Online food bookings jump 5-fold this Ramadhan

Many will order food from 24-hour eateries during the Ramadhan month, says Gill

by NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / pic credit FOODPANDA

FOOD and dining merchants seem to be cashing in big time in the first three weeks of Ramadhan, with a fivefold increase in the number of transactions, compared to the amount that was recorded during the same period last year.

ShopBack Malaysia country GM Alvin Gill said the performance of its cashback application under the “Dining” category picked up fast in recent months as a result of various offers by merchants including lower minimum spending and reduced delivery fee.

“In fact, the category grew by 60% in the first quarter of 2019 (1Q19) compared to 4Q18 and it has become one of the fast-emerging categories on our application,” he said.

Compared to the earlier months this year, Gill said the transaction count was still growing.

“Many will make time for buka puasa with family at a restaurant after work, or order food from 24-hour eateries during the month of Ramadhan,” he said.

ShopBack food merchant partner Foodpanda Malaysia, has also been observing a shift in order-placement trend during the fasting month with customers ordering as early as 4pm, compared to the usual 8pm.

Foodpanda MD Sayantan Das said Malaysians are always looking for the best deals available on the platform and for this, the food-delivery venture is offering free delivery from 6pm to 6am until June 4, in conjunction with Ramadhan.

“We want to ensure our Muslim customers can break their fast with ease, saving them the hassle of rushing to cook or queueing up for food,” he said.

To-date, Foodpanda has over 4,000 riders across the nation. “The most popular food ordered during Ramadhan so far are fried chicken, chicken burgers and wedges, among others,” Das said.

Meanwhile, Gill said the merchant selections and cashback incentives have also motivated customers to order food or book a table online.

“A pleasant overall experience makes customers recommend and share. We work with merchants closely to help users save more, at the same time getting regular feedback so that we are able to respond quickly to their needs,” he said.