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Food stores streamline online delivery modes to meet curfew time demands
Big time food stores are gearing up to strengthen their online delivery services as the authorities imposed a curfew in the Western Province and urged the public sector employees to work from home to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once again online delivery services are in operation
Lanka Sathosa Chairman Nushad Perera told the Sunday Times the state-owned enterprise would join with PickMe to deliver essential goods via an app to households in the Western Province from this week and islandwide next week.
“We are conducting trial rounds on online delivery and will begin operations from outlets all over the country with the focus initially being on delivering essential items such as dry rations,” he said, adding that they would also offer packages of food items at discounted rates.
He said arrangements were being made to ensure product availability in all Sathosa stores for walk-in customers when curfew was relaxed. “In the Western Province, we are trying to deliver the goods within hours of an order being placed,” Mr. Perera said.
Cargills Ceylon Ltd Group Manager Keerthi Gunasekera said that through their online service they delivered not only essential commodities but also other goods such as pet food and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.
He said they were streamlining their services because the people were highly inconvenienced by the closure of polas and public markets.
“All our 431 countrywide outlets are well stocked with essential items. There is no need for panic buying or hoarding. All fresh items are collected daily with about 150 tons of vegetables and 184,000 litres of fresh milk collected from cultivators and dairy farmers on a daily basis. We have heavily invested in health and hygiene precautions and, therefore, people need not have any fears about stepping into our stores or getting items delivered to their houses,” he said.
According to him those residing in Colombo, Wattala and other suburbs can order through their egrocery mobile app and website.
“To make sure frozen and chilled items are also delivered to our customers, we have specialised delivery vehicles. This means that your ice-cream will reach your doorstep frozen and butter unmelted,” he added