Just Eat is expanding its trial of autonomous robot deliveries in the UK, expanding its partnership with Starship Technologies to Cambourne, Cambridgeshire, where the service will be available to over 12 residents. This development represents a further step in the development of AI-powered food logistics and marks the platform's first entry into a location where grocery delivery was not previously available.
Among the initiative's protagonists is Morrisons, one of the first British grocery retailers to adopt this technology. The Cambourne supermarket becomes the chain's fourth store to make deliveries using robots, joining three Morrisons Daily stores already involved in the trial in Sunderland and Milton Keynes.
The devices developed by Starship Technologies use artificial intelligence systems to navigate autonomously, recognize and avoid obstacles, and make real-time decisions along the way. The goal is to expand the territorial coverage of home deliveries, reaching areas where traditional logistics services are less present.
Just Eat emphasizes that this solution is intended to complement, rather than replace, the existing courier network, increasing operational capacity, especially during periods of peak demand, such as the run-up to the Christmas holidays.
For Morrisons, the trial involves a range of thousands of items, from everyday groceries to fresh products from the Market Street departments, to ready meals and last-minute purchases. The robots have a carrying capacity suitable for an average midweek shop of around twelve items.
Among the most popular products through the service are cucumbers, chicken, milk, and eggs, thanks in part to the Half Price Wednesdays promotional initiative, which offers 50% discounts on a selection of essential items.
To encourage adoption of the service in Cambourne, Just Eat is offering a £5 discount on a minimum spend of £25, along with free delivery, until October 21. The platform also recently integrated the Morrisons More Card loyalty card into the app, allowing customers to access its benefits.
“We are delighted to partner with Just Eat and Starship Technologies to trial autonomous deliveries from our Cambourne supermarket, continuing to explore innovative ways to serve the local community,” said Charlotte Exell, Group Online Director at Morrisons, noting that orders placed through Just Eat at this location will be delivered exclusively by robots.
Caroline Bates, Grocery & Retail Director at Just Eat, explained that the trial aims to improve the customer experience, both by opening up new territories and by increasing delivery capacity and speed during peak periods. The company will also collect customer feedback to guide future developments.
David Ringer, Director of Corporate Accounts Europe at Starship Technologies, highlighted how the robots are designed to ensure reliability and make everyday grocery shopping easier and faster.
The initiative is part of Just Eat's broader investment strategy in artificial intelligence applied to logistics and customer service, which also includes the introduction of Voice AI-based tools in recent months. For the British food retailer, the trial represents a further testbed to evaluate the efficiency of automated deliveries and the potential for integration with traditional e-commerce models.
