The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Online delivery service providers say their business model will endure and is part of "the new norm" with strong consumer demand for continuing past Christmas.

Kyle Albury, Kraven's chief executive, told Tribune Business that the “Christmas season went well" and there was “nothing out of the ordinary” compared to previous operational months.

"I think it's becoming the norm now in the country," he said of online delivery services. "People have some exposure to it. I guess they had no choice because of COVID-19, but it seems now and even post-COVID I think there'll be a demand for it.”

Granville Collie, MUTRU's chief executive, said his business had experienced a “little increase” over the Christmas period season. He added that sales had been trending upwards slightly before the holiday season kicked-in during the last two weeks of December.

"January has set in and it is very slow," Mr Collie said. Despite this, he argued that The Bahamas “definitely needs” online delivery services through 2021 and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In order for us to have true e-commerce we need a delivery network. It doesn’t make sense to order stuff if you can’t have it delivered. What’s the purpose of even ordering online if you still have to go to the store?” he added.

Arguing that The Bahamas was 10 years' behind when it came to online delivery services, Mr Collie said the industry was sustainable not just in The Bahamas but worldwide.

“I think a lot of people’s eyes are opening up now. A lot of people realise that it could actually happen here, and I think it only is going to go forward,” said Mr Collie.

Jamial Rolle, chief executive of Runnah’s Bahamas, said: “Things were steady. People seem to love the option of having delivery as we have a lot of consistent users.

"We are hoping people see the benefit of having both safety and convenience in one, and we are actually looking forward to things going back to normal in terms of the borders opening for more tourists. We think tourists would be more inclined to use these services as it’s more commonplace with them.

“We also have officially launched in the Atlanta market, so we are looking forward to that, and have added a lot more security, driver and customer features all around.”