Do you think doorstep delivery in the UK (milkmen/women) will survive?

Question

Doorstep milk delivery in the United Kingdom - been going for years and years but the supermarkets are rapidly doing milk delivery businesses out of business! Would you buy milk and other dairy products from your local roundsman/woman or would you prefer to buy from the supermarket?

Do you think Doorstep delivery will pull through?

Answer 1

My family get the milk and the newspaper delivered, and I much prefer it that way.

We're not old- my parent are in their fifties, I'm 21, my siblings are 16 and 18- but we are all fiercely loyal to our milkman and paper boy.

Recently, the kiosk that delivers our papers closed down briefly, and we considered stopping having them delivered, but remembered our paper boy, and told him if he could find another supplier, we would stick with him, even if it was a little more expensive.

In fact, the tide seems to be turning towards deliveries- what with the expansion of supermarket home deliveries and organic fruit and veg box schemes.

Personally, I like taking my custom out of the hands of supermarkets, and into those of individual traders, and this feeling has got even stronger as supermarkets have grown.

The papers and milk arrive before my family gets up, ready for breakfast- which is far more reliable than any other delivery these days. With everyones busy lives these days, its lovely to be able to relax at least one part of your morning.

It means you dont have to think about it...when I lived out in student houses over the last few years, we were always running out of milk, and I rarely got the paper, which I really missed.

Plus its far more eco-friendly....if everyone went out to get their milk every few days and their paper everyday, I'm sure some would drive and it would use far more fuel than the electric milk float and the paper boys bicycle. Also, the milk bottles are reused as they are (which uses much less energy than recyling them), and the newspapers are recycled into new ones.

Yay for milkmen and paper boys!

Answer 2

I think there is a tremendous opportunity for expansion of home delivery services.  An aging population, poor weather, ungodly traffic, inconvenient parking, general congestion in stores are driving forces that should help the entreprenurially minded individual or company meet the needs of the poplus.  They best idea would be to set up a call-in service where by suppliers of milk, vegetables, beer, confectionaires and other easy to supply items could represent and combine their services so that they not only deliver their own products but those of other members of their group.

The question is simple:  What are the items that can be called for and delivered in a short amount of time, that are needed on a routine basis.  Compile this list and study the neighborhoods and their shopping localities and choices of products then put together a conglomerate or association of vendors and go to work.

This would be better realized by someone who wanted to operate a call in service that takes orders either by phone or fax, compiles and delivers the goods.  All of the pieces to put this together exist in off the shelf systems.  Whether or not someone has the foresight and energy to do so is a question for the individual.

Look at the possibilites for such service to expand.  As people work longer hours, take up second jobs and families who have both parents working odd shifts, the opportunity to serve them is a reality waiting to be seized.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

No I think as the older generation die out so will the doorstep delivery. It is only the older people (some of them) around where I live that still have the milkman. Infact it is a very rare sight now to see milk on the step anywhere here. (Exeter)