Stellenbosch-based businesses, Grandeur Giftery and Food Lover’s Market have partnered to deliver essential goods to customers’ doorsteps during the nationwide lockdown.
Grandeur Giftery usually sells and delivers gifts ranging from flowers to food bouquets. However, quite a number of its usual client base of students and university staff have returned to their homes elsewhere in the country for the nationwide lockdown, said Maambele Khosa, director and co-founder of Grandeur Giftery.
This meant that the student-centred business had to think of innovative ideas that would allow Grandeur Giftery to continue serving their clientele, said Khosa.
“This pandemic is one of the greatest opportunities to learn as entrepreneurs and master the art of thriving and being innovative during difficult times,” said Khosa.
This poster on Grandeur Giftery’s Instagram page explains how customers can place their orders and how much the service will cost. PHOTO: Grandeur Giftery/Instagram
According to Khosa, Grandeur Giftery approached Food Lover’s Market, because they were one of the grocers that did not have a delivery service option during lockdown.
“Knowing that [Food Lover’s Market] is the best in town, we approached them and asked them if we could join in on the venture together,” Khosa said.
In order to help flatten the curve, the delivery service ensures that Food Lover’s Market’s customers still enjoy fresh produce without potentially coming into contact with the virus in the store, said Khosa.
Customers can order all essential products that Food Lover’s Market usually sells, apart from prepared and hot foods, she said.
“Our customers can order fresh produce, butchery, bakery and grocery items,” said Gabriel De Andrade, owner of Food Lover’s Market in Stellenbosch.
Parcel’s of groceries from Food Lover’s Market, delivered by Grandeur Giftery. PHOTO: Maambele Khosa.
Hygiene precautions are taken in-store in addition to the hygiene precautions Grandeur Giftery is taking upon delivery, said De Andrade.
“Apart from the intense and detailed hygiene precautions followed in-store, all drivers are equipped with masks and sanitisers,” said De Andrade.
Customers send Food Lover’s Market a list of grocery items they would like to purchase via WhatsApp or email. Grandeur Giftery then confirms the order and delivers the parcel to the customer’s door.
The partnership between Grandeur Giftery and Food Lover’s Market was appealing to customer Thandokazi Mshumpela because it allowed her to skip the queues.
“[The delivery] saved me the time of going to the mall and standing in the queues,” said Mshumpela.
Both Food Lover’s Market’s speedy response in confirming Mshumpela’s order and Grandeur Giftery’s friendly delivery stood out, she said.
Thandokazi Mshumpela with her delivered groceries. PHOTO: Maambele Khosa.