Decade of Trust: How Stuart Shaped Last-Mile Delivery

1. If you could describe Stuart’s 10-year journey in three words, what would they be and why?

Innovation, Community, Resilience.

Innovation because we've consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible in last-mile delivery – from our early tech-enabled approach in 2015 to today's machine learning algorithms. 

Community, because everything we do centres around serving local businesses and connecting them with their customers: we're not just moving packages, we're supporting local economies

And resilience, as we've navigated market changes such as post-COVID, expansion challenges, as well as market closures, and changes of ownership, with us currently supported by private equity Mutares. 10 years on, we continue to navigate the challenging market while many of our competitors have ceased to exist. 

Over the past decade, we've achieved some remarkable milestones: expanding from our Paris roots to operate across three European countries – the UK, France and Poland. We've grown to serve over 25,000 clients and handle millions of deliveries per month across more than 120 cities. Our technology has evolved dramatically, allowing us to offer a scheduled proposition where customers can choose preferred delivery slots. For example, we delivered for Tesco on a scheduled large basket last month. 

However, when it comes to the milestone I'm most proud of, I’d probably say the development of our 'stacking' technology, which combines multiple deliveries efficiently. This innovation increases our courier partners' delivery rates by 30% while reducing emissions by up to 18%. It perfectly embodies our vision of creating value across the entire ecosystem – it improves courier efficiency, the environment benefits, and we can serve more merchants cost-effectively.

3. What’s the proudest moment you’ve had as Stuart’s CEO?

One of my proudest moments has been leading Stuart through a period of reinvention while staying true to our mission. Over the past decade, we’ve grown from a start-up to a trusted partner for some of Europe’s biggest retailers, all while building fairer and more sustainable delivery solutions. Seeing our teams bring this vision to life, from launching eco-friendly fleets to expanding same-day services, has been incredibly rewarding. Celebrating Stuart’s 10th anniversary this year is a milestone that reflects not just our resilience, but the collective impact we’ve made on the future of delivery.

Our competitive advantage lies in being genuinely ultra-local. While many delivery companies operate at scale, we understand that each neighbourhood has different dynamics, and we've built our technology and operations around that insight.

Our technology goes far beyond simple route planning. Over the years, we’ve invested heavily in advanced machine learning that powers every delivery decision, from predicting ETAs and package readiness, to forecasting demand, detecting fraud, and understanding courier availability. These algorithms make our platform smarter with every delivery, creating efficiencies and reliability that set us apart. Paired with our commitment to serving both global retailers and local businesses, this has secured our unique position in the market.

Our commitment to that fairer exchange of value I mentioned previously has cemented our strength in the market. We don't simply extract value – we create it and share it across our ecosystem.

We serve a diverse range of clients, from major retailers like Tesco to Pizza Hut to local independent shops and restaurants. Our network spans from large marketplaces to software solution providers, including partners like Shopify.

For example, we've supported Tesco with its rapid delivery service Whoosh, helping it compete in the ultra-fast grocery space while maintaining its extensive reach. For smaller retailers, we've enabled independent shops to offer same-day delivery that was previously only available to customers of large chains – essentially levelling the playing field so they can thrive in an online environment while staying connected to their local community.

We remain very focused on our core European markets and our journey towards being ultra-local. There's still enormous room for growth within the three countries in which we operate. That being said, we would never turn down an opportunity for expansion should the business case work for both our client and Stuart. For example, we recently entered relatively low-population areas in Poland for one of our long-term clients, as we are committed to supporting our clients in achieving their growth objectives.

Our immediate focus is on deepening our capabilities in existing verticals. We're market leaders in same-day delivery for grocery food and retail, and we're seeing tremendous opportunity to extend that leadership across retail more broadly. 

We've had a transformational impact across all three groups. 

For businesses, we've democratised access to premium delivery services – small retailers can now offer the same level of service as major brands. Post-pandemic, when businesses of all sizes were being squeezed, we provided them with new revenue streams and ways to reach customers.

For communities, we've strengthened the connection between local businesses and residents, enabling the high street to thrive in a digital age. When a local florist can offer same-day delivery or a neighbourhood restaurant can reach customers beyond walking distance, we're preserving and enhancing local commerce.

Finally, for our courier partners, we've increased earning potential through our stacking technology and created more flexible work opportunities. Our platform allows them to optimise their routes and increase their delivery rates, which directly translates to better income.

It is my belief that the next decade will be defined by sustainability and precision. We'll see a conscious shift towards sustainable delivery become mandatory rather than optional, starting in major cities and spreading outward. Speed will remain important, but precision – delivering exactly when and where customers want – will become the key differentiator.

The integration of AI and machine learning has only just begun in our sector, and will have an enormous impact on deliveries of the future, including autonomous delivery solutions in certain contexts, and a focus on hyperlocal understanding. Stuart will navigate this by staying true to our core strength: a deep understanding of local markets coupled with cutting-edge technology to create value for all participants in the ecosystem.

The team has evolved from a startup focused purely on growth to an organisation that balances ambition with operational excellence. 

Our culture today is defined by what I term 'pragmatic ambition' – we dream big but execute with discipline. We're deeply committed to creating a collaborative, non-hierarchical culture where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and feedback at all levels. We believe in going wide as well as deep, staying curious about adjacent opportunities while maintaining laser focus on our core mission.

Most importantly, we're united by our purpose. Every decision we make is filtered through the lens of whether it creates genuine value for clients, couriers and consumers.

To our courier partners, you are the backbone of everything we do. Your dedication to delivering exceptional experiences, day in and day out, is what makes our vision possible.

To our employees, you've built something truly special. You've created a company that doesn't just move packages but moves communities forward. Your commitment to our values and your willingness to innovate have been the driving forces behind our success. In times of success, we celebrate; in times of toughness, we persevere. We are building the journey together - let’s have fun while we work hard. 

As we look ahead to the next decade, I'm excited about the opportunities to deepen our impact, strengthen our technology, and continue creating that fairer exchange of value that benefits everyone. The future of commerce is local, and together, we're making that future possible.