You can have supermarket orders — from the likes of Tesco, Ocado, or Walmart — delivered to your forward2me address for forwarding. Groceries need special handling, though, and many items can't be forwarded at all. Please read this before you order, and check with us first.
Schedule Delivery During Our Opening Hours
Supermarket delivery drivers usually require a specific time slot. Book your delivery during our opening hours — Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM local time. If a driver arrives outside these hours, they'll likely take the groceries back to the store, and the supermarket may charge you a restocking fee.
Ask for Boxed Items, Not Bags
Many supermarkets deliver in loose crates or plastic bags. If the supermarket offers the option, select "No bags" or ask for your items to be boxed. Either way, our warehouse team has to repack loose groceries into a sturdy export box before they can be shipped.
Grocery Handling and Repackaging Fee
Because grocery orders often arrive loose in bags, our team has to receive them, inventory each item, and securely repack everything for export. This is charged as an all-inclusive handling fee:
Item Count | All-Inclusive Fee | What's Included |
| 1–20 items | £25.00 | Intake, receiving, and standard export repackaging |
| 21+ items | £25.00 + £1.00 per item over 20 | Intake, receiving, and export repackaging, plus £1.00 for each item above 20 |
Many Grocery Items Can't Be Forwarded
A lot of grocery items are prohibited for international forwarding, and anything that can't be shipped may have to be destroyed on arrival — meat and dairy in particular. You can't order the following for forwarding:
- Perishables — fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh meat, poultry, or fish.
- Chilled or frozen goods — milk, yogurt, fresh cheese, frozen meals, or cured meats (such as ham or sausages) that need refrigeration.
- Short shelf-life items — anything likely to expire within the transit window, typically less than 7–10 days.
Check Your Destination's Customs Rules
Even a shelf-stable item can be restricted by your destination country. For example, the US bans confectionery with embedded non-food toys (such as Kinder Surprise eggs) and restricts certain meat and animal-based products. Always check your destination's customs rules before you order.
If you're shipping to Spain or the Canary Islands, note that we can't forward any food, drink, or medication there at all — see Shipping Food, Drink, and Medication to Spain.
Check With Us Before You Order
Always contact our Customer Experience team before placing a grocery order. A quick check means you won't spend money on non-refundable items that turn out to be prohibited.
Related Articles: