The three retailers, representing almost 5,000 sites throughout the UK, will run a pilot scheme in 25 outlets in Reading.
Dropzone1 is a new service designed to answer the emerging dilemma of the internet shopping age: how do you take delivery at home when you're out at work all day? The company offers customers the option of having their goods delivered to a petrol station, convenience store or other participating late-opening shop. They receive an email to advise when the goods have arrived at the Dropzone and can collect them on the way home from work or at a time to suit them.
Dropzone1 Director Lynda Wallace said: "We are in the final stages of negotiations with other major petrol companies and suitable late-opening outlets and we are confident we will have at least 5,000 Dropzones operating across the country by the end of the summer."
The first Dropzone1 trial will focus on Reading in Berkshire to prove the systems and act as a blueprint for the national rollout. The Dropzone1 service will be free to customers for the trial period, but will normally cost £1 per package and will be paid for by the customer at the point of ordering online.
Partnerships are also being formed with e-tailers who are keen to offer their customers this additional service. "Streets Online, the entertainment portal, is already on board," Ms Wallace said. "A number of wine, health, book, music, clothing and travel sites are also interested in getting involved at an early stage".
"Everyone from marketers and internet analysts to the retail specialist Verdict Research has been saying that the absence of convenient home delivery is the Achilles heel of on-line shopping. The fact is that the people currently most likely to use the Web are the ones least likely to be home to take delivery. We think Dropzone1 is the answer."