Doha: Most of the online food and retail outlets in Qatar which offer home-delivery services for groceries and food items are flooded with orders. The order books of some retailers are so full that they have even put regret messages on their websites as the slots are not available for immediate delivery. Some retail chain groups are working to expand their capacity to serve their customers better.
With the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) most of the people in Qatar are working from home as offices, malls, shopping centers, restaurants and other public places and outlets (except those dealing in food and pharmaceutical products) remain shut. People are avoiding to visit even food outlets and ordering essentials online.
One of the leading hypermarkets in Qatar is so flooded with online orders that it has flashed a message on its website that read: “Due to high demand of orders, slots may be full for your selected day. Please try later. Thank you.”
“As of now we have limited number of vehicles but working to expand our capacity by at least 25 percent on urgent basis. We have option of using third party services but we do not compromise with safety concerns. All our vehicles are fully equipped with refrigeration facilities to carry chilled, frozen and other normal items that do not require refrigeration facilities,” Muhammad Shahnawaz, Regional Director of Lulu Hypermarket in Qatar and Middle East, told The Peninsula, yesterday.
“We started the home-delivery services nearly a year ago. This sudden surge in demand for the service is obviously due to the virus. But we do not intend to use the home-delivery services offered by third-parties like courier and postal service companies. We have a policy not to rely on others due to safety concerns. So we are expanding our own staff and other needful resources and facilities as quickly as possible to ensure that we do not have to compromise on quality. However, we remain committed to serve our customers better and expanding the capacity on priority basis.” Shahnawaz added.
A message posted by Lulu on its website, read: “Thank you for patronizing Lulu online shopping and for showing patience to get your deliveries. We are doing our best to serve you all, however, due to upsurge of orders, you may find it difficult to access your preferred slot.
We humbly request you to order for the available slot and rest assured that we will reach out to you as urgently as possible with utmost diligence. Lulu is always committed to serve you, and you cooperation is our strength. “
A regular customer of Lulu Hypermarket said that online orders for groceries are full. There are no slots available before March 25, 2020. “My kids do not like any other bread except made by Lulu’s in-house bakery. So will have to go to buy it in person,” said A Saad, an Indian living in Qatar for more than 20 years.
Another Indian expatriate said: “I have two little kids at home. My wife is not well. In such a situation I cannot afford to take the risk and go out even for essential shopping at this situation. So online delivery of groceries is of great importance, especially for people like me.”
He added: “We are blessed that in Qatar such facilities are now available which is great and timely help for us. Many items such as perishable goods like vegetables, bread, dairy and poultry products need to be bought frequently, which can now be purchased online and being delivered at door step. It’s a big and timely services that too without any extra charge.”
In addition to Lulu, other retailers such as Carrefour, New Indian Supermarket, Retail Mart, are also offering online services. The mobile app Fingertips, also offers home-delivery services for food and other grocery items within 75 minutes, at a minimum order of QR35.
