Shoppers popping to Sainsbury’s will now be able to send a birthday present or return an online order at the same time – as the supermarket rolls out a major new partnership with Royal Mail.

In a bold move to make parcel sending and collection as easy as picking up a pint of milk, the retail giant has begun installing Royal Mail’s smart new parcel lockers at dozens of its stores across the country.

With prices starting from £1.55, the service promises a no-fuss, no-queue, and no-printer-required solution to the great British parcel problem – and it’s already up and running in several locations.

So far, shoppers can take advantage of the shiny red lockers in Clapham, Desborough, Kempshott, Low Hall, Kidderminster, and Chislehurst – but that’s only the beginning. A rapid nationwide rollout is expected in the coming weeks as demand for hassle-free posting surges.

The smart lockers, which come equipped with label printing via QR code (a godsend for those who’ve run out of ink at home), will also soon allow shoppers to collect parcels in addition to sending them. No need to wait in for the postie or trek to a depot.

Prices start at £3.55 for small parcels, while lighter items that fit through a letterbox come in at a pocket-friendly £1.55.

It marks the latest effort by Royal Mail to claw back some ground in the parcel wars, having launched its own network of self-service lockers back in December. The firm says there are now more than 1,500 lockers and 7,000 Collect+ locations across the UK.

Jack Clarkson, group strategy and transformation director at Royal Mail, hailed the link-up as “great news” for customers, adding:

“Partnering with a retailer with the scale and popularity of Sainsbury’s is great news for our customers and the UK public, who will now have even more ways to drop off and collect their parcels in convenient locations.”

Patrick Dunne, chief property and procurement officer at Sainsbury’s, said the lockers would be open seven days a week, giving shoppers a quick and easy way to post parcels while picking up dinner.

“Whether it’s returning something that wasn’t quite right or sending a gift, customers can now do it all during their shop,” he added.

The move comes as supermarkets across the country scramble to cater to the ‘click-and-send’ generation. Lockers are fast becoming the go-to solution for busy Brits who want the convenience of e-commerce, without the faff of waiting in.

InPost, often billed as Europe’s locker king, has already muscled its way into several Sainsbury’s forecourts – not to mention rival supermarket Aldi, which now boasts lockers at more than 260 locations following a successful trial last year.

Meanwhile, Evri (formerly Hermes) is also on the locker bandwagon, with nearly 450 self-service lockers now dotted across UK high streets.

But while Royal Mail remains a household name and is still one of the most cost-effective for letters – with prices from just 87p – some shoppers may find cheaper options elsewhere for parcels.

Here’s how they stack up:

Royal Mail: £3.35 for small parcels up to 2kg (2nd class)

InPost: From £1.99 for locker-to-locker delivery; £2.89 for home delivery

Evri: £2.62 via ParcelShop; £3.16 direct to door

For bargain hunters, comparing before you send could shave pounds off your postage costs, especially for frequent sellers on platforms like Vinted, Depop, or eBay.

Lockers aren’t just convenient – they’re also helping to reshape the way Brits shop online. Forget the frustration of missed deliveries or queueing at the Post Office; with just a QR code on your mobile, you can unlock a locker, drop off your parcel, and be on your way in seconds.

It’s a model that’s particularly popular with online sellers, many of whom now prefer dropping off items in a locker to waiting in line. The buyer then receives a code to collect the item from a nearby locker – no awkward neighbour interactions or delivery windows required.

And it’s not just for the tech-savvy. With Royal Mail now offering on-site label printing, even the less digitally inclined can take part in the locker revolution.

So next time you’re grabbing your groceries at Sainsbury’s, keep your eyes peeled for one of these red lockers. Your next parcel drop-off could be quicker than your trip down the frozen aisle.

FULL LIST of current Royal Mail locker locations at Sainsbury’s:

Clapham

Desborough

Kempshott

Low Hall

Kidderminster

Chislehurst

Sainsbury’s says the above list will be quickly expanded over coming weeks – so keep a eye out in your local store.