UGANDA – Barely two years after launching in Kenya, Spanish delivery startup Glovo has expanded its footprints into neighbouring country Uganda.
This is the company’s second market in East Africa and the fourth in the region, having operations in Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire.
The Barcelona-based start-up is an on-demand delivery app that allows customers to order anything — restaurant meals, groceries, flowers — from more than 1,000 participating businesses and have it delivered in less than one hour.
Glovo makes profit by charging a service fee, plus a commission on their partners depending on the cost of the product or item.
“We are extremely excited about our launch in Uganda and we think that residents of Kampala should be feeling the same way.”
William Benthall – Glovo’s General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa
Despite being founded only about 5 years ago in 2015, the company already has a presence in more than 170 cities across more than 20 countries.
The startup’s vision is to be a lifestyle app with all urban services available easily through its smartphone application.
Food delivery service remains its most popular service even though other services groceries, pharmacy, desserts, courier, and Quiero are also available on the app.
“We are extremely excited about our launch in Uganda and we think that residents of Kampala should be feeling the same way!
“Hundreds of thousands of people in cities across Africa are already used to integrating Glovo into their daily lives to help them to save time and money and we are optimistic that our solution will be a welcome addition to customers, restaurants, and stores in Uganda,” William Benthall, Glovo’s General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa said.
According to StartupBlink, Kampala is the 8th best ranked startup ecosystem on the African continent.
“Uganda is a uniquely interesting market for Glovo. Residents of Kampala are used to using Boda Boda’s to move around and order food and other products.
“In addition to this informal market, there is also a large segment of the population using apps to move around or order goods for delivery. This provides an interesting opportunity to introduce a fresh new service with low prices and amazing user experience,” added Benthall.
Glovo has entered into a market where leading e-commerce business, Jumia already undertakes its operations.
In May, the UNDP in partnership with Jumia Food Uganda launched an initiative of using e-commerce to connect the informal sector including market vendors to potential consumers.
So far, seven markets are now online with over 1,500 vendors registered and selling their assorted produce online.
According to Elsie Attafuah, United Nations Development Programme (UNPD) President representative in Uganda, “E-commerce has emerged as the answer to sustaining supply chains. Digital solutions offer some of the most powerful avenues to address current supply chain and market challenges while boosting online trading, marketing, and giving the customers a fast, safe and convenient experience.”
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