The head of the firm’s German package delivery unit DHL, Andrej Busch, told the regional daily Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that limited test deliveries of perishable foodstuffs ordered on the internet had begun in May.

“Naturally at first there’s a bit of scepticism from field trial participants,” Busch said. “Customers soon realize how convenient it is to shop this way.”

But he admitted it would take at least another three years to have a full nationwide network in place.

The logistics giant has profited in recent years from the boom in online shopping in Germany. And although Internet food delivery has lagged behind places like the United States it is slowly making inroads.

Deutsche Post even recently acquired the online supermarket Allyouneed.com, which allows customers to choose food items online in the morning for delivery via DHL that evening.

“Of course, it’s crucial that when we turn up at the customer’s house there’s someone home to accept it,” Busch told the paper.

The Local/mry