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Uber Eats clocked five tasteful years of operations in Sri Lanka late last year, and celebrated the milestone by recognising valued delivery and merchant partners, and celebrating with their families at an event in Colombo.
Uber Eats Sri Lanka General Manager Varun Wijewardane said, “Our journey so far in Sri Lanka has been nothing short of incredible. Since 2018, we’ve completed 32 million deliveries, and will continue to grow this number in the years to come.”
After entering Sri Lanka in 2018, Uber Eats has expanded to Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, and Gampaha, with Galle being the latest addition. Wijewardane says there are plans to expand geographies and service categories to “add more value” to customers.
“Our journey is defined by growth and impact. Not only have we defined the way people order food and groceries but also created earning and entrepreneurship opportunities for many delivery and merchant partners. Our aspiration is to add even more value to people in Sri Lanka and emerge as the on-demand provider beyond food and grocery. There is potential to replicate the success that we’ve had globally with categories such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, electronics and more.”
At the anniversary event, Uber Eats recognised the service of delivery partners with special awards and also supported their families by providing scholarships and school supplies to their children. For merchant partners, Uber Eats has organised a customised education program that will help them enhance their skills and grow their businesses further.
Over the years, Uber Eats has become a core part of everyday life for Sri Lanka. As per a report by UK-based Public First released last year, 88% of Uber Eats users agree that food delivery apps have made it easier to discover new restaurants. The company has constantly innovated to provide solutions with changing times. During the economic crisis, when fuel was scarce, Uber Eats was the first to introduce bicycle deliveries in Sri Lanka.
At the same time, Uber Eats has also highlighted the opportunity and support that it has provided to merchant partners. Small and medium businesses have grown with Uber Eats from being small home kitchens to expanding to multiple locations with a network of cloud kitchens.
“We’re constantly exploring ideas to expand our suite of services and add more value in our customers’ lives. We recently launched Uber One, a special membership program, cutting across Rides and Eats. It has received tremendous response and continues to grow. We’ve had a fulfilling journey so far and we’re just getting started,” Wijewardene signs off.