Addison Lee has launched AL Now – a two-hour, rapid delivery service that gives local London businesses a faster way to deliver to their customers. 

Unlike other delivery services which give customers all-day delivery windows, AL Now allows London businesses to offer consumers a specific two-hour delivery window.

The service is already being used by a number of retailers and is designed to help independent local businesses compete on a more level playing field with companies like Amazon, by giving their customers greater choice and control over delivery timings.

Liam Griffin, CEO of Addison Lee, said: “Since the first lockdown last March, we’ve seen our courier services grow by 30% as shopping behaviour shifted online. At the same time, we have seen shoppers come to expect that their purchases will be delivered at a time and date of their choosing. We created AL Now in response this trend – offering a simple, speedy and seamless delivery solution designed to help London's local businesses meet changing customer demands.”

The service launches ahead of Valentine’s Day as new data from Addison Lee suggests that with lockdown, Brits are planning to turn to local businesses to provide a special gift for loved ones. Almost half (47%) of those celebrating this year want to support local businesses in their community by buying from them this Valentine’s Day. 

But findings suggest that barriers to buying local remain.  More than half of those who plan to celebrate Valentine’s (54%) said they’d be more likely to shop with local businesses if they offered a quick and efficient local delivery service, while 34% were worried that they wouldn’t be able to pick up Valentine’s gifts this year with shops being shut.  

Griffin added: “In the run up to Valentine’s Day, London’s high streets would usually be filled with shoppers seeking a special gift for a special someone. This year the streets may be empty but local London businesses still have an opportunity to capture the market by offering customers the perfect Valentine’s package delivered to their doorstep.”