Sainsbury’s is rolling out a major change across its stores in a UK first.

The major retailer is teaming up with Royal Mail to introduce parcel lockers across its UK stores, allowing shoppers to drop-off and collect parcels in convenient locations. Sainsbury’s is the first supermarket chain to partner with Royal Mail on its rapidly expanding network of parcel drop-off and collection points. The delivery company first launched its parcel locker network back in December to meet surging demand for convenient parcel drop-off and collection points and to cater for the growing number of second-hand marketplace sellers.

Royal Mail’s lockers are already live in six Sainsbury’s stores across the UK, in Clapham, Desborough, Kempshott, Low Hall, Kidderminster and Chislehurst. The supermarket said it will be rolling out more lockers soon as the service expands and the lockers will be available for customers to use seven days a week.

Prices to use the lockers start from £1.55 online for a small parcel that fits through the letterbox, and the smart lockers also feature label printing for customer convenience.

Customers simply need to pay for postage online and print the label by scanning a QR code at the locker or request a QR code if they are returning a purchase.

There are now more than 1,500 lockers and 7,000 Collect+ stores that Royal Mail customers can use, and they can also drop off parcels small enough to fit in any postbox, and use the app to request proof of postage.

Patrick Dunne, chief property and procurement Officer, Sainsbury’s, said: “At Sainsbury’s we’re always looking for innovative ways to deliver the best value, quality and service for our customers. 

“That’s why we're delighted to be partnering with Royal Mail to offer this fantastic new proposition at our stores. The lockers will be available 7 days a week, giving customers an easy, convenient way to drop off and collect parcels via Royal Mail as they shop.”

Jack Clarkson, group strategy and transformation director at Royal Mail, added: “Partnering with a retailer with the scale and popularity of Sainsbury’s is great news for our customers and the UK public, who will now have even more ways to drop off and collect their parcels in convenient locations.

“Due to the relentless growth in online shopping and secondhand marketplaces, there is increased demand from our customers for more parcel drop off and collection points. 

“To meet our goal of making sending and receiving parcels as easy as possible, we must considerably expand our network. This is the start of an exciting partnership with Sainsbury’s that will help us to meet that goal at pace.”