MFG is planning to introduce another 370 Yeep parcel lockers across its estate of 1,200-plus forecourts by the end of July.
Currently the Top 50 Indie has 130 of these battery-powered lockers, with the latest being installed in May at its 24-hour Haverhill petrol station in Suffolk: marking the 1,000th to go live across all types of locations.
Yeep partnered with parcel courier DPD UK in April to expand the carrier’s existing network of 12,000 pickup parcel stores and lockers across the UK, with 8,000 additions planned in the arrangement in the next five years.
Currently MFG is Yeep’s only forecourt client, but it hopes more petrol station operators will come on board with sites operating24 hours and which are secure and well lit at night.
“Crossing the 1,000-locker mark is a big moment for Yeep, but what matters most is where we’re placing them,” says Noël Shapton, chief executive of Yeep.
“This locker isn’t just a number. It’s another step toward making delivery and returns genuinely easy for people, right where they already are – in this case, fuelling up, grabbing a coffee, or on their daily commute,” he adds.
MFG has parcel lockers in place with several providers including Quadient. As the largest public ultra-rapid charging network in the UK it has been developing its on-site services, including laundry machines, for motorists charging vehicles looking to fill dwell time.
It is striving to turn its sites into “travel retail destinations” with a pledge to invest £170 million on its sites this year. Some 900-plus of its forecourts offer valeting, for example, and it has foodservice partnerships with Greggs, Pret and Burger King.
Adam Wadlow, chief investment officer at MFG, says. “Our sites are evolving, with ultra rapid EV charging, vehicle valeting, food-to-go and c-stores - they’re no longer just about fuel.
“Customers expect more from their local forecourt, it needs to deliver maximum convenience and a secure, 24/7 parcel locker fits naturally within our retail eco system, adding huge value to our offering without adding complexity. We are delighted to be growing Yeep’s network, providing our customers with a safe, highly accessible parcel locker facility.”
Shapton is optimistic about further roll-out. “We’re seeing interest from every corner of the UK, from forecourts to corner shops, gyms to train stations. He adds: “The demand is clear: people want delivery options that respect their time. And businesses want smarter ways to use their space. This 1,000th locker is a milestone, yes, but we’re just getting started.”
