YallaMarket, online grocery delivery platform operating in the UAE, has reported a 33 per cent increase in average check since the first quarter of this year.
Cold beverages and soft drinks were the most popular category among YallaMarket’s orders this quarter, outweighing orders for other groceries, such as water, milk and dairy products.
Chocolates and sweets were second-most popular, with orders having increased by a third.
Fruits and vegetables were the third-most popular category, with orders for vegetables, such as tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, carrots, okra, green chili and lettuce, also having increased by a third.
Orders for fruits, including bananas, mandarins, lemons, blueberries and strawberries, increased by 35 per cent, with most being placed in the evening.
YallaMarket also noted that consumer behaviour was dependent on area of residence, with customers in Business Bay ordering mostly soft and energy drinks and those in Dubai Silicon Oasis primarily opting for vegetables.
“Super-fast grocery delivery has already become a new normal for the UAE,” said Leo Dovbenko, co-founder and CEO of YallaMarket.
“We constantly analyse the consumers’ behaviours with artificial intelligence tools and seek new ways to meet consumer needs.
“For example, we found out that some of our customers are eager to order ready-made food instead of cooking. Thus, we’ve launched the YallaMarket Grab & Go category: jars, salads, wraps, granola, chia puddings, various egg dishes, hot and cold coffee drinks, French pastries, etc.”
Keeping pace with customer preferences, YallaMarket aims to shift focus from promotional discounts to implementing a sustainable model and increasing the value of users’ baskets.
“Next big steps for YallaMarket will be to develop its own trademark and launch more high-margin categories,” Mr Dovbenko added.
“Flexibility is YallaMarket’s competitive edge. Therefore, our entire team strives to delivery high-quality products to our clients within 15 minutes.”
In February, YallaMarket raised $2.2 million in a bridge round funded by Doha Tech Angels, Flyer One Ventures and Angels Deck, after raising $2.3 million in a pre-seed funding round in November.
With the funding, YallaMarket aims to grow regionally.
The platform intends to open 100 new dark stores across the UAE and expand its operations to Qatar by the end of this year.
The region’s on-demand online grocery shopping industry is expected to value $20 billion by the end of 2024, according to market research firm Statista.
E-commerce in the region is estimated to amount to $48.6 billion by the end of this year, according to Visa Middle East.
Analysis reports by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry project that online food and beverage sales in the country will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.5 per cent to value $619 million by the end of 2025.
