Blok, the new 'app' that wants to bring your groceries home in ten minutes

Although the pandemic has increased the habit of buying food online, traditional supermarket chains are facing increasing competition as a result of the emergence of multiple online applications based on intensive use of technology and ultra-fast deliveries. This is the case of Blok, a newly launched application in Barcelona that promises to deliver home orders in just ten minutes.

The startup has been created by professionals with experience in companies such as Uber, Glovo, Deliveroo and giants in the distribution sector such as Tesco or Mercadona. This new application bases its model on weaving a network of closed grocery stores ---dark stores, in industry jargon---, where delivery drivers will pick up orders and deliver them always using electric bicycles.

"Our goal is to revolutionize daily shopping to make it simpler, faster and adapted to current reality. We have our own grocery stores for exclusive use through our app, distributed in different parts of the city and with our own stock that we adapt according to the area and complement with products from neighborhood shops," says Blok co-founder and operations director, Hunab Moreno. The executive also assures that this new model not only allows to satisfy emergency purchases, but also daily shopping.

To ensure that the promised reduced delivery times can be met, Blok aims to have 10 of its own grocery stores in Barcelona by the end of the year and more than 10 in Madrid. The startup currently has a team of 40 people and expects to close 2021 with 1,100 employees, including delivery drivers. They also expect to close this year with a turnover close to 25 million euros. Currently, the application is operational, but it is still in testing phase. However, anyone who wants to can register on the Blok website and download the app.

In a context where greater corporate responsibility towards delivery drivers is demanded, Blok assures that its delivery drivers are part of the staff and are involved in the entire process. They also want to minimize the environmental impact of their activity with the use of electric bicycles.

Recently, Glovo, which also operates in this business, has announced an investment of one hundred million euros in alliance with the real estate group Stoneweg to increase the number of dark stores it has in the countries where it operates from 22 to one hundred. Amazon has also joined this trend and has just launched its Amazon Fresh supermarket service in the Catalan capital.