Does Milkrun have what it takes to outrun Woolworths’ one-hour delivery?

Last month, Woolworths made a tectonic shift in the grocery delivery sector in Australia with a new announcement: “rapid deliveries for $5” via its new Metro60 app. The move will see approximately 4000 products, from fresh produce to cleaning supplies, available to customers within the hour. 

Up until now, startups like SEND, VOLY and Milkrun have stepped in when the big supermarket-power-players have fallen short. But now that Woolies is firmly on the rapid delivery scene, what will happen to the little guys who came speedily from the rear to rescue consumers when they needed them most?

With the demise of SEND in May, and VOLY showing signs of weakness in June, does Milkrun have what it takes to maintain pole position in the grocery delivery race? As the little guys continue to navigate two sectors which have been hit hard in recent months — grocery and tech — there could be more to blame than external factors, as to why things haven’t worked out. 

Delivery sector or not, all businesses should be watching this power play very closely, as there are basic business lessons to be learned by all.