Colombo, June 28, 2021: Uber Eats today announced it has tripled the area served by its grocery delivery service so residents can access supplies such as fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, poultry, rice, grains, pulses, tea, coffee and more at their doorstep and help Sri Lanka roll back COVID.
The demand for groceries on Uber Eats has doubled over the past year as more Sri Lankans are restricting travel and prefer the safety of their own homes.
Over the past year, the number of grocery partners choosing Uber Eats as their platform partner has almost tripled, with many recording strong sales growth.
Delivery of groceries is yet another earning opportunity for courier partners on the platform, so that they can continue supporting themselves financially. Uber Eats worked closely with the government to ensure courier partners had curfew passes during the lockdown.
Uber Eats continues to follow the highest safety standards and has educated courier partners to follow WHO and the Ministry of Health guidelines while making deliveries. Convenience and safety continue to be the backbone of operations at Uber Eats.
Speaking about the growth of grocery delivery as its own segment, Bhavna Dadlani, Head, Uber Eats Sri Lanka said, “It is heartening to see many stakeholders come together during these times and help Sri Lankans slow the spread of the pandemic. We’re proud to have played our role in this collective effort and will continue to grow our grocery delivery service to support our communities and the country in their hour of need.’’
Commenting on the opportunity to serve the people of the country, Chelan Goonetilleke from Groceries by Governor said, “It has been one year since we came on board Uber Eats and I am happy to say that it is an absolutely fantastic platform to reach a large number of consumers. Especially during these troubling times, Uber Eats has been able to cater to countless individuals who are unable to step out of their homes. This was timely for us at Groceries by The Governor, as it offered an opportunity to provide at least 80% of the essential needs to our customers, reducing their risk and exposure to the pandemic. We have sustained a magnificent business growth during the last year, thanks to both Uber Eats and of course our valuable customers. With the recent launch of our second outlet in Hokandara and our outlet in Kelaniya, we are certain that we will be able to serve our customers throughout Colombo and its suburbs with some of the finest products with just a tap on the phone.”
Uber Eats pioneered the concept of organised food delivery in Sri Lanka way back in 2018, and has since seen residents get more comfortable with the idea of having cooked meals and raw groceries delivered to their doorstep.