You no longer have to go to the supermarket for your groceries. Nowadays the store just comes to you. iPhoned has compared the supermarkets with a delivery service, and tells which one is the best.
Picnic and other supermarket delivery services: a comparison
Picnic started a revolution after its creation in 2015. In no time at all, almost every well-known supermarket set up its own delivery service. This is not only a solution for busy owners, but also, for example, for people who have difficulty walking.
In this comparison we list well-known supermarkets with a delivery service. We look at, among other things, the product range, prices, possible delivery costs and how quickly you receive your groceries.
Albert Heijn: only for families
Albert Heijn has had a delivery service that delivers groceries to the kitchen for years. You can choose from the entire AH range and you can order from the beautifully designed app or via the site.
A major disadvantage of the delivery service is the (hefty) minimum order amount. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays you can have your groceries delivered from 50 euros. On other days you have to spend at least 70 euros. The question is whether a single person can get this amount, which means that Appie seems to focus mainly on families.
AH does offer the option of taking a delivery bundle. This is a kind of subscription with which you can have your groceries delivered at fixed times for 12 euros per month. The minimum order amount is then always 50 euros. You are always assured of a delivery, especially at times when it is very busy.
You pay between 3.95 and 12.95 euros in delivery costs, depending on the time. Sometimes there is a promotion where you do not pay delivery costs when purchasing a certain product. Delivery takes place six days a week between 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Two-hour time slots are used. So you are not confined to your house all day.
Also read: Program your own AR robot with AH Tech and your iPhone
You can also choose to order your groceries online and pick them up at a collection point. This way you don’t have to stroll through the supermarket and you save on delivery costs. Collection costs a maximum of 3.50 euros. The advantage here is that you do not have to stay at home between a certain period of time for the delivery.
Picnic: free delivery
Picnic has experienced significant growth in recent years. It is an online supermarket and has no physical branches. The business revolves around online, and you can tell. The app therefore also feels the most intuitive, although taste can of course be disputed.
This great user experience is in the details, such as the question of your household composition when creating an account. This allows family members to log in separately and put products in the same basket. Moreover, at Picnic you can ‘just’ pay with iDeal, and you do not have to pull your debit card upon receipt. It’s the little things that do it.
A disadvantage of Picnic, however, is the limited range compared to, for example, Albert Heijn or Jumbo. Where you can choose all products from the range at the other suppliers from this list, the online supermarket works with so-called ‘fast runners’. Products that do not sell well are therefore removed from the range as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the range is increasing and you can also pass on products in the app that you are still missing in the range. For example, if you are looking for a specific wine, you can suggest a specific brand at the bottom of the list of white wines. By not offering all types, the costs are kept low, which is why the prices are not more expensive than those of Albert Heijn or Jumbo. Often products are even slightly cheaper. Every night, the online retailer compares its prices and adjusts them if necessary.
Picnic delivers free at home (in some cities) seven days a week, but you have to order for at least 25 euros. When you place your order, you choose a time slot of one hour and in the morning you will hear a notification to the nearest ten minutes at what time the delivery person will be at the door. You will again receive a message when you have to open the door.
If a Picnic trolley is already full with groceries, you can no longer order during this period. Sometimes it is very busy and all the carts are full. It may help to try again the next morning. Your groceries will then remain neatly in your list, and you can order them again later if you want. Have you forgotten something and have you already paid? Even then you can easily add something to your order.
Plus: groceries delivered within two hours
Plus also has a delivery service. The minimum order amount is 25 euros, delivery costs at least 6 euros and depends on the delivery time. Just like at Albert Heijn, you can also choose to pick up your groceries at a collection point. For this you pay a fixed amount of 2.50 euros and there is no minimum.
The Plus app feels surprisingly clear and easy. The design automatically sends you to the offers, but even when you are looking for a specific product you never have to tap more than three times.
We are also pleased with the delivery options. We work with time slots of two hours and delivery is made seven (!) days a week between 8:00 and 22:00. Plus Express also offers groceries, where groceries are delivered to your home within two hours. This super-fast service costs 2.50 euros surcharge on top of the standard delivery price. You also have to order before 16:00, otherwise you will receive the groceries the next morning. Plus Express is therefore not cheap, but very fast.
Jumbo: ample time slots
At Jumbo you can also choose between real home delivery, or pick up your groceries at a collection point. Once again you can choose from the full range and delivery is six days a week. The app looks a little less clear than those of Picnic and Albert Heijn, but you get used to it quickly. When you are looking for a specific product, it is sometimes a bit difficult.
Home delivery costs 6 euros and if your total amount is more than 70 euros, you get a euro discount. Unlike Albert Heijn, Jumbo works with two time slots: your groceries are delivered between 10:00 and 13:00, or between 18:00 and 21:00. So you still have to keep a few hours free, otherwise you might miss the delivery person. Picking up your belongings at a collection point costs a maximum of 2.95 euros.
Just like with Albert Heijn and Plus, you can also return deposit bottles and beer crates directly to the delivery person at Jumbo. The amount will then be deducted from the total costs of the order. You can pin on delivery.
Coop: product scanner and recipes
Coop delivers groceries to your home, or collects them for you in the supermarket, after which you only have to pick them up. The minimum order amount is forty euros, but your order will only be delivered to your home from seventy euros. The app looks professional but is not very user-friendly.
Certain functions are somewhat cumbersome to reach, so that ordering does not run smoothly and quickly. For example, you can set up your own nearest branch, to always be aware of the right assortment. Unfortunately the search function for this doesn’t work. You then have to scroll through the long list of places to find the right supermarket.
Fortunately, the search function does work in the groceries tab and you press the plus sign next to a product to add it to your shopping cart. If you have favorite messages that you want to find more often, you can add them to your favorites list by swiping to the right.
In addition, a useful function is the product scanner. With this you simply take a photo of a product you want. Are you running out of bananas, for example? Photograph the last banana and you will immediately see the range of bananas on offer. The feature works surprisingly well and also works with barcodes.
Don’t know what to cook? Under ‘recipes’ you will see all kinds of ideas, the ingredients of which you can also move to your shopping cart in one go. However, it is inconvenient that you do not immediately see all products within a certain type. You’ll get some suggestions, but you’ll need to tap ‘show all results’ first to see everything. That takes quite a lot of time if you need a lot.
Conclusion: it’s all about location
So, which supermarket at home should you choose? That answer mainly depends on where you live. Firstly, only Albert Heijn and Jumbo offer a nationwide network in terms of delivery service and collection points. Picnic is expanding at breakneck speed, but is not yet represented in every city. Plus and Coop will be known to many people, but there are still gaps on the coverage map to see.
Are you in the luxury position that you can choose from all supermarkets at home? Then Picnic is probably the cheapest and best option. After all, you do not pay delivery costs and the prices are the same or lower than those of Albert Heijn and Jumbo. In addition, the minimum order amount of 25 euros is fairly low. You must be lucky enough to be high on the waiting list.
Furthermore, these ‘traditional’ supermarkets offer about the same: you can choose between delivery and collection. The delivery costs are also approximately the same, although the minimum order amount from Albert Heijn and Coop is substantial. Which supermarket-at-home you should go for, therefore, mainly depends on your personal preference. For the time being, there is little difference between the traditional providers. However, Picnic offers an innovative concept, feels fresh and fast and is cheaper than most supermarkets. The app also works surprisingly easy and well.
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