Deliveroo has broken its promise to partnered stores by launching ‘dark site’ convenience stores that compete with its existing retail partners.

The delivery provider has 14 ‘Essentials’ sites operating from industrial estates in London, Manchester, Brighton, Nottingham, Leeds, Reading and Cambridge.

Following retailer concern last October, the firm promised to Better Retailing that it had “no plans” to launch convenience sites.

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Food Standards Agency data shows many of the convenience dark sites operate from its existing dark kitchens that supply a range of takeaway food cuisines under the Deliveroo Editions brand.

Deliveroo-partnered Manchester retailer Mital Morar said: “The products are bit more expensive, but retailers can compete by offering localised products such as alcohol and food.”

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