AN ONLINE supermarket that delivers groceries in 28 minutes is being introduced in Bournemouth.

8DOL, which has more than three million users in China, is aimed at students but will also cater for households and offices.

It is being brought to Bournemouth next month by entrepreneurs Alfie Porter, 20, and Craig Moore, 29.

The business already turns over more than £500million a year in China and has become the world’s largest student grocery app.

Its founders say students are put off conventional supermarket delivery because next day delivery is not fast enough. The supermarket services also tend to have a minimum spend of at least £25 and charge around £4.99 for delivery.

8DOL promises to deliver in under 28 minutes.

Mr Porter was based in China in 2017 and took a placement opportunity with 8DOL there. He spent time with founder Gu Wen and his team and decided the model had potential in the UK.

He pitched the idea to directors of the Christchurch-based Solent Group and worked on an agreement to bring 8DOL to the UK.

Mr Moore joined the business with the development of the app and will be head of operations, implementing its growth plans.

Mr Moore said: “The supermarket delivery sector is growing rapidly with many competitors attracting multi-million pound investments, following on from Deliveroo’s success in the restaurant/takeaway delivery sector.

“I was instantly drawn to this opportunity and unlike any of our other competitors we hold our own stock so we are price competitive with traditional retail stores. I can’t wait to see where we can take this business.”

After the Bournemouth launch on September 22, there are plans to open in Southampton in January and in another 12 locations by September 2019.

Mr Porter said: “I am really pleased to be this close to launching after a long year. The combination of the support from Gu Wen and his team, Solent Group’s knowledge of the sector and Craig’s passion puts us in a fantastic position and I look forward to my position as marketing manager.”

The brand name stands for “eight days online”, with the figure eight representing “eight days a week” delivery and the Chinese lucky number.

The app is free and the business says prices are competitive with Tesco and Co-Op. Delivery is £2.50, with the first one free.