Two international firms have mooted a post-Covid recovery strategy that rides on a no-contact method to deliver pre-ordered lunch boxes to offices and shops in Nairobi.
E-commerce platform Jumia and Nas Servair, the latter which has for years prepared and served ready meals to air travelers, launched a Sh200 combo offer that they believe will excite Nairobi into more productivity where workers will observe social distancing but be able to replenish their energies.
Every lunch hour, the two firms said, customers will receive their pre-ordered meals right to their office desks or shop counters, a move that also enables Nas Servair to collect much-needed data on Kenyans’ favourite meals.
The Bei Poa Initiative mass kitchen and delivery trial opens new fronts on food innovations, largely riding on affordable costs made possible by Nas Servair using its pooled kitchen resource experience over the years and Jumia’s readily available clientele some of whom order food online.
Nas Servair General Manager Stephane Lopez described their partnership as a major gateway to providing world-class local Kenyan meals to consumers at an affordable and safe way.
“Jumia is the leading eCommerce leader in Africa while Nas Servair is top airline caterer in Africa, and this partnership is a major gateway to providing world-class-local Kenyan meals to consumers at an affordable and safe way,” said Mr Lopez.
Innovative strategy
With airlines operations greatly hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic, Nas Servair’s new venture is an innovative strategy to fully utilise their human resource as well as massive kitchen equipment that has for years enabled them to serve clientele of 30 airlines who fly via Jomo Kenyatta international Airport (JKIA).
On its part, the e-commerce platform is keen to enhance its offering by enabling other businesses use its vast distribution network to fulfil their orders at a fee.
Jumia boasts a vast distribution network across Kenya that has recently witnessed low activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to reduced business.
This saw Jumia open its logistics arm to facilitate deliveries and payments for goods via their network.
Dedicated riders
Their latest subsidiary, Jumia Food, has since partnered with local eateries where its team of dedicated riders delivers orders.
“We are excited to launch Bei Poa Kitchen with our partner Nas Servair. It not only brings quality meals made by a respected brand but also in an affordable way. Home food delivery from restaurants is growing fast, as more consumers are choosing to order from home or the office to avoid crowds,” said Jumia Food Chief Commercial Officer Shreenal Ruparelia .
Bei Poa kitchen on Jumia Food will take pre-orders before 6pm and get it delivered at lunch time the next day.
According to a Jumia Food Index report released last year, Kenyans spent an average Sh2,000 for a meal on Jumia Food, with the least price for a meal ordered being Sh200.
Kenya leads Africa in mobile internet penetration where Kenyans use smartphone mobile apps as well as websites to shop online.
Nairobi is Africa’s leading city in online food deliveries, followed by Casablanca, Lagos, Kampala and Abidjan respectively where most shoppers are aged between 25 to 34.
