E-commerce enters family meals through “grocery shopping” service

Instead of rushing to the market before or after work like before, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai Thu (Nam Tien residential group, Thanh Sen ward) only needs to operate on the phone to be able to order enough food for family meals.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai Thu (Nam Tien residential group, Thanh Sen ward) only needs to operate on the phone to be able to order enough food for her family's meals.

Ms. Thu shared: “The grocery shopping service is truly a "savior" for office workers or teachers like us. It only takes 5-10 minutes for me to choose a full menu for a family meal. When I get home, it only takes about 10 more minutes to have a decent meal. This service is now more diverse and developed than before, thanks to competition, the quality has also been improved and the prices are reasonable.

We can choose dishes through pictures or request videos ; the food is basically pre-processed and cleaned, some dishes will be pre-seasoned. Thanks to that, not only does it save time going to the market, but the preparation and cooking time is also greatly reduced."

The stores will do the shopping, processing, and cleaning of food for customers.

Ms. Thu's way of "going to the market" is also a new trend for many busy office workers and people working during administrative hours in general in Ha Tinh .

Many housewives in the digital age believe that in the new trend, work and pressure are very high while going to the market directly takes a lot of time and effort. When there is a grocery shopping service, customers only need to go online to order, and by the time they get off work, the ingredients for the family meal are ready. Thanks to that, they have more time to rest or have more opportunities to be close to family members, accompany their children in studying...

“Shopping for others” is a service that buys food on behalf of customers through a digital environment. In Ha Tinh, stores will do the shopping, processing, and cleaning of food.

At the same time, "digitalize food" by creating messaging groups, personal pages, and organizations (fanpages) through social networks such as Zalo and Facebook to introduce each daily dish. Buyers only need to join the group or go to the personal page to choose to buy products via phone, computer and pay online. Stores also link up to deliver food to homes through shipping services.

Stores use social networks such as Zalo and Facebook to introduce each daily dish *(screenshot)* .

Thanks to this modern approach, the "shopping for others" service not only helps busy people save effort but also creates an additional channel for consuming local products. Currently, this service is developing and spreading strongly and diversely. Mr. Nguyen Tan Trung - Director of Ha Tinh Clean Fresh Food Company Limited (Thanh Sen Ward) excitedly said: "Our business was established in early 2024, initially there were many concerns, but so far it has shown the right direction; customers "shopping online" are increasing day by day. Currently, on average, we sell about 250 - 300 items per day (packaged into "sets").

The biggest requirement for developing this service is that the food must be clean and safe. Therefore, we must import goods with clear origins, have food safety and hygiene quarantine certificates, and carefully package and preserve them. At the same time, the daily menu also needs to be supplemented with richness and diversity. Many customers will receive directly at the store, and for customers who order delivery, we ensure on-time delivery. Thanks to that, not only do we retain customers, but our customer base also increases steadily, and our revenue is increasingly stable."

Clean food is transported and delivered to customers' homes.

Mr. Vo Ta Nghia - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade said: "The grocery shopping service is an inevitable trend when e-commerce is increasingly developing. It not only changes consumer habits but also opens up new consumption channels for local agricultural products. However, for sustainable development, the specialized sector needs to strengthen inspection, strictly manage the quality of goods, and clarify the origin. On the side of the industry and trade sector, we are currently actively supporting small traders with online sales skills."

Despite its many benefits, “shopping on behalf of others” also poses challenges in terms of quality. Consumers still want to see and choose each bunch of vegetables and fish with their own eyes. Therefore, transparent information, ensuring food hygiene and safety, and a clear return policy will be the decisive factors in customer trust for this service to grow.

Talking about the grocery shopping industry in the digital age, Mr. Nguyen Tien Trinh - Chairman of Ha Tinh Young Entrepreneurs Association commented: “The group of office customers and young families in urban areas have a great demand for grocery shopping services. They are willing to pay extra for quick service. In particular, Ha Tinh still lacks a professional application specifically for grocery shopping services. Along with a good supply chain organization and quality assurance, this can be a promising startup field, suitable for the development trend of the digital transformation period.”

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/thuong-mai-dien-tu-len-vao-bua-com-gia-dinh-qua-dich-vu-di-cho-ho-post294469.html