MerryMart Consumer Corp. teamed up with FoodPanda Philippines to operate and pioneer the “dark grocery” store concept in the country that will cater to online deliveries.
A dark supermarket refers to a retail outlet or distribution center that exclusively serves online shopping.
MerryMart said in a disclosure to the stock exchange wholly-owned unit MerryMart Grocery Centers Inc. signed an agreement with FoodPanda to start operating the first two dark grocery stores in Makati and Manila in October.
“This concept is a real game changer in the online grocery space. Imagine being able to buy exactly what you need, when you need it, and for it to arrive at your doorstep in a very short span of time. We are glad to join forces with the global delivery platform FoodPanda to power this ‘dark grocery’ store concept as they are the leaders in the online food delivery space,” said MerryMart chairman Edgar Sia II.
Sia said the dark grocery stores would open in select hidden locations that are exclusively intended for online deliveries.