AN ONLINE supermarket that promises it can get food and beer to your door in under 28 minutes will open in Oxford by the end of the month.
Craig Moore, 29, and Alfie Porter, 21, started trading as 8DOL in Bournemouth is September and now they are setting up in East Oxford.
The company will mainly target the student population, with a bike delivery service that offers more than 500 grocery items via its app, with no minimum spend and a £1 fee.
READ AGAIN: 8DOL alcohol application opposed by community group
Advertised as a ‘cloud supermarket’ the company, which is similar to takeaway service Deliveroo, has been running in China since 2013 and now has more than three million users.
Mr Moore said: “We are looking forward to opening in Oxford on Monday, April 29, with a small warehouse on Cowley Road.
“Deliveries are by bike and we are still recruiting - Oxford is a great cycling city and a lot of workers will be students.
“We will be opening in Portsmouth, another student city, around the same time.”
READ AGAIN: Cloud delivery service to run in city, despite concerns
The Bullingdon Road Neighbourhood Watch had formally opposed a licensing application by 8DOL for a property on the corner of Cowley Road and Bullingdon Road.
Katherine Miles, coordinator for the group, which was created last year, said residents were concerned about the sale of alcohol, though the application stated it was for sale ‘off premises’ between 8am and 11pm.
Despite Thames Valley Police and residents’ concerns that the business could ‘cause nuisance’ the city council’s licensing sub-committee passed the application at a meeting on Monday.
The founders of 8DOL said some people were put off conventional supermarket delivery because next day delivery was not fast enough.
Mr Porter said earlier: “Many people really like the convenience our service offers, we can help save you a trip when you have run out of milk.
“The app is simple to use and is available on both app stores.”
READ MORE: Cowley Road shopkeeper who had thousands of illegal cigarettes is jailed
The online store boasts a wide range of student-orientated items, with alcohol, snacks and frozen food on offer. Fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as staples like milk and bread are also stocked. Non-food items include iPhone chargers, paracetamol and toilet roll.
Jobs will be advertised via the website 8dol.co.uk
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