East of England Co-op, which operates convenience stores across East Anglia, has announced a new partnership with Quadient, a leading provider of innovative automation solutions. The partnership will enable communities across the East to send and receive parcels in the most reliable, convenient and secure way possible.
The first of the new Parcel Pending by Quadient smart lockers have been installed in the Suffolk market towns of Hadleigh and Framlingham. The East of England Co-op, which is independent of the Co-operative Group, also operates in Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire and traces its roots back over 150 years.
The smart lockers are an important part of the retailer’s plans to expand its in-store services, with lockers also planned for Norfolk and Essex in the coming months. Parcel Pending by Quadient’s lockers will join other in-store parcel services which have already proved popular with customers, including Evri, DPD, In-Post and Amazon lockers.
Parcel Pending by Quadient is a growing network of smart parcel lockers that are used for deliveries by major carriers including Royal Mail, DPD, Evri and UPS. Visitors to East of England Co-op stores will be able to pick up deliveries at their convenience, safe in the knowledge their parcels will be securely stored. Additionally, the lockers come with a built-in label printer, making life easier than ever before for people dropping off returned items.
East of England Co-op chief operating officer, Andy Rigby, said; “This new partnership will make shopping with us even more convenient. People’s lives are busier than ever, and I know our communities will benefit from being able to pick up their parcels while they pick up other essentials. I’m delighted that our partnership with Quadient is allowing us to meet the evolving needs of our members and customers”.
Katia Bourgeais-Crémel, director of lockers automation platform for Europe at Quadient, said; “This is another step on our journey to building a network of 5,000 lockers across the UK. East of England Co-op stores sit at the heart of their communities, and this will be another great service to provide for local residents. We cannot wait to see the positive impact this deal will have for people across the East.”
