Sydney's Bundlfresh allows customers to order online from multiple local grocery retailers for one flat fee; growing at 1000%
UberEats-like service Bundlfresh expands across Sydney after 1000 per cent growth
Small grocery outlets have adopted an UberEats-like delivery system in a ballsy bid to muscle big supermarket chains out of some vital market space.
The service, run by start-up Bundlfresh, allows little retailers providing seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, baked goods and fresh meat, better access to convenience-obsessed consumers.
Unlike typical food delivery services, Bundlfresh can collect products from multiple outlets for one customer, while charging them a singular fee.
Sixty small retailer’s across Sydney’s Northern Beaches have been utilising the service for about two years, with their artisan products being delivered to more than 3000 customers in 47 suburbs across the region.
Cake can be delivered for the next day.
You can order coffee the night before.
Having recorded a 1000 per cent increase in sales, Bundlfresh now has begun making preparations to expand to other parts of the city.
The company this week announced the launch of its $1 million crowd-funding campaign, which would allow it to trade in Ryde/Macquarie Park, the Inner West, and on the North Shore.
Bundlfesh CEO and co-founder Matt Russell likened the service to “the return of the local milkman”.
“I remember delivering my first order to a single mum in Freshwater, who combined local meat from Devitt Meats, bread from Mrs. Jones the Baker, fruit from The Fruitful Boxes and coffee from her local Roseberry Street Roasters,” Mr. Russell said.
“The next thing you know customers from over 40 other nearby suburbs were jumping online wanting similar orders, and asking if we could also deliver their favorite sausages from their local butcher.”
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For many small retailers, offering delivery wasn’t typically a financially viable option.
“Seventy per cent of the nation’s all-important small food retailers don’t have an online presence because often it just doesn’t stack up financially for them to do so,” Mr Russell said.
“We found ourselves approaching local retailers explaining we had a whole heap of their customers who want to order – they just want us to do it for them.”
The 18 existing employees delivered goods the day after they were ordered, and often to the same people on a regular basis.
“It’s turned into a service that has replaced the drive around town for many households who want to continue buying local and see us as the 1980s local milkman reinvented.”
A flat delivery fee of $10 applies to orders under $60, while delivery is free for all orders over that amount.
Deliveries are made from Monday to Sunday and distributed the next day if they’re placed before 11pm.
