Analysis

September 3, 2021

Take a look inside a dark store

Sifted visited one of on-demand grocery startup Getir's dark stores in London.


Katja Staple

9 min read

Getir's dark store in Battersea. Credit: Katja Staple

On-demand grocery delivery services are the current European startup craze. There are now dozens of companies offering to deliver bananas, birthday cakes and booze within 15 minutes in cities across the continent. Adverts for their apps are plastered across buses and billboards, and their couriers are familiar sights in city centres.

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Turancan Salur, Getir’s UK general manager. Credit: Katja Staple
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Entrance to the Getir dark store in Battersea, London. Credit: Katja Staple
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The Getir store is open from 7am to midnight, seven days a week. Evenings are peak time for the pickers. Credit: Katja Staple
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Credit: Katja Staple
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Pickers scan every product they select. This information feeds into the inventory management system, the website and informs promotions. Credit: Katja Staple
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Inan studied accounting, worked as a branch manager for betting shop William Hill and as a prison officer. Today, he is the quickest picker in Getir's Battersea shop. Credit: Katja Staple
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On average, it takes approximately one minute to put together an order. Credit: Katja Staple
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Once an order is complete, it is put on the counter for drivers to collect. Credit: Katja Staple
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Terry used to work in construction and is a delivery driver today. Credit: Katja Staple
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Drivers verify they have the correct order and take it to the customer. Credit: Katja Staple
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In busy times, a driver can make about four deliveries and receives a 50p bonus for each. Credit: Katja Staple
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Getir motorcycles are monitored for traffic violations such as speeding. Credit: Katja Staple
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Katja Staple

Katja Staple writes about the business of startups for Sifted

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