Covid-19: Grocery, vegetable delivery services for housing societies spring up in major cities

Though grocery delivery companies like BigBasket have witnessed a surge in demand ever since the lockdown began, supply chains across the country were affected by restrictions by local administrations, and an acute shortage of delivery staff, among other issues. There have been delays in the delivery of grocery and essential food items to warehouses, and to customers. Retail chains have been selling only essential items and many chains have had to close some of their stores.

Neighbourhood stores, however, stepped up their efforts to service customers, with some established kiranas delivering items to the doorsteps of customers. Over the past two weeks, startups across sectors have launched grocery and vegetable delivery services for residents of apartment complexes and societies.

Volunteers from each apartment complex or society help these firms consolidate orders and ensure smooth delivery.

Recently, fresh produce startup Ninjacart started supplying vegetables and fruits directly to apartments and housing societies, with the help of volunteers. This new service is available in all seven cities Ninjacart operates in - Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune and Mumbai. In the first week of April, Ninjacart said it was serving more than 120 apartments every day.

Retail-tech startup Perpule launched grocery delivery platform StoreSe.in, to enable apartment residents to order essential items and groceries. The Bengaluru-based startup said it has partnered with retailers such as Vishal Mega Mart, More Retail Ltd and Metro Cash and Carry for its platform. StoreSe plans to expand to Hyderabad, Pune, Gurugram, Mumbai and other cities.

Real estate listing platform NoBroker.com also launched grocery services via its visitor and community management app, NoBrokerHood. Residents of societies who use the app can also order grocery items and daily essentials on the app. According to the company, volunteers within the society consolidate the order and buy it from BigBasket B2B and ITC. The service was launched in Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad and will soon be available in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai.

Meanwhile, online grocery company Grofers introduced ‘Society Group Orders’ in collaboration with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), for delivery of essential supplies.

Grofers said it has partnered with RWAs of over 100 societies across leading metro cities in India and plans to expand this tie-up to other cities as well. The company has also collaborated with MyGate, a security management app, to ensure zero-touch deliveries.