A food delivery service app was launched yesterday for consumers in Nadi and Suva which would also help boost the sales for local restaurants after a decline in the number of dine-in and walk-in customers.
The FijiEats app is a new service to help restaurants and cafes which had suffered because of COVID-19 according to Shanil Chandra, the managing director of Shazcom Technology.
Mr Chandra said this would also give customers the opportunity to continue enjoying their favourite meals without having to venture out during this time.
“FijiEats took a few months to develop and will feature online payment options and trackable delivery to customers. Our drivers are also trained in food safety, customer etiquette and are equipped with proper food storage equipment,” he said.
Mr Chandra said the idea came to him when he had travelled abroad and found the convenience of using apps to order food. “Initially when I came to Fiji we did a ride hailing app, it was Fiji Cabs,” he said.
“It was working and we made a lot of noise but then again it wasn’t approved by LTA Fiji because I think they were still making some regulations to release that app.
“So that was when we changed our focus to food delivery.”
Restaurants such as Maya Dhaba, Govindas, Mad Hatter Hutt, Rosy Hearts Cake Shop, The Rotisserie in Suva with Cake World, Bounty Restaurant, Masala Twist, India Gate in Nadi were some of the few which had signed up.
“These are the restaurants we have signed up for now but as we move along we will be signing up more restaurants.
“Most of the restaurants want to try this but they didn’t want to be the first ones to come out.”
The FijiEats app was developed by local ICT company Shazcom Technology in partnership with Australian funded Market Development Facility (MDF).
According to the MDF Fiji country director Malcolm Bossley, their work particularly recently was in the area of supporting technology and innovation.
He added it was something they saw could help with the new normal in the way business was being done.
“Cashless and home deliveries, these were the things were around before but now probably after COVID-19 became more relevant.”
The FijiEats app could be downloaded off the Play Store for Android and Apple app store for Apple phones by June 23, 2020 according to MDF.
