CO-OP has partnered with home delivery specialists Zoom Delivery to further expand the roll-out of its own online shop across Wales and the Borders.

The retailer will ramp up its online home delivery offer – including smaller towns and rural communities – with the new partnership going live in more than 50 towns and cities in Wales and along the English border this month.

Orders are placed through Co-op’s own online shop (coop.co.uk/shop) with items picked from Co-op’s local stores and delivered by Zoom up to 4km in as little as one hour – slots can also be booked up to seven days in advance.

Customers can choose from around 4,500 products and can track their deliveries in real time. In addition, deliveries are free from new stores to offer the service for the first eight weeks.

The move makes thousands more online slots available for shoppers and includes nearly 40 Co-op stores in Wales, including Builth Wells and Llanidloes.

Groceries are selected by colleagues in Co-op stores in the community, which act as micro-distribution hubs locally – supporting local jobs as the retailer’s high street stores benefit from online demand. A free click and collect service is also available online, also making shopping quicker and easier.

Co-op’s partnership with Zoom has also rolled-out to towns in England, including Oswestry.

Matt Arrigonie, Co-op’s online operations manager, said: “We continue to look for new ways to innovate and expand access to our products and services to deliver a truly compelling offer for consumers.

“By collaborating with partners we can offer further availability, flexibility and choice to meet community shopping needs for on-demand convenience. Offering quality and value quickly, easily and conveniently is core to Co-op’s approach – delivering what our members and customers want, when and where they need it.”

Kevin Williams, managing director at Zoom 1HR Delivery, added: “We’re delighted to become a delivery partner for Co-op.

“These are challenging times, and more people have turned to placing orders online for quick, safe, convenient deliveries. Our experience over the last four years has seen us perfect the delivery service model in rural areas, and we believe this is a great fit with Co-op’s work to support its communities and to further grow home delivery capabilities to meet consumer needs and demand for online convenience.”

Shoppers buying groceries online through can also unlock extra value through Co-op’s refreshed membership programme. In addition to personalised offers and exclusive in-store deals, members are rewarded with 2p in every pound they spend on Co-op branded products. The retailer also donates the same amount to provide a funding boost for local community causes.