Automated postal locker specialist InPost has signed a delivery solution agreement with France's Leclerc for goods ordered online from the supermarket retailer.
It makes provision for the deployment of 900 'Abricolis' lockers at Leclerc's outlets, including 400 by the end of this year. Leclerc has several e-commerce sites including those for over-the-counter drugs, wine, sports gear, electronic appliances and spectacles.
InPost France's general manager, Olivier Binet, said the partnership with Leclerc "highlights the triple promise of our offering."
He added: "For customers, the service (of automated lockers) is increasingly viewed as an alternative to traditional delivery solutions which are not living up to expectations.
"For e-traders, it is a way of transforming their business as many of their customers give up on their purchases having failed to find a delivery solution which is right for them. For 'high street' retailers, the service is a way of attracting new customers who having picked up a parcel at an 'Abricolis' might be inclined to buy goods at the on-site store."
InPost confirmed its objective to have some 2,000 lockers in service by 2018.
Last month, the Poland-based company announced an exclusive partnership with French B2C delivery specialist Mondial Relay to create a nationwide network of 1,000 lockers across France by the end of this year, taking on rival networks used by Amazon, DPD, DHL and other parcel carriers.
Mondial Relay will use InPost’s expanding French network, which is timetabled to reach 1,000 locations by the end of this year, as an additional delivery option alongside its 5,300 Point Relais parcel points.
InPost also signed a deal last year to set up lockers at Total petrol stations.
