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Cost to Build Grocery App Like Coles

Author : Oliver Arkwell
Date: January 7, 2026

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Introduction

Grocery apps like Coles are transforming shopping with real-time tracking, personalized deals, and fast delivery. With the online grocery market set to exceed $200 billion by 2027, building a Coles-style app is a high-ROI opportunity. Development costs typically range from $20,000 to $100,000, depending on features and complexity.

Why Businesses Are Building Apps Like Coles

As digital convenience reshapes consumer expectations, apps like Coles have emerged as leaders in transforming the grocery shopping experience. For businesses evaluating the cost to build a grocery app like Coles, the investment goes beyond technology it’s about tapping into a lifestyle shift where speed, personalization, and mobile access drive customer loyalty.
By choosing the right grocery delivery app development approach, you not only meet evolving demands but also gain operational advantages and long-term scalability.

Here are four compelling reasons to invest in a Coles-like grocery app:

Cater to Digital-First Customers
Offer seamless ordering, delivery tracking, and mobile payments through a responsive grocery app tailored to modern needs.
Maximize Retention with Personalization
Integrate smart carts, saved preferences, and loyalty programs to keep users engaged and coming back.
Streamline Operations & Fulfillment
Automate delivery logistics, stock updates, and real-time status tracking to reduce manual efforts and errors.
Gain Competitive Edge Through Innovation
A strategic grocery delivery app development model helps you stand out in a saturated eCommerce landscape.

Learn More About food delivery app development

Essential Features Required to Build a Grocery Delivery App Like Coles

Building a feature-rich grocery app is essential for delivering a seamless shopping experience, driving repeat purchases, and maximizing retention. Whether you’re building a basic MVP or an advanced solution, the following user-side, admin-side, and delivery-side features are essential for successful grocery delivery app development.

User-Side Features

1. User Registration & Login

Mobile login screens for a Coles-style grocery app with OTP verification, email, and social login options.

Secure login with OTP, email, or social media for quick and hassle-free app access.

Login via phone, email, Google, or Facebook
OTP-based verification ensures security
Supports password less login options

2. Product Browsing & Smart Filters

Browse products easily using filters by price, category, brand, and dietary preferences.

Multi-level category filtering
Search by brand or product keyword
Real-time inventory sync

3. Cart & Checkout

displaying cart summary, coupon application, and checkout process for a Coles-like grocery shopping app.

Add items to the cart and pay securely via multiple options in a fast checkout process.

Edit quantities or remove items easily
Apply coupons or vouchers
Choose delivery slots before confirming

4. Real-Time Order Tracking

Track orders live on a map with real-time driver status and estimated arrival times.

Map view with driver icon
In-app delivery notifications
Contactless delivery updates

5. Multiple Payment Options

Checkout screens of a grocery app showing multiple payment methods like card, UPI, wallet, and secure entry.

Offer cards, UPI, wallets, and cash on delivery for maximum customer convenience.

PCI-compliant card processing
Wallet and reward point integration
Enable COD per region

6. Loyalty Offers & Discounts

Boost retention with cashback, discount codes, and exclusive loyalty-based pricing.

Tier-based loyalty system
Automatic coupon suggestions
Reward usage tracking

Admin-Side Features

1. Admin Dashboard

Admin dashboard UI displaying orders, user activity, and sales analytics with real-time data insights for a grocery app like Coles.

Manage orders, performance, and user activity with centralized real-time data visualization and KPIs.

Visual reports and widgets
Toggle metrics by day/week/month
Manage multi-city operations

2. Product & Inventory Management

Easily add or remove products, set pricing, and track inventory in real time.

Low-stock alerts
CSV product import/export
Multi-brand categorization

3. Order & Refund Management

Screens showing order detail view, refund request process, and item replacement in a grocery app like Coles.

Control order flows, approve refunds, and manage delays to ensure smooth operations.

Cancel/reschedule orders
Trigger refund processes
Assign manual replacements

4. Customer Management

Access user profiles, complaints, and loyalty history for improved support and personalization.

Filter customers by behavior
Assign loyalty tiers
View support logs

5. Campaign & Discount Manager

Grocery app interface for managing marketing campaigns, creating discounts, and analyzing coupon statistics in a Coles-style grocery platform.

Run promotions, flash sales, and discount rules to increase order volumes.

Target by region or user type
Schedule future campaigns
Track coupon redemption rates

Delivery-Side Features

1. Order Acceptance & Alerts

Realistic delivery agent screens showing new order alerts, task timers, and pickup/drop-off logistics for a Coles-like grocery platform.

Drivers receive real-time order alerts and can accept or decline deliveries instantly.

Instant task notification
Auto-expiry for unaccepted orders
Peak hour priority delivery

2. Route Optimization & Navigation

Integrated maps recommend fastest routes for timely and cost-efficient delivery.

GPS with turn-by-turn nav
Route reordering in-app
Live traffic consideration

3. Status Updates

showing real-time delivery status updates with time logs and customer-facing tracking features.

Agents update delivery progress (e.g., out for delivery, delivered) from the app in real time.

One-tap status updates
Delivery timestamp logging
Customer visibility via app

4. Earnings Dashboard

Delivery agent earnings dashboard with daily income, weekly bonuses, and wallet balance in a grocery delivery app.

Delivery agents can monitor their daily income, bonuses, and delivery count in-app.

Weekly/monthly earnings
Wallet integration
Tip and incentive breakdown

Technology Stack

Choosing the right technology stack directly influences performance, scalability, and overall cost to build grocery app like Coles. The following tools ensure secure transactions, real-time delivery updates, and a seamless user experience across platforms.

Frontend: Flutter / React Native – For cross-platform mobile apps with seamless UI on iOS and Android.
Backend: Node.js / Django – Enables fast server-side logic, API handling, and scalable content delivery.
Real-time Tracking: Google Maps API / Socket.IO – Facilitates accurate route tracking, ETA updates, and live delivery status with low-latency communication.
Database: PostgreSQL / MongoDB – Stores structured and unstructured user and conte
Authentication: Firebase / OAuth – Provides secure logins using OTP, social media, and token-based access.
Payment Gateway: Stripe / Razorpay / PayPal – Manages subscriptions, one-time payments, and global currency transactions.
Hosting: AWS / Google Cloud Platform – Scales infrastructure with secure, high-performance cloud and CDN solutions.

Choosing the right tech stack is crucial for performance, scalability, and efficiency. Explore the latest tools driving innovation in 2025 in our blog on Must-Have Mobile App Development Tools.

Market Trends in Grocery Delivery

The grocery delivery industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, driven by shifting consumer habits, AI automation, and hyperlocal fulfillment networks. the global online grocery market is projected to surpass $250+ billion, fueled by demand for faster deliveries, personalized deals, and subscription-based shopping models. Key trends shaping grocery delivery apps

Hyperlocal & 10-Minute Delivery Growth

Apps like Blinkit and Zepto have normalized ultra-fast delivery, pushing new platforms to adopt micro-warehouses and demand forecasting tools.

AI-Based Personalization Becomes Standard

AI-driven product recommendations, smart carts, and dynamic pricing boost retention and average order value.

Subscription & Membership Economy Rising

More users prefer paid memberships (similar to Coles Plus) to access:

Free deliveries
Priority support
Exclusive discounts

Contactless & Autonomous Fulfillment

Retailers are integrating:

RFID-based stock tracking
Automated picking tools
Robotics in warehouses

Surge in Multi-Platform eCommerce Ecosystems

Leading brands are expanding into:

Grocery
Pharmacy
Household essentials
Fresh produce

This expands market potential for businesses planning to build a grocery delivery app like Coles and aiming to scale across multiple retail categories.

Why Choose SDLC Corp for Grocery App Development?

Choosing the right development partner is crucial when building a large-scale grocery delivery app like Coles. SDLC Corp brings deep industry expertise, scalable architecture knowledge, and proven success in developing on-demand, real-time delivery applications.

Expertise in Grocery, Retail & Delivery Platforms

We have delivered apps similar to:

Coles
Instashop
Blinkit
Zepto

Our team understands multi-vendor systems, inventory workflows, warehouse operations, and last-mile delivery networks.

Advanced Feature Integrations

SDLC Corp specializes in integrating:

AI-based product recommendations
Dynamic pricing engines
Route optimization systems
ERP & POS sync
Multilingual & multi-currency modules

End-to-End Development – From Idea to Launch

Our services include:

Market research
UI/UX design
Frontend & backend development
QA testing
App Store deployment
Post-launch maintenance

Transparent Pricing & Faster Development Timelines

We offer flexible pricing models based on:

MVP builds
Mid-level solutions
Enterprise-grade apps

This helps you optimize your grocery app development cost without compromising quality.

Long-Term Partnership for Scaling & Optimization

We don’t just build apps we help them grow.
SDLC Corp provides:

Data analytics
Performance optimization
Feature upgrades
Infrastructure monitoring
Ensuring your grocery app remains competitive and scalable as market trends evolve.

Cost Breakdown to Develop a Grocery App Like Coles

Understanding the budget range is essential when planning to develop a Coles-style grocery delivery platform. The cost to build grocery app like Coles depends on the feature set, design complexity, platform support, and integrations. Below is a breakdown by app type:

The total development timeline for a grocery app like Coles depends on feature complexity, platform selection, and third-party integrations. For a clear phase-wise breakdown, explore how long it takes to develop an app based on different business needs and technical scopes.

Factors Affecting the Cost of a Coles-Like Grocery App

Several variables influence the cost of developing a grocery app like Coles including platform selection, feature complexity, UI/UX design depth, and third-party integrations all of which directly impact development time, infrastructure requirements, user experience quality, and overall scalability.

App screens showing complexity settings, platform selection, and UI/UX customization options that influence the cost to build a grocery app like Coles.

App Complexity & Feature Set
The number and complexity of features like live tracking, loyalty rewards, or filters directly impact development time and cost.
Platform Choice (iOS, Android, or Both)
Developing for both platforms or using native development increases the cost compared to a single-platform or cross-platform build.
UI/UX Design Customization
Apps with personalized UI, animations, or accessibility support require more design effort, raising overall design and testing costs.
Third-Party Integrations
Adding payment gateways, map APIs, analytics tools, or CRM integrations increases both development effort and licensing expenses.

Monetization Strategies

Maximizing ROI is as important as delivering a great shopping experience. A well-planned monetization model helps offset the cost to build grocery app like Coles while unlocking long-term profitability. Below are tried-and-tested strategies used by leading grocery apps:

Delivery Fees
Charge customers based on order value, delivery distance, or speed, generating consistent income on every grocery order.
Subscription Model
Offer paid membership plans with benefits like unlimited free deliveries, priority support, exclusive offers, and reward points.
In-App Advertising
Collaborate with FMCG brands to display sponsored banners, promoted products, and featured listings inside the app interface.
Commission on Sales
Earn a percentage commission from third-party sellers who use your platform to list and sell their grocery products.
Affiliate Marketing
Recommend external services or products and earn commissions through in-app affiliate partnerships with trackable referral links.

Development Process to Build a Grocery App

Developing a feature-rich, scalable grocery app requires careful planning and execution across multiple stages. Below is a structured 7-step roadmap that directly impacts overall development time and cost.

Development process flowchart for building a grocery app like Coles, showing stages from market research to post-launch updates.

1. Market Research & Requirement Analysis
Understand your target users, competitors, market trends, and essential features to define app goals and USPs clearly.

2. Wireframing & UI/UX Design
Create user journey flows and high-fidelity wireframes that reflect intuitive navigation, modern design, and brand consistency.

3. Frontend & Backend Development
Build the user-facing interface (mobile app) and backend systems (APIs, databases, admin panels) using the chosen tech stack.

4. Integration of Core Features
Implement must-have functionalities like cart, payment, real-time tracking, user login, push notifications, and product filters.

5. Testing & Quality Assurance (QA)
Conduct rigorous functional, UI, and security testing across devices and platforms to ensure a bug-free and reliable app.

6. Deployment & App Store Launch
Deploy the app to iOS and Android stores, ensuring compliance with guidelines, metadata, and pre-launch marketing readiness.

7. Post-Launch Support & Updates
Offer continuous app maintenance, bug fixes, feature upgrades, and performance improvements to retain users and scale smoothly.

Conclusion

Developing a grocery app like Coles is a strategic step toward meeting modern consumer demands and capitalizing on the growing digital retail space. Every element from feature selection and UI/UX design to platform choice and third-party integrations affects the total development cost, timeline, and long-term success of your application. As a leading mobile app development company, SDLC CORP specializes in building scalable, user-friendly grocery delivery apps tailored to your business goals. Our team ensures every solution is optimized for performance, security, and future growth.

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FAQ's

How Long Does It Take to Build a Grocery App Like Coles?

Building a grocery app typically takes 4 to 24 weeks depending on the number of features, design complexity, platform choice (iOS, Android, or both), third-party integrations, and testing. Larger-scale projects may extend further based on customization needs.

Can I Start With an MVP?

Yes, launching with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a smart approach. It includes only core features, reduces upfront costs, speeds up time-to-market, and helps validate your business model before committing to full-scale development and additional investments.

What Platform Should I Choose iOS or Android?

You can choose iOS, Android, or both based on your target audience. Android is often preferred for broader reach and affordability, while iOS offers a premium user base. Cross-platform solutions can help reach both without doubling development cost.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Grocery App Like Coles?

The cost ranges from $10,000 to $60,000+ depending on the app’s complexity, included features, design, platform coverage, and integrations. A basic MVP will cost less, while advanced apps with AI, voice search, and analytics cost more.

What Are the Must-Have Features in a Grocery App?

Essential features include user sign-up/login, product catalog, advanced filters, cart, checkout, multiple payment gateways, real-time order tracking, and push notifications. An admin dashboard for order management and analytics is also vital for business operations and insights.

Can I Integrate Third-Party APIs Like Maps and Payment Gateways?

Yes. Third-party APIs such as Google Maps for location tracking, Stripe and Razorpay for payments, and Twilio for messaging are commonly integrated to enhance functionality, automate workflows, and ensure a smooth, secure user experience in grocery apps.

Will the App Be Scalable in the Future?

Absolutely. By using modern, modular architecture and cloud infrastructure, your grocery app can scale easily as your user base grows. Features and modules can be expanded without rebuilding the entire system, supporting business growth and long-term success.

Do You Provide Post-Launch Support and Maintenance?

Yes, SDLC CORP offers comprehensive post-launch support including bug fixing, performance optimization, feature upgrades, security patches, and server monitoring. Ongoing maintenance ensures your grocery app stays updated with the latest OS versions and user expectations.

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