Uber owns the lion’s share in South Africa’s $600 million food delivery market, but the company has widened its services portfolio even more. Uber’s food delivery arm, Uber Eats, will also be delivering medical supplies in South Africa.
“The nationwide lockdown and restriction in movement created an immediate need to accelerate our business in increasing the accessibility to daily essentials,” Uber Eats South Africa GM told Reuters.
It’s part of why the service has been inclined towards on-boarding various other merchants onto the app, aside from just restaurants, he added.
The new service will deliver over-the-counter medicines and is part of the company’s plan to continue amassing more market share. It has partnered with Medicare, a local health group with over 50 clinics and pharmacies.
South Africa’s medicines delivery market is currently ruled by pharmacy chains, which has always been the case due to early entry – even before the pandemic.
Uber’s strategy is to offer a wide variety of services under one application. With the launch of OTC medicine deliveries, Uber customers in South Africa can use the app for ride-hailing, grocery deliveries, and fast foods, among other services.
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