Colombia: favorite food delivery apps among consumers during COVID-19 2020

According to a survey conducted in 2020, Colombian-based companies Rappi and Domicilios.com were the most popular food delivery apps during the COVID-19 lockdown in the South American country, used by 61 percent and 26 percent of consumers, respectively. However, world-class players also competed to satisfy Colombians’ cravings in these times, with Uber Eats for instance ranking fourth on the list.

Online food delivery: a booming market

In Colombia, home delivery accounts for over 16 percent of foodservice sales. With the onset of technology embedded in everyday life activities, user engagement through mobile devices and apps, have turned many tedious and mundane tasks into more agile, efficient, and attractive solutions for consumers. Between 2017 and 2019, the number of online food delivery users in the country was estimated to have grown by 31 percent and is expected to reach 7.3 million users by the end of 2020.

An opportunity for startups

Since its foundation in 2015, Rappi's valuation has strongly increased, leading the company to achieve unicorn status in 2018. Other emerging services such as Merqueo.com and Mercadoni, both dedicated to online grocery delivery, also reflect the potential of the startup scene in Colombia. As of July 2020, both were among the most funded online supermarkets in Latin America.