Spinneys launches online delivery service in Dubai as pandemic spurs demand

Initiative with Dubai Economy aims to boost online retail services and strengthen supply chain

A Spinneys supermarket delivery vehicle. The company launched an online delivery service in Dubai, which has since been rolled out to Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Spinneys 

Gulf supermarket chain Spinneys began delivering groceries through a new online service on Sunday as demand for online shopping picks up amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new e-commerce service in partnership with Dubai Economy is part of a broader plan to grow online retail services and support the retail supply chain in the emirate, the government body said on Sunday.

"We are focused on enhancing online retail services in the emirate of Dubai to ensure the community has effortless access to all their daily requirements in the most secure and efficient manner," Omar Al Meheiri of Dubai Economy, said.

The initiative is in line with government efforts to ensure that demand for food supplies is met. The Covid-19 pandemic has boosted demand for shopping online amid travel restrictions prior to a full re-opening of the economy.

"Demand for home grocery deliveries has never been higher," Sunil Kumar, chief executive of Spinneys, said. "Launched amidst the economic challenges caused by Covid-19, our new service will offer our customers an efficient, convenient and safe way to shop for their groceries."

To shop, customers can create an account on Spinneys.com. The minimum order spend is Dh100 and orders over Dh350 are free of delivery charge. For those below Dh350, there is a flat rate fee of Dh15 per delivery.

At present, the service is available for Spinneys customers in Dubai only, but will expand to Abu Dhabi soon, according to the statement.

Earlier this month, UAE grocery retailer Kibsons announced that its free same-day delivery service is available once again.

The online retailer is known for its fresh produce, but waiting times have increased in the past few months, following a surge in online ordering amid the coronavirus pandemic.

With Kibsons, the minimum order for delivery is Dh50. The company said last week it had created more than 400 new jobs since March in a bid to keep pace with demand and was still adding more roles. The company also gave existing employees a 40 per cent bonus in addition to benefits for overtime hours worked.