TESCO is ramping up its speedy deliveries for Christmas that can get orders to people in just 20 minutes.
Whoosh is already on offer from 1,400 Express stores — but the service will now be available at 30 of its big branches.
It means that all the way up to Christmas Eve customers from Cornwall to Scotland can make a quickfire festive food order.
And forgotten cranberry sauce or extra drink for last-minute guests can be delivered straight to their homes.
Whoosh also monitors store stock levels, so customers will only see what is available — rather than risk an order arriving without the item they really need.
Ken Murphy, the Tesco CEO, said: “While we can’t remove all the pressures from the Christmas period, we’re doing everything we can to make the Tesco shop that little bit easier.”
While some Brits leave it late for food buying, plenty are getting well organised.
Tesco said it had already sold 21 per cent more frozen turkeys than the year before.
It sold more than one million bottles of Baileys during its £10 promotion.
But the firm is also expecting record purchases of booze-free alternatives after a quarter of customers vowed to drink less.
Sales of low and no alcohol spirits are already up 20 per cent on last year.
Tesco has taken on 30,000 seasonal workers with a near 80 per cent jump in recruits from existing staff’s friends and families.
It is also selling more British produce.
Mr Murphy said: “This Christmas, we’re only selling British onions, potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, parsnips and cabbage — with all fresh turkeys and beef from the UK and Ireland.”
Tesco has also lowered the price of 222 basic items in its convenience stores as it fights to remain the cheapest full-line supermarket.
IN this season of goodwill, let’s give retail colleagues more protection. Most aspects of retail life at Christmas are joyful — stores bustling with customers, bright displays of tempting new and traditional treats and cheerful and uplifting seasonal adverts.
What concerns me is the grim fact one of our retail colleagues will be assaulted every two hours.
The Government recently committed to making assaulting a retail worker a new standalone offence, and we welcome that. But we need this to cover our delivery drivers as well.
They provide a critical service to customers and communities and deserve the same legal protections.
Sometimes a delivery driver has been assaulted multiple times in the same neighbourhood.
We have already stepped up by rolling out body-worn cameras to drivers and equipping them with personal panic alarms and satellite phones.
We have invested tens of millions in protecting our colleagues and helping the police to prosecute thieves, especially prolific offenders and organised crime gangs.
Our team already works closely with the police and Tesco’s own crime monitoring unit has secured 183 prosecutions this year, including three national offenders convicted of 107 offences.
While we are happy to see the Government taking action, we need to make sure all retail workers are protected. Our colleagues deserve a happy Christmas, free from the fear of abuse or violence.
By Ken Murphy, Tesco CEO
LAST year Tesco customers donated more than two million meals to foodbanks run by Trussell and Fareshare.
This year it is hoping to break that record by rolling out more pre-packed donation bags filled with essentials and opening more Express convenience stores.
The bags, which typically cost between £2 and £3, are designed to make it even easier for shoppers who want to help to pick the items most in need.
A spokesman said the most in-demand items at foodbanks are: UHT milk, tinned meat or fish and tinned puddings.
DEALMAKING has reignited the City after shares in Direct Line and bar chain Loungers rocketed on the back of bids.
The insurer soared by more than 41 per cent yesterday after admitting it had rejected a £3.4billion takeover approach by larger rival Aviva.
Direct Line boss Adam Winslow only joined in March from Aviva and has already fended off a takeover bid this year from Belgium’s Ageas.
But he will be under pressure from investors to start negotiations. Analysts at Peel Hunt said it believes “engaging with Aviva makes sense” and the deal could be sweetened from 250.5p a share to up to 265p.
Meanwhile Loungers said it had agreed to a £338.3million takeover by US fund Fortress Investment Group, which owns Majestic Wines and Punch Pubs.
Loungers reported half year profits had jumped by 51 per cent to £5.9million.
DR MARTENS stomped ahead yesterday after three years of getting a kicking.
The bootmaker posted better than expected sales of £324.6million, although it has swung into the red with half year losses of £28.7million.
Shares rose by 13.5 per cent as investors signalled they were pleased cost-cutting measures had been ramped up.
The firm confirmed that new boss Ije Nwokorie will take over in the New Year to help drive its turnaround.
