Asda is to ramp up the number of stores offering delivery in as little as one hour following a new agreement with Uber Direct.
The service – which offers same-day delivery of groceries within four hours of ordering, and in as little as one hour – is available from around 300 Asda locations across the UK, with 10 having been added in the past six months.
The new three-year “preferred partner agreement” with Uber Direct would see the proposition expand to “more locations in 2026 – significantly broadening Asda’s customer reach” Uber said.
“Express delivery has proven particularly popular with our customers, enabling them to have their everyday essentials delivered within hours of placing an order,” said Barney Burgess, VP of online at Asda.
“Uber Direct’s strong performance and reliable service has been vital in helping us to grow the service to date,” he added. “We are excited to continue growing our partnership with Uber Direct and to keep delivering an exceptional and convenient service to our customers.”
Uber Direct is Uber’s white label delivery offer. The service – the longest-running among the aggregator apps, which all offer a version – allows supermarkets to sell product through their own website and app, but leverage the app’s network of couriers to deliver baskets to shoppers’ homes.
Uber Direct and Asda have partnered since 2021, when the supermarket launched its on-demand proposition. Since then, Asda had “successfully established one of the largest same-day delivery offerings in the UK market”, Uber said, which “now forms one of the core pillars of its online business”.
“It’s been incredibly exciting to be part of Asda’s growth journey these last few years, and we look forward to building an even closer relationship,” said Caroline Varga, regional manager, Uber Direct EMEA.
“This deal is a testament not just to the strength and competitive advantage provided by our white-label delivery service, but also a reflection of the success we’ve seen through the wider Uber partnership, across both the Uber Eats and Uber Direct platforms,” Varga added.
While rival supermarkets typically offer delivery through their own apps on demand, the quickest Asda Express Delivery is one hour. It is also significantly more expensive than rival services, with delivery costing between £8.50 and £8.99.
According to a study by Retail Economics and Uber Direct, in the UK on-demand delivery currently accounts for almost 10% of online grocery sales.
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