The team at CompareNI.com surveyed 600 UK businesses about how they are dealing with the lockdown. The research revealed that two-fifths of UK businesses (39%) have had to pivot their offerings since the beginning of lockdown, with 76% of these providing a brand-new service, and more are offering delivery services.

The study has revealed that 24% of businesses are offering a delivery service for the very first time because of lockdown
Restaurants/bars (59%) were found to be the most common sector offering the new service, followed by retail (18%)
The price comparison site’s own data also revealed a 43% jump in people searching for courier insurance during the lockdown
Of those businesses that have recently launched new delivery services, 19% stated that they had taken out courier insurance to protect them from loss, damage or theft

Roughly a quarter of the businesses surveyed (24%) have launched a new delivery service during the lockdown, with restaurants/bars (59%) found to be the types of businesses most likely to begin offering this type of service, followed by retail businesses (18%).

Two thirds (65%) of those businesses that have begun offering deliveries indicated that they were using vans to fulfil their orders, while the remainder used other means, including personal transport (35%).

Asked whether they would continue offering a delivery service once they were able to reopen fully, more than half (56%) revealed that they intended to continue. CompareNI.com spoke to local business owners across Northern Ireland to see how they had adapted to the challenging climate;

Mervyn Kennedy, owner of Kennedy Bacon Ltd. in Tyrone, comments: “We started deliveries as soon as lockdown began. With the loss of markets and shows, we wanted to ensure our loyal customers would continue to get our products. We will continue to provide this service for as long as it is necessary.”

Gillian Gardiner, owner of the Potato Bar Café in Lurgan, added: “Lockdown was very hard on us, it’s a very small and new business. Four weeks ago I decided I needed to get up and running with delivery and collection at the door. The community and regulars have been an amazing support. Not only do we do potatoes but paninis, wraps, toasties – plus our desserts have been flying out! It’s a long road to recovery for the whole town but we are all in this together and hope we all come out stronger.”

Brendan McKay, owner of Glensway Farmshop in Ballymena, continued: “Here at the Glensway we have been able to diversify to meet the needs of our customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. With the addition of takeaway services we have been able to get our top quality food to customers. We have also increased our Farm Shop offering and have added free delivery to our local area allowing us to get the best quality meats, breads and other produce to our customers.”

CompareNI.com research also revealed that less than one in five (19%) of the businesses that have begun couriering goods to their customers had taken out courier insurance to protect themselves from the financial impact of potential losses, damage or theft.

Commenting on the study, Greg Wilson, founder of CompareNI.com, said: “The global pandemic and the resulting lockdown are regularly described as unprecedented, so it should come as no surprise that an unprecedented number of small businesses are having to pivot in order to survive, including launching their own delivery services.

“I would advise, even if a small business’s van insurance or car insurance policy includes ‘business use’ under its class of use, that alone usually doesn’t cover the business to provide a delivery service. Each business should check in with their insurance provider to ensure they have the right cover to protect them.”