Tesco opens first drive-through in Bognor Regis

The service means shoppers can pick up their groceries at the company’s store on Shripney Road without leaving their cars.

Store manager Steve Constable said: “I speak to customers every day about their shopping experience and this new service will offer even more choice in how they buy their shopping.

“Customers who are stretched for time can now buy the same great products at the same great prices without having to leave their car.”

The service will be run by the Tesco dotcom team which handles the home deliveries from the store.

The company was the first to try drive-through operations at two outlets last August.

Their success has prompted it to make the initiative permanent and extend it to another 12 sites.

Customers order their shopping as usual on the Tesco.com website, choosing the ‘click and collect’ option and book a two-hour collection slot within which they can pick up their items.

They drive up to the covered drive-through collection point and show a member of staff their shopping reference details.

Staff come to the car window and the shopping is packed in the boot. The charge for picking and packing the groceries starts at £2. This is added to the shopping bill so no money is exchanged at the collection point.

Ian Crook, Tesco.com’s marketing director, said: “We believe this will be especially popular with busy mums who have the school run and children’s activities to manage.

“We also expect it to help young professionals who want the convenience of a pre-picked and packed shop but who cannot commit to waiting at home for a delivery.

“They can collect their shopping on the way home from work or at any other time that suits them during our extensive collection hours.”