Metro Supply Chain Group Inc. ("Metro") announced today that it has finalized an agreement with Penguin Pick-Up to add that company's convenient online purchase pick-up locations to its expanding direct-to-consumer delivery choices. This news follows closely on the heels of several "last mile" innovations for the logistics company, including the launch of Metro To Home, a white-glove service for appliance and other large/specialized delivery needs.
Penguin Pick-Up is a network of self-contained, staffed parcel pick-up locations which leverages the convenience of SmartCentres. The developer of the now ubiquitous destination shopping outlets has grown to operate over 265 locations across Canada (more than 100 of which are anchored by a Walmart store). To use the service, purchasers simply substitute a Penguin Pick-Up location for their delivery address and collect safely-stored purchases at their convenience.
In 2016, Penguin Pick-Up entered into a partnership with UPS Stores to also offer its branded click and collect service at UPS locations; yesterday, Walmart announced the grand opening of two co-branded Walmart/Penguin Pick-Up locations (Yonge/Eglinton and Queens Quay) which bring the convenience of its fresh grocery order and collect service to more of Toronto's urban population.
"Regardless of which provider actually fulfills the last mile to the consumer, it's the retailer who takes the reputation hit for any inconvenience that can arise during that part of the transaction," explains Metro's Head of Ecommerce Development, Tony Jasinski, of the company's interest in partnering with Penguin Pick-Up. "From 'sorry we missed you' slips through stolen packages, the process is fraught with variables. Offering options like Penguin Pick-Up that replace the potential for human error with a consistent, predictable last mile experience helps our retailers go from online shopping cart to repeat customer that much faster."
Metro CEO, Chiko Nanji, agrees: "Owning the last mile is very much about staying in step with the end consumer's lifestyle. Services like Penguin Pick-Up offer the combination of choice and convenience that can create a consistently positive delivery experience."
For his part, Egil Nielsen, SVP Head of Penguin Pick-Up & Penguin Fresh is excited about what this agreement signifies. "Metro is a forward-thinking company that is continually innovating in terms of removing the distance between its retail clients and their customers. That's the kind of partner we look for."
About Metro Supply Chain
Metro Supply Chain is a strategic supply chain solutions partner for some of the world’s fastest growing and most recognizable organizations. Managing more than 12 million square feet in over 96 sites across North America and Europe with a team of 6,000, it is the largest privately-owned supply chain solutions company based in Canada. For almost 50 years, Metro Supply Chain’s scale, wide capabilities and entrepreneurial structure has enabled it to meet its customers’ most challenging supply chain needs, including the creation of complex e-commerce fulfillment and last-mile delivery networks.
About Penguin Pick-Up
Penguin Pick-Up is a network of FREE, convenient and secure pick-up services for consumers' online purchases. Penguin Pick-Up offers a customer-focused drive through experience that allows online shoppers to come and pick up their packages in 90 seconds or less. With extended operating hours, customers can collect their purchases at a time that is convenient for them. Penguin Pick-Up is a "one-stop pick-up" for all e-commerce purchases, including groceries and dry cleaning services. Penguin Pick-Up locations can store fresh and frozen food as well as hard goods such as electronics and apparel. Customers can ship almost anything to Penguin Pick-Up from anywhere in the world and any online retailer.
Penguin Pick-Up and Penguin Fresh are owned by developer Mitchell Goldhar, founder of Smartcentres, which has developed more than 265 shopping centres in Canada, and Chairman of Smart Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), which acquired the Smartcentres development platform.