30 Nov 2022

Grocery app promises deliveries within 30 minutes

From Checkpoint, 6:25 pm on 30 November 2022

 

A new player has joined the supermarket sector.

Teddy is a grocery delivery app which says it can get groceries to your door in under 30 minutes.

Speed is the name of the game for Teddy.

"We as founders, three Māori boys, as I was growing up I often heard the phrase 'kia tere', which was hurry up, speed, get on with it," co-founder Chaz Savage said.  

For people in a bind living in Queenstown or Auckland's central suburbs, it could be Teddy to the rescue.

"My partner Ricki is always talking about the fact he has young kids and they run out of nappies, wipes, and then follow that up with a nice rosé. In my household we're always thinking kids lunches so we have a range of products that suit the needs of customers in that space. There's the barbecues on the weekend, watching the footy and running out of a six pack."

Ricki Taiaroa said in 2022, convenience is king and that insatiable consumer need led them to their new venture.  

"Teddy is groceries delivered fast. If you need something urgently we deliver it to you in 30 minutes with our network of riders and drivers."

It has been just two weeks since Teddy opened its doors at their warehouse in Grafton but the shelves are already well stocked.

"We are really happy with the range, we work with a range of big distributors but also lots of cool New Zealand brands the likes of Duck Island, Everblue, Fix and Fogg," Taiaroa said.

Teddy co-founders Chaz Savage and Ricki Tairoa.

Teddy co-founders Chaz Savage and Ricki Tairoa. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

Savage said while they looked to expand its offerings, its point of difference remained the same.  

"Speed is absolutely key, it is a complex operation so we have to make sure we have the right people, the right products and the right software in terms of the back of house in delivering to thirty minutes."

Though Teddy looks to deliver in half an hour to Auckland suburbs as far south as Epsom and as far north as Wynard Quarter, whilst also reducing its carbon footprint.

"Sustainability and the environment is very important to us, so early in the piece we decided to partner with Ubco bikes so we have a fleet of electric bikes and we also use EV vehicles as well."

The shelves in Teddy's Grafton warehouse are well stocked.

The shelves in Teddy's Grafton warehouse are well stocked. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

So, can Teddy deliver the goods?

We put them to the test at the RNZ office, ordering a two litre bottle of coke, a cake of Whittakers chocolate and a single carrot, for nutritional balance, costing $11.50 with free delivery and a first time customer discount of 20 percent.  

Usual delivery fees will be $8.99 but if customers are willing to wait up to two hours, it drops to $5.99 with larger orders delivered by electric cars.

Despite the pouring rain, our man turned up just under 10 minutes after we placed our order.

Savage said they had taken lessons from similar overseas ventures as they attempt to take on the duopoly.

Teddy also operates out of Queenstown and hopes to expand across Aotearoa.