Grocery shopping platform Pushkart PH eyes expansion outside Metro Manila

Online grocery shopping startup Pushkart.ph is planning to expand its services outside Metro Manila as it saw a rise in demand amid the COVID-19 crisis and new normal protocols encouraging people to stay home.

In a statement Tuesday, Pushkart.ph said it saw a 900% rise in order volumes in the first five months of the year.

“We have served thousands of Filipinos during the onset of the quarantine period, and we continue to see the demand rising further. Pushkart.ph is positioned for growth, and we want to continue on riding that momentum by introducing our services beyond Metro Manila,” Pushkart.ph president and CEO Michael Lim said.

To further expand its existing operations, Pushkart.ph said it is in deep talks with more supermarket chains for strategic partnerships in major cities in the country.

It is also open to taking in new investors to enable it to set up new hubs in other cities and provinces.

The company currently serves Metro Manila through its two hubs in Quezon City and Taguig City, namely the Fisher Retail Inc. or Fisher Supermarket and Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. or Metro Supermarket.

“Pushkart.ph has seen tremendous growth in both demand and fulfilled orders. We see this as an opportunity for us to expand our reach and empower more Filipinos to do their groceries at the comfort and safety of their homes. We are open to partnering with more supermarket chains and potential investors to provide more Filipino homes with the best online grocery shopping services in the market,” Lim said.

Expanding its services would also mean that Pushkart.ph will be able to help generate more jobs.

Throughout the national health crisis, Pushkart.ph has helped displaced Filipino workers earn by providing them jobs as shoppers and delivery riders.

“We have hired people who lost jobs because of the national health situation. They include tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, and mall staff, who now work for Pushkart.ph as shoppers and riders,” Lim said.

First introduced in 2017, Pushkart.ph aims to ensure fast, convenient, and safe delivery of groceries right at Filipino’s doorstep.

Customers have to pay a base rate of P120 for the grocers fee, which covers both the shopping fee for Pushkart.ph shoppers as well as the delivery fee, for scheduled delivery or P180 for same day delivery. -NB, GMA News