There is now no need to spend time going up and down supermarket aisles gathering your groceries in a cart.

MarketPlace has launched an online ordering service today, which allows customers to choose what they want to buy and then drive to the Hamilton store to pick-up the packed groceries.

Online grocery order and pick-up services is a growing trend in a number of countries. In the US, big name retailers offering such services include Walmart, Target and Whole Foods.

MarketPlace is initially offering its new online order and pick-up service at Hamilton MarketPlace, however it intends to extend the service to more of its stores before the end of the year.

The aim is to make shopping quicker and easier for customers. The ordering is done at the MarketPlace website, or through mobile apps that can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple App store.

When ordering, customers can specify alternatives to their first choices in case they ares not available.

There are reserved pick-up parking spots where customers can quickly have their groceries loaded at a time convenient to them.

The minimum online grocery order is $50. There is a $4.95 fee, although this is waived for the first order.

Customers can choose from more than 25,000 items online at Marketplace.bm. Items are organised by category, and customers can shop the weekly deals and still enjoy 5 per cent off on Wednesdays.

Seth Stutzman, president of The MarketPlace, said: “Our online ordering and pick up service is perfect for customers who want to spend their time on things that matter most.

“We recognise that grocery shopping can sometimes be a time-consuming experience. Our goal for implementing online ordering is to give some of that time back to our customers, allowing them to spend it on things that matter the most. This service is also great for visitors to island.”

He added: “Our customers from the US, Canada, the UK and other similar jurisdictions are accustomed to these sort of tech-advanced services, as well as residents who have lived and travel abroad.

“Our team has worked tirelessly over the last few months to get the new website and mobile app operating, and I thank them immensely. We are thrilled to be offering this service.”

He said supermarket associates will carefully select the best quality items and keep customers up to date on their order until it has been collected.

“Shoppers simply park in one of the reserve spots for pick-up and call or text the listed number on the designated parking spot signs to alert an associate of their arrival. Their order is brought out and loaded into customers vehicles within minutes.,” Mr Stutzman said.

• To learn more about our online ordering service, visit www.marketplace.bm/the-marketplace-online-ordering