to ensure every order is a 'wow' experience.
There is a flat delivery fee of £1.99 per order and no minimum order. For orders over £30, the delivery fee is waived entirely.
"After delivering for tens of thousands of happy customers in London and Amsterdam, we’re excited to begin bringing Zapp to other cities in the UK, starting with Manchester,” adds Mr O’Hear.
At launch, Zapp covers most of the city centre, including Ardwick, Beswick and Hulme, with additional areas being covered in the next few weeks.
The fast-growing start-up is recruiting in the region, including in its retail and delivery teams.
In addition, Zapp has been designed with sustainability in mind from the get-go. As a start-up that is doing something new, Mr O’Hear notes that 'there’s also an opportunity to build something better'.
Zapp employs an all-electric fleet, using a mixture of e-bikes and e-mopeds. Products are delivered in recyclable paper bags, and the company has partnered with Planetly to track and reduce its carbon footprint. Additionally, Zapp invests in a number of carbon offsetting projects for emissions that cannot yet be avoided.
We gave it a go for ourselves, and we were incredibly impressed with the service.
The choice on the app within the Manchester area is vast.
As well as groceries, there are cleaning products and health and beauty items - all at a reasonable price.
There are also several brands from the North West available to buy, including Longley Farm, Cheshire Farm Ice Cream, Hip & Hop Kombucha, Salford Rum and Diablesse Rum.
From clicking 'pay', the whole process took 18 minutes, and was delivered by a friendly delivery driver who brightened the day.
Items were delivered in brown paper bags - meaning no plastic waste.
Everything in the bags was pre-chilled, and our veg (we ordered a pepper and an onion) came in perfect condition.
Zapp told us: "Zapp is building the future of convenience retail. Zapp lets you order essential items via the Zapp app for delivery in 20 minutes or less, 24/7. Our sweet spot is impulse purchases and urgent need use cases, including snacks, drinks, essential groceries, personal health and hygiene goods, over-the-counter medicines, and everyday household items.
"We aren’t focused on replacing the planned weekly or fortnightly grocery shop, where we feel there are already great online and offline options.
"Instead, Zapp is for when life can’t wait and serves the ‘want it now’ use case best. Also, because we are both the retailer and delivery service and know exactly what's in stock at each zappstore at any moment in time, and deliver in minutes, our customers don't suffer from replacement items or having to book ahead for delivery slots."
You can download Zapp on the app store now.
