RIDE-HAILING operator Grab wants more mom-and-pop businesses in Cebu to join its mobile delivery system, GrabFood, as it seeks to level the playing field in the local food industry.
RJ Cabaluna, country marketing head, said the app will make small and medium enterprises (SMEs) easy to reach by their loyal patrons.
“Mapping SMEs is one of our biggest goals because we know that we’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to SMEs,” he said. “Ninety-nine percent of establishments in the country are SMEs and we have barely touched the entire thing so we ask for everyone’s help to put them on the map.” About 99.6 percent of registered enterprises in the country are SMEs and continue to drive the Philippine economy.
Campaign
Grab launched Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, the Nakakalokal Festival, a campaign to bring together homegrown businesses and introduce them to the app’s food delivery services, focusing on Cebuano dishes and delicacies.
“Have them registered. If they have a restaurant or a vendor you like and even a childhood favorite of yours, just come to us. You can visit our social media and drop them a message,” he said.
Cabaluna urged more SMEs to join the GrabFood delivery system.
“When you compare these SMEs to the giants out there, it’s a very competitive advantage to be on GrabFood. Even if you’re on just one branch, you are actually visible everywhere,” he said.
Currently, GrabFood has some 8,000 registered food merchants.
Grab country president Brian Cu said the campaign aims to help SMEs generate more income by being in the app.
“We are opening our doors to more SMEs in the Philippines who wish to be part of Grab’s ecosystem. Our goal is to tap more local businesses and help them reap the benefits of our connected super-app services which already empowered thousands of entrepreneurs and enterprises to date,” Cu said in a statement.
GrabFood can be found in the same Grab app used to book a ride.
Grab is present in major countries in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. (JOB)