ithout the need to leave the vehicle.  “This model is in response to a sustained increase in online shopping that is seen within the existing supermarket network, while also providing a reduced Covid-19 risk for customers,” a Woolworths spokesperson said. The concept is an extension of the business’ successful direct-to-boot contactless service, though the site will not house a mainline Woolworths supermarket, instead serving as a dark store which will also fulfil orders to the local area through delivery apps, such as Uber Eats. Responses to the proposal have been mixed, with a local business owner calling the concept “bizarre” and stating it would hurt the “village” feel of the area: similar complaints to those faced by Woolworths’ attempt to launch a supermarket in Mosman last year. On the other end of the spectrum, Craig Flanders, co-founder and managing director of full-service creative agency Spinach, told Inside Retail he thought the concept was a “no brainer”. “The only people complaining are other retailers in the area concerned it will create more traffic – everyone else knows that greasing the wheels for a more seamless shopping transaction is a win for the consumer,” Flanders said.  “Good on Woolies for finding a site to trial this. I reckon it will be a roaring success. Who doesn’t want to get in, pick up their shopping and get out? “I hope there’s one on every corner.” Convenience is a universal language Businesses around the world have trialled drive-through concepts to serve customers in a Covid-safe manner during the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, according to a 2021 report from DigitalCommerce360, the number of large retail chains that offered curbside pick-up jumped from 6 per cent to 51 per cent between 2020 and 2021.  US superstore Walmart, for example, offers an in-car grocery and pharmacy pick-up service, allowing customers to pick up their goods and prescription medications without leaving their cars. Amazon also added a drive-through lane at one of its Amazon Fresh locations in Florida, as has Walgreens and midwest grocery chain Hy-Vee. These changes made sense in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic when customers and workers were trying to remain as socially distanced as possible. But as more customers return to their physical workplaces after having tasted the convenience of online shopping, new ways to save time are likely to remain popular. Plus, with more shoppers leaning toward multiple, smaller shops a week, compared to the more traditional weekly shop, drive-through shopping could be a way to make this process more seamless. However, the success of a direct-to-boot offering could rely on the store’s geography, according to Simon Mayhew, head of online retail insights at UK-based food research firm IGD. “This solution only works with stores that have enough space, and are located in less densely populated areas,” Mayhew told Modern Retail. “In these areas, customers may find it more difficult to get delivery slots [but] can easily get to the store without hitting traffic.”