Grab launches an initiative program to boost the business of small restaurants in Yangon

Grab Myanmar has initiated a #SupportLocal campaign to support the city’s small independent food establishments and hawkers as they strive to continue operations despite the challenges faced because of COVID-19. Through the campaign, Grab Myanmar will help to boost the visibility and order volume of more than 100 local food merchant-partners which are on board the GrabFood platform.

The 100 merchant-partners have been selected according to the criteria of being a small restaurant or hawker which is not part of a franchise or group, and with monthly average sales of less than MMK 500,000 in orders facilitated through the GrabFood delivery service. The initiatives launched include: 

(1) Grab the Small Business Promotion Subsidy Program

To help the selected small, independent restaurants and hawkers generate more orders, Grab Myanmar will provide funding of an exclusive 20 percent discount on all menu items from 1 to 31 May 2020. GrabFood customers can enjoy the 20 percent discount by using the promo code ‘SUPPORTLOCAL’, with no minimum order value required. Grab Myanmar will bear the full cost of the discounts in order to support these small, independent merchant-partners which are staples to local neighborhoods.

(2) Local Heroes’ Campaign

Grab Myanmar will be marketing a ‘Local Heroes’ campaign in the Grab App and across various digital channels to increase visibility and awareness for the 100 selected merchant-partners. The marketing efforts commenced on 1 May and is intended to rally people in Yangon to patronize these small food establishments, many of which are neighborhood favorites, by ordering through GrabFood and having meals delivered right to their doorstep. Photo Source  https://web.facebook.com/GrabFoodSG/

(3) Strategic Partnership with Unilever Food Solutions (UFS)

Grab Myanmar is partnering with UFS to alleviate the operational costs of the selected GrabFood merchant-partners. UFS will offer the merchant-partners significant discounts on food ingredients and spices such as seasoning, sauces, dressing, and bouillon. In addition, UFS will contribute complimentary UFS Hygiene Kits which will include hand washing soap, food safety handbook, and kitchen aprons.

“With our #SupportLocal campaign initiatives, we hope to be able to lend some support to our local food businesses. Just like our delivery-partners who put themselves out there everyday to serve, our restaurant partners still strive each day to continue to feed us and their own families. With more people staying at home, the demand for food delivery is expected to increase significantly and with GrabFood, we are able to provide local food businesses a platform to serve that demand,” said Cindy Toh, Country Head, Grab Myanmar. Photo Source  https://web.facebook.com/GrabFoodSG/

With a large base of local small, independent eateries already on board its platform, GrabFood has committed to increase resources three-fold to onboard local merchants who have been affected by declining customer traffic because of COVID-19 and are now heavily reliant on delivery services to generate revenue.

“In the recent few weeks, we refined our merchant onboarding program and ramped up operations such that more F&B merchants can list themselves and start their newly digital businesses on the GrabFood platform quickly,” added Cindy Toh.

One of the selected GrabFood merchant-partners who will be supported by the #SupportLocal campaign is Café Salween, which sells specialty coffee grown and roasted locally in the country, Myanmar traditional desserts, local fusion food such as laphet rice burgers, Kachin pasta, house-made pizzas with local products and more.

GrabFood customers and the wider public are encouraged to participate in the #SupportLocal campaign and to place orders from Yangon’s small independent food establishments and hawkers. They can look out for the ‘Local Heroes’ section in the GrabFood tab within the Grab App to view the list of local merchant-partners to order from.

Small, independent food establishments and hawkers who wish to be a GrabFood merchant-partner can contact +959765421049 or email gf.mm.merchants@grab.com.