Co-op has announced a £1.5 million investment to replace and upgrade its home delivery fleet with more than 50 new electric compact vans, as part of its wider carbon reduction and net zero goals.

The grocery retailer said the Proace City EV compact vans, supplied by long-standing partner Toyota, will enter service across the UK to support more rural communities where courier services are limited or unavailable, while also reducing emissions and lowering its impact on the climate.

The vehicles are available in two body lengths and offer load space of up to 4.4m3. They can carry a payload of up to 990kg, provide space for two Europallets and have a towing capacity of up to one tonne, with Toyota’s Smart Cargo folding seat system increasing flexibility for longer items.

Co-op said the investment aligns with its clear ambition to grow its online business. More than 86 per cent of the UK population now has access to Co-op groceries online either through its own shop at shop.coop.co.uk or via its strategic retail partners.

“We continually explore new and better ways in which we can enhance reliability, extend our reach and better serve our members, customers and communities,” said Anthony Molloy, Co-op quick commerce delivery and technology manager. “This investment helps us to achieve that, and is another step toward reducing emissions from our fleet and lowering our impact on the climate – we are delighted to take delivery of our new fleet of electric home delivery vehicles.”

Last month Co-op announced that its members will benefit from special member prices when purchasing its products through the Just Eat platform.

The company said members will see discounts on around 150 everyday products and essentials, with average savings of around 37 per cent.

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