Nov/Dec 2001

Home delivery trials have been started by Ocado, the online grocery operation in which John Lewis has a 40 per cent stake, and more details are emerging of the innovative design of its delivery fleet.

Rather than moving directly to a high-profile launch in the autumn, as was originally anticipated, Ocado has quietly started operations with a selected group of 250 households in Hertfordshire and north London. It now says that following what it calls "robust testing", it is planning a full roll-out in the new year.

A spokesperson told us: "Every aspect of the operation is being put under the microscope. We want to be sure that when we do go fully live, everything works exactly as it should."

Fulfilment is being handled from a Gist warehouse at Hemel Hempstead, pending the opening of Ocado's purpose-built 37,000 sq m warehouse a few miles away at Hatfield Business Park. Gist will also manage that operation. There are unconfirmed reports that more distant parts of the South East area covered by the facility may be served from satellite bases, fed with product by trunk vehicles operating from Hatfield.

Ocado is doing the final deliveries with a fleet of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans ­ chosen, according to Rob Bell, head of technical services, following a benchmarking exercise. These have a highly distinctive specification which includes an integral ambient load compartment immediately behind the cab, and a separate lift-off box-van body or "pod" that can be loaded at the depot independently of the chassis.

The lift-off bodies are insulated and refrigerated, and have a quick-release connection to the chassis' electrical power supply. Access to the main body is provided via back doors and through a doorway connecting it to the forward load compartment.

The chassis are fitted with six-speed Sprintshift automatic transmission rather than the usual five-speed manual gearbox ­ specified to ease the driving task in dense urban areas, as well as to reduce wear and tear (and hence running costs).

The vans are being supplied by Charterway, the Mercedes-Benz hiring and finance wing, under a five-year contract. It is not clear yet exactly how many are involved, although there are thought to be some dozens in the initial tranche alone.