Uber Eats triples area served by groceries to supply essentials and help combat COVID-19

Uber Eats has announced that it has tripled the area served by its grocery delivery service so that 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 in the COVID-19 pandemic.

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, it said in a media release.

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.

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.’’

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.