TheMarketingblog emailed each of the players in this continuing saga with ……
“Please would you let me have a short update on the Ocado, Morrisons, Waitrose story for an article in www.themarketingblog.co.uk ?”
The response was interesting in terms of how PR’s reacted to a blogger request …
Hi Will
We have asked to see the detail of the deal and the operating arrangements, which our lawyers will then review. This process will take some time so we are unlikely to comment again in the near future.
We are continuing to drive the strong sales growth seen at Waitrose.com – sales were up 50.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year – and will open a second ‘dark store’ in London in the spring of 2014.
Regards
Gill Smith, Senior Manager, Corporate PR Waitrose
Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC (the “Company” or “Morrisons”) today (17 May 2013) announces a long term agreement with Ocado Group plc (“Ocado”), which will enable Morrisons.com to commence grocery deliveries to customers by January 2014.
The agreement will enable Morrisons to enter the online grocery market quickly with a profitable business model. This industry leading customer proposition combines Morrisons affordable fresh food – much of it from the Company’s own manufacturing facilities – with Ocado’s leading end-to-end technology, logistics and distribution operations.
The Morrisons.com grocery website will have a clear Morrisons look and feel. Fulfilment will be from Ocado’s recently opened Dordon Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) in the Midlands, with customer deliveries through a Morrisons liveried fleet.
Katherine Wood, Media Relations Manager
Morrisons
Ocado sent no reply – pity!
More news : … Ocado boss Tim Steiner has revealed that Waitrose boss Mark Price is refusing to meet him.
From The Telegraph.
The rift between Ocado and Waitrose continues. Following last week’s announcement of a tie-up between the online grocer and supermarket Morrisons, Ocado boss Tim Steiner has revealed that Waitrose boss Mark Price is refusing to meet him.
“We have gone from a toddler to an unruly teenager. Now we are an adult,” Mr Steiner told The Daily Telegraph. “Sometimes the parent doesn’t like it when the child grows up.”