Skip Express Lane launches nationally

Following a test run in London, Ont. and Winnipeg last summer, SkipTheDishes is rolling out its grocery and household item delivery service across Canada.

Skip Express Lane’s 38 fulfillment centres will be up and running across Canada by mid-2022, the company said in a press release. Each centre operates similar to a ghost kitchen, where sales are made solely through an app and walk-in customers are not accepted.

It offers more than 1,500 items such as frozen food, soft drinks, meat, cereals, pet items, gum and cookies that can be delivered in 25 minutes or less.

"Skip Express Lane fills an important gap in the market. Canadians will now be able to get everyday essentials and grocery items delivered to your door in 25 minutes or less," said Howard Migdal, chief operating officer of SkipTheDishes. "Even during peak demand when we're processing several orders a minute, orders are packed and out the door in under 10 minutes for delivery."

Additionally, SkipTheDishes is working with local vendors around each Skip Express Lane location to offer customers "hometown favourites" and support local businesses, the company said.

"To us, Skip Express Lane is not just a convenient option for Canadians, but it's another way we are working hard to support local businesses through the pandemic and beyond," said Kevin Edwards, CEO of SkipTheDishes.

The service promises to deliver all orders within 25 minutes and operates daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. with delivery fees starting at $1.99 or free for those making purchases over $25.

News of Skip Express Lane's expansion comes the same day DoorDash announced it had opened delivery-based grocery and convenience stores in Toronto, London, Kitchener, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Called DashMart, the app-based service operates through a "dark store" that sells more than 2,000 grocery items from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day.