Asda and Amazon have announced a new partnership enabling customers to collect and return Amazon parcels at more than 700 Asda stores across the UK, just in time for the Christmas shopping period.

The collaboration aims to streamline the shopping experience by allowing customers to combine their weekly grocery shopping with Amazon parcel collection and returns in a single trip. Additional locations are expected to be added in the coming months.

The new service features a label-free, box-free returns system, where customers can return items in their original manufacturer's packaging, reducing the need for additional shipping materials.

Chris Hall, vice president of logistics at Asda, highlighted the significance of the partnership: "This collaboration with Amazon just in time for Christmas marks another landmark moment, not just for our larger stores, but our ever-expanding Asda Express convenience estate. By bringing essential services like Amazon parcel pickup and return drop-offs closer to where our customers live and work, we're able to provide greater convenience to more of the communities we serve across the UK."

John Boumphrey, UK country manager at Amazon, emphasised the customer-focused approach: "We work hard to offer customers low prices on a wide selection of products, with fast, convenient delivery options and easy returns. This collaboration with Asda makes it even easier for customers to pick up ordered items when they're shopping, or make hassle-free returns at more than 700 locations around the country."

The service implementation comes at a challenging time for Asda, as recent data shows the supermarket's market share has declined from 13.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent, with sales dropping 5.5 per cent in the 12 weeks to 3 November.

To use the service, customers can select their preferred Asda location during Amazon checkout. For returns, customers simply need to generate a QR code through Amazon's website or shopping app and bring their items to an eligible Asda store in the original packaging.

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