Sainsbury’s is using bicycles to deliver essential groceries in a bid to meet customer demand in response to the outbreak.

The service, Chop Chop, will allow customers to get up to twenty items delivered straight to their door within an hour of making the order.

Since the beginning of April, Sainsbury’s has successfully rolled out Chop Chop across London and trialled making deliveries from closed convenience stores.

The app, which launched in Brighton and Bristol on May 14, launched in Manchester, Reading, Richmond, Morden, Charlton and Harringay this week.

By mid-June, a total of 50 stores will offer shoppers the service in the hopes of reaching as many customers as they can.

Once the 50-store roll out is completed, around 3.2 million households, including customers who are self-isolating will be able to use the service.

The rapid expansion will support Sainsbury’s efforts to increase the total number of online delivery slots for its groceries online service to 600,000 per week.

Chief Digital Officer at Sainsbury’s, Clodagh Moriarty, said: “We are doing everything we can to feed the nation and offer our customers quick, convenient and safe ways to get their groceries.

"Demand for home grocery deliveries has never been higher and we have been receiving great feedback for Chop Chop, with customers really valuing the speed and convenience it brings.

"By rolling Chop Chop out to 50 stores in 20 cities across the country, even more customers can get what they need delivered to their door.”