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Bolt joins grocery delivery market with new product
Bolt Africa Public Relations Manager Sandra Buyole (left) and Bolt Food, General Manager Edgar Kitur on stage during the launch of the Bolt Market App on December 10, 2024 at the company offices.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
Ride-hailing platform Bolt has joined the local grocery delivery service with a new expansion that seeks to diversify the firm’s portfolio and munch a pie of the market currently dominated by Glovo.
Bolt on Tuesday said that it seeks to tap into the growing demand for fast, on-demand grocery delivery, terming the move a part of its strategy to grow its market share and establish itself as a trusted platform for convenience and reliability.
Bolt said its customers would be able to make grocery delivery orders from 8am to 11pm and schedule their deliveries 24 hours in advance, noting that the operations will be limited to a 10-kilometre radius from its market store in Kilimani.
“Integrated seamlessly into the Bolt Food app, Bolt Market customers can access over 2,000 carefully curated products in the stores, from fresh produce from local providers to household essentials and beverages,” said Bolt.
A study report by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) in April showed that the Spanish delivery app Glovo is the most preferred digital platform for delivering food and groceries, with 33 percent and 46 percent, respectively.
Glovo, described by the watchdog as a pioneering multi-category delivery platform operating in 25 countries, was followed by Jumia and Uber Eats in Kenya’s market popularity.
The CAK at the time credited the growth of online food and grocery markets in Kenya to the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced consumers to abandon traditional shopping and eating out behaviours.
The rapid growth of online food and grocery shopping in Kenya is also due to the need for convenience and proficient delivery services.
Online food and grocery platforms in Kenya are mostly foreign-owned and have their headquarters abroad, except Jumia Food. Apart from the digital platforms, large retail chains such as Carrefour, Naivas, Quickmart, and Chandarana also have their own delivery platforms.