Baedal Minjok races to keep up with rivals for grocery deliveries

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Baedal Minjok races to keep up with rivals for grocery deliveries

Published: 04 Feb. 2022, 18:18

Motorcycles of Baedal Minjok delivery workers are parked in Seoul. [YONHAP]

Restaurant delivery application Baedal Minjok introduced a speedier system for its grocery deliveries, catching up with its rival in the competitive delivery market.

Woowa Brothers, which operates the Baedal Minjok app, started the B Mart One service this month. Apart from its regular restaurant deliveries, the service delivers groceries and other daily items usually offered at discount stores such as toothbrushes, detergent and shampoo.

The new system is similar to the company’s existing B Mart service, but reduces delivery time from the previous 40 minutes to around 20 minutes.

Faster delivery is possible by limiting one delivery worker to one order at a time, compared to one worker taking some five orders at once in the past. The app previously cut delivery times for restaurant deliveries by using the same system, with the introduction of the Baemin One delivery.

A screen grab from the Baedal Minjok application shows the range of products offered for delivery via B Mart One, including fruit, vegetables, toilet paper and detergent. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Woowa Brothers aren't the only ones racing to deliver groceries.

Rival restaurant delivery app Coupang Eats operates Coupang Eats Mart, a similar grocery and essential goods delivery service.

Coupang Eats was early to the game. The company started its grocery delivery service last July and deliveries are advertised to arrive within 15 to 20 minutes, also because one delivery rider is in charge of one order at a time.

Delivery workers directly hired by Coupang Eats are stationed at each of the Coupang Eats Mart fulfillment centers, taking away time spent for workers to move from their original position to the pick-up spot.

Coupang Eats Mart is offered in limited areas, including Songpa, Gangnam and Seocho Districts all in southern Seoul.

Convenience stores have joined the race, but are falling far behind when it comes to timeliness. CU and GS25 deliver food and other items sold at their branches, but orders usually take about an hour to arrive.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]