Belgian postal operator bpost is now offering home delivery of groceries to inhabitants ofBrussels-Capital Region and Walloon Brabant in southern Belgium, who can shop on its new platform
www.combo.be and get the selected products delivered to theirhomes for a delivery fee.With immediate effect, customers can order food, including fresh and frozen products, via bpost’s new platform from participating shops and can choose when bpost delivers them.
From the end of this month onwards, the home deliveries will be extended to Halle-Vilvoorde, oneof the two administrative departments in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. By that time, theservice will be available to some 900,000 households. The rollout to other parts of the countrywill take place in phases, based on the interest of retailers and expected demand.
Koen Van Gerven, bpost CEO, said: “combo.be” is a great step forward for bpost. The extensivenetwork enables us to offer our customers new services with the aim to assure future growth.”
The service has been launched after a successful trial of the pilot project “bpost byappointment” which bpost has been testing since 2012. It included customers in the two pilot areas(Sint-Niklaas and the eastern part of Walloon Brabant) making an appointment to have their orderswith local merchants, department stores or online retailers delivered to their homes.
The results of the pilot project “bpost by appointment” have shown that the postal operator isable to provide such service without any problems and has the knowhow, people and logisticalstructures to offer the service on a commercial basis and on a larger scale.
During the ordering process on www.combo.be, the shoppers select the date of delivery by bpost,which consolidates all orders into a single delivery. Deliveries are made on weekdays between 6 pmand 8 pm (9 pm in rural areas).
The price is €9.95 for a combined delivery with a maximum of 15 boxes or 150 kg. Customers canpay by card at the time of delivery or online at the website of the participating merchants.Next-evening delivery is possible for all orders placed by midnight.
The following shops have already signed up to “combo.be”: Cora, Carrefour (in Walloon Brabant),Huis Vanassche, La Boucherie, La Wetternoise, Viskraam (Étal de la Mer), Reason2be, Foubert, JackO’Shea, efarmz, Aquavital and Halles aux vins. New retailers will be added gradually.
