Jumia is and continues to be the premier online shopping platform for many in Africa. Think of it like the African version of Amazon. Jumia operates in 20 African countries. These include Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, and South Africa. It is the largest e-commerce platform in Africa, with over 81,000 active sellers and 6.8 million active consumers.
Like its Western equivalent, Jumia has tried to diversify into other niches over the years but one of its biggest ventures seems to be shutting down uneventfully. Today, we learned that Jumia Food, the food delivery service is shutting down its operations in 6 African markets, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Côte d’Ivoire, in a bid to improve profitability.
Related:
- These are restaurants with food below Ugx 10,000 on Jumia Food
- Glovo Vs. Jumia Food: What’s the Fastest Food Delivery App We Have Tested?
But this is not a new market and there are other players that will be filling in the gap set to be left by the discontinuation of Jumia Food later this month and in thus post, we look at some of them.
Glovo
Glovo is a mobile app-based technology platform that offers on-demand delivery services for various products and services. It connects users with local couriers who can deliver anything, including food, groceries, documents, medicines, and other products from local stores and restaurants. Glovo was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Spain. It operates in over 20 countries, including many African countries such as Kenya, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.
Glovo is an alternative to Jumia Foods because it also offers food delivery services from local restaurants and shops. Glovo’s delivery service is fast, reliable, and affordable. You can order food, groceries, and other products from your favorite local stores and have them delivered to your doorstep in less than 30 minutes. Glovo also offers a wide range of payment options, including cash, credit/debit cards, and mobile money
Related:
- How to Order Food in Kampala Using Glovo
- Glovo seeks to expand operations in Kenya through partnership with Zuuchini, Naivas and Java
Yum
Yum is a food delivery app that operates in Kenya. It allows you to order food and groceries from your favorite local restaurants and stores online. Yum offers a wide range of food options, including African cuisine, fast food, and vegetarian options. You can order food and groceries from your favorite restaurants and shops near you. Yum is currently available in the following towns and cities.
- Nairobi
- Nakuru
- Kisumu
- Eldoret
It is a great alternative to Jumia Foods as it also offers food delivery services from local restaurants and shops. As it might be little-known, you might have a limited degree of success but in my experience, delivery is done within an hour which is acceptable for me.
Uber Eats
Uber Eats is another great food delivery platform that operates in many African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt. Uber Eats is accessible through the Uber ride-hailing app and independently.
Borrowing its vast network of drivers on the Uber ride-hailing platform, Uber Eats also allows you to track your order in real-time and receive notifications about the status of your delivery.
It has a robust list of supported restaurants and outlets having been available in Kenya since May 2018 and also supports a wide range of payment options.
Bolt Food
Like Uber Eats, Bolt Food is Bolt’s version of this service, also leveraging its vast network of Bolt drivers across the major towns an cities in Kenya to deliver your order quickly.
Bolt Food launched in Kenya in 2020 at the height of COVID-19 and still remains a solid way to get your food orders delivered to your doorstep.
Hellofood
While not available in Kenya, people in other African markets might want to check out Hellofood. This food delivery service operates in 40 countries worldwide, including many African countries such as Ghana, Senegal, and Ivory Coast.
In supported markets, Hellofood offers a wide range of food options, including African cuisine, fast food, and vegetarian options.
Conclusion
While Jumia Food shutting down is a bummer, these platforms offer similar services and operate in many African countries. You might want to try out a few or just install all of them and check out what kind of options they come with.
Can you think of another Jumia Food alternative? Leave a comment below.
