DPD has seen the volume of food deliveries boosted to 200,000 per week as it secures a partnership with supermarket Morrisons to meet consumer demand for online grocery deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is also seeing an increase in volumes for existing food and recipe box customers, alongside the transportation of essential NHS supplies to hospitals, GP surgeries, pharmacies and care homes.
In its new Morrisons tie-up, DPD is delivering the supermarket’s ‘Meat Eaters’ and ‘Vegetarian’ food boxes priced at £35 each containing essential chilled, fresh and tinned food. For orders placed before 3pm, boxes will be delivered the next day.
As the workload intensifies, DPD said protecting its workforce and customers remains its number one priority.
The firm has introduced full social distancing measures throughout its operation which includes everyone staying 2m apart during briefings and for all processes such as loading and unloading vehicles.
Driver start times have also been staggered to ensure there are far fewer drivers in the depot at any one time and extra cleaning measures have been introduced at all depots and parcel hubs.
On the doorstep, all deliveries are contactless, with the driver maintaining a distance of at least 2m at all times.
Within its depots, DPD has created new entrance and exit points to reduce potential bottlenecks and introduced chevrons to guide people to keep apart on walkways.
DPD's CEO Dwain McDonald said: "At a time when many people are still struggling to safely get hold of fresh produce and essential supplies, we have partnered with Morrisons to provide next-day delivery for their food boxes, with our full one-hour delivery slot service. “
He added that he is delighted to see the government confirm the essential status of the logistics sector during this time.
“It is recognition of the role we are all playing in keeping supplies moving, while keeping our customers and our people safe,” McDonald said. "Our depot and hub teams have been fantastic. They are doing an incredible job and the feedback the drivers are receiving from their customers has been amazing. They are doing an essential job and it is hugely appreciated."
