Leading e-mobility company Bolt has expanded its services into the African market with the introduction of Bolt Market, a new grocery delivery service. Launched initially in Kenya, this service aims to streamline everyday shopping for consumers, building upon its successful rollout three years prior in Bolt’s home market of Estonia. Edgar Kitur, Bolt Food General Manager, emphasized that the grocery delivery vertical, accessible via the Bolt Food app, is designed to enhance Kenya’s vibrant food and grocery ecosystem, contributing to a city people love to inhabit.

Kenya’s online food and grocery delivery market is experiencing a significant boom, a fact underscored by the country’s competition authority (CAK). A CAK survey from earlier in the year indicated that 9.3 percent of Kenyans shopped for food and groceries online in 2023, a figure that is likely to have increased in 2024. Projections from the authority anticipate this figure to climb to 16.7 percent by 2027, equating to an estimated 10.5 million Kenyans relying on online grocery delivery services. This impressive growth is attributed to the convenience and efficiency of online platforms, along with attractive offers such as same-day and timed delivery options, and buy-and-collect services, all of which broaden consumer choice and elevate the overall shopping experience. It is within this context of rapid growth and market maturation that Bolt has strategically chosen Kenya for the launch of Bolt Market, aiming to provide customers with a convenient method to access essential goods.

Despite the promising market conditions, Bolt Market is poised to encounter significant competition, particularly from Glovo, which the CAK survey identifies as the most preferred platform for food and grocery delivery in Kenya. Bolt, however, is accustomed to intense competition across its various verticals, including ride-hailing and food delivery, where it consistently contends with major players like Uber and inDrive for market share. Nevertheless, its journey in the food delivery sector has not been without challenges. Just over a year ago, Bolt Food ceased operations in the Nigerian and South African markets, citing overwhelming competition. In Nigeria, despite substantial investments, the company managed to secure only a 5 percent market share. Consequently, Bolt is expected to implement robust strategies to effectively compete and capture a substantial share of the Kenyan grocery market.

To establish itself as a preferred platform, Bolt Market is offering a comprehensive selection of over 2,000 “carefully curated products,” ranging from fresh produce sourced locally to household essentials and beverages. The company also assures customers that its store teams operate without interruptions and handle products with meticulous care, thereby ensuring the quality customers expect while saving them valuable time. As an introductory offer, Bolt Market is providing free delivery for orders up to 3 kilometers and discounts of up to 80 percent to celebrate its launch.

Customers can access Bolt Market services through the Bolt Food app, where they can place grocery delivery orders between 8:00 am and 11:00 pm. The platform also allows for scheduling essential and grocery deliveries up to 24 hours in advance. Bolt Market’s delivery operations will initially cover a 10-kilometer radius from its store located in Kilimani. The ordering process involves downloading the Bolt Food app, browsing the product selection, and reviewing the price and estimated delivery time before confirming the order. Payment requires customers to input their bank card details into the app. Initially, the Bolt Market service will be available in the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa. Complementing this launch, Bolt Food recently introduced a feature that enables its delivery riders to access their earnings within two days, a notable improvement from the previous one-week cycle.