By Mei Kuan
Homegrown everyday app, Grab has launched ‘Food Courts by GrabFood’ which enables one to order from different vendors in a single food court and pay only one delivery fee.
An initiative by the proponent of the digital economy to champion the livelihoods of more traditional businesses nationwide, it allows users to support local and traditional eateries affordably while still practising social distancing.
“With the Recovery Movement Control Order extended till the end of the year, it’s even more vital for organisations in the public and private sector to assist those who are grappling to get back on their feet. Traditional food courts and markets are a huge part of our society that makes us uniquely Malaysian and although movement restrictions have eased, many have seen a great loss in footfall, impacting their income and livelihoods,” explained Sean Goh, Managing Director of Grab Malaysia.
“This is why we are focusing our efforts on creating an inclusive platform traditional businesses can conveniently tap onto to increase their sales in the new normal. With a reliable delivery fleet and large community of users nationwide, we hope to play a part in helping to preserve a culture of Malaysia that is close to all our hearts,” Goh continued.
Currently, the service is available in food courts across Ipoh, Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Melaka.There are three participating food courts in Ipoh: Restoran Kam Wan Aneka Selera, Restoran Kam Wan Aneka Selera (Non-Halal) and FoodSpot.
Bibi’s Popiah at Kan Wan Aneka Selera Food Court expressed, “I started selling popiah twenty years ago. Before MCO, I could sell over a thousand popiah a day with long queues. During the MCO, I had to close my stall for two months before joining GrabFood after my hawker friends decided to join and found success. I have managed to increase my sales slowly on the app as my orders were reduced to only a hundred a day. My advice to other hawkers is that there is no harm to expanding your business online.”
Chef Lee Homemade Dumpling from the same food court shared, “I have been selling homemade dumplings for more than ten years and the MCO spurred me to move my business online. With GrabFood, I saw an increase in orders and have found it to be a convenient way for my customers to have an online option to get my food without stepping out of the house. I would recommend GrabFood to other businesses and as an option to go online.“
Ipohites can now mix and match their local hawker favourites minus the jam, queue and sweat!
