You shop, I’ll drop

ON the road . . . Justin Whittaker is competing with the big supermarkets, with his special Oldham delivery service

Shopkeeper launches his own online delivery service to rival store giants

AN enterprising shopkeeper is giving Tesco and Asda a run for their money with a rival delivery service.

Justin Whittaker’s door-to-door drop-offs can be whipped round within the hour if required.

The 40-year-old has worked at the MJ Premier Store on Richmond Avenue, Royton, for 28 years.

Now he has decided to take on the big boys, he wants other small shops to do the same.

Mr Whittaker’s independent store — formerly the Oldham Brewery Shop, run by his mum — offers everything from teabags to pasta and can be viewed online at www.premierdelivered.co.uk.

He is even offering first-time customers £10 off their first delivery.

Justin said: “I’m bringing a convenience shop to everyone’s home by going online.

“We’d always thought about doing deliveries but a neighbour of mine, who was having a 50th birthday party, asked me to go to the cash and carry for him and he would sort me out with the cash.

“It would have been a lot for my neighbour to get as it was £2,000 worth of champagne but I could have it sent by courier round to his home.

“But then I thought — that’s a good idea and now I want other small businesses to take this idea forward and compete with the bigger retailers.”

Mr Whittaker said he was hoping the business would take off and encourage more people to buy locally.

He added: “My most popular customers have been people in their 20s who want curries and beer delivered. They are the ones I’m targeting now.”

As with the large supermarkets, customers can pick a time slot and can pay in cash on delivery or by debit card.

Justin’s shop is part of the Booker Premier buying group.