The Snappy Group, the technology platform that connects consumers with their local businesses, has announced that Justin King CBE has become a senior adviser to the company and made a significant investment in the business.
It is envisaged that King will join the Board as non-executive director following the Series A fundraising that has recently been launched.
Justin King, was CEO of Sainsbury’s between 2004 and 2014. During that time he led the business through a major turnaround followed by nine years of profit growth. Before joining Sainsbury’s, he was head of Food at Marks & Spencer.
Snappy Group
Local businesses and communities are at the heart of the Snappy Group’s mission. The Group’s website and proprietary mobile app technology provide local businesses with an affordable, bespoke e-Commerce delivery and Click & Collect solution for local consumers. The company works in partnership with local businesses to provide an outsourced tech platform, tailored to their specific needs, that can drive significant revenue uplift.
Justin King said: “I have been hugely impressed by the Snappy Group’s affordable solution, leadership team and rapid growth. The Company is championing the needs of businesses in their local community. Its proprietary technology provides local businesses with an affordable delivery solution which enables them to compete in this fast-changing market segment. This not only caters to the trend for top up shopping but also an increasing desire by consumers to access and support local enterprises.
“This is an exciting and pivotal time for the business and I believe that I will be able to add significant value. I look forward to working with the management team as the business continues its expansion and grows its market share further within the thriving UK convenience market and beyond.”
Mike Callachan, co-founder of Snappy Shopper, said: “We are very excited to have been able to attract Justin’s interest and investment. Justin is one of the UK’s most successful business leaders and brings a wealth of experience within the retail and FMCG sector, which will be invaluable as we expand further.
“Prior to the pandemic, the Snappy Group was already established in both hospitality and grocery home delivery. The lockdown has served to accelerate the online trend, but we strongly believe that the shift in consumer behaviour will persist in the long term. While we expect the rapid rate of growth in deliveries to slow slightly as lockdown eases through the summer months, the online market is a long way from maturation.”
“Our mission is to give communities on demand access to the products of local businesses. In this context, our platform is based on genuine partnerships and the principle of mutual benefit. The platform therefore evolves to suit their needs and I believe our flexibility, commitment and commission structure differentiate us from our competitors.”
