Singaporean grocery app expands in Cebu
Singapore-based grocery app honestbee has entered the Cebu market as it seeks to expand its operations here.
Honestbee is an online grocery concierge service that allows consumers shop grocery items online and have them delivered.
Crystal Gonzalez, the company's country head in the Philippines, said at the media launch yesterday that they have expanded in Cebu after Manila upon seeing the need due to its traffic problem and the growing population here as well.
She said with the traffic problem in Cebu, people find it stressful to go out, battle the traffic and shop.
"Traffic is a stressful thing. Traffic here is quite massive," she said.
Honestbee allows users to shop from an online grocery store and have the items delivered.
The app particularly targets those busy people including working moms, young professionals and working millennials.
"Currently we only deliver to Cebu City and Mandaue City but we are keen to expand operations to Pardo, Tabunok, Talisay and Mactan," Gonzalez said.
She added the goal is to eventually expand in the whole Cebu.
In Cebu, honestbee has partnered with more than 50 merchants. The service's current grocery partners include Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Selections, Ministop, Seaworld, JN's Best, Visayan Educational and Office Supplies, Echostore, Life Med and the public markets in Carbon and Tabo-an.
Aside from groceries, the concierge app also delivers ready-to-eat meals from a carefully-curated selection of partner restaurants. Its current partners in Cebu include Ilaputi, Handuraw Pizza, Casa DOST, Kusina ni Nasing, and SnR, among others.
Gonzalez said the app adds value to traditional supermarkets, boutique stores and restaurants as it provides an online platform alternative to expand reach without having to invest on infrastructure.
She noted the company seeks to partner with more homegrown businesses in Cebu and help empower their operations.
Gonzalez said the firm is looking to expand in other cities in Visayas and Mindanao such as Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro.
Honestbee maintains workers called in-store concierge shoppers who are trained to pick groceries for customers as though they are picking them for themselves.
The personalized online shopping experience is rolled into one easy-to-use app.
A highly trained grocery concierge shopper handpicks the freshest produce, while looking out for expiration dates and suggesting the most suitable substitutes. Customers also receive an automated SMS to verify your orders for replacements. Customers can also place notes and specific requirements such as “choose lowest calorie yogurt” just like a real concierge.
The app also accepts COD (Cash on delivery) and credit card as mode of payment.
Before arriving in Manila middle last year, the app was already available in eight key cities namely Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Niseko, and Tokyo.