The SRS Group has forayed into e-commerce with the launch of its grocery vertical website, SRSgrocery.com. According to the company, it will soon launch other e-commerce websites, including ones in apparel and jewellery verticals.
SRS grocery currently caters to users in Gurgaon, Noida and Faridabad. The website currently offers various items under the categories of fruits and vegetables, bread and dairy products, beverages, branded foods, grocery and staples, personal care, household, frozen food, imported and gourmet and organic. One of the biggest usp of the website it does not charge for delivery and has no minimum order requirement.
Users can surf and add products to their carts without registration, although for checking out and placing the order, registration is required. Registered users can also login to track active orders, credit details, order history and update their contact details. The website also features a Wishlist, that can be compiled to list items ordered regularly.
Placed orders are delivered the next day during one of the four delivery slots, selected by the user. According to the company, orders placed before 1:30 however, are guaranteed to be delivered the same day. The website allows for orders to be cancelled or partially cancelled up to 2 hours before delivery for refunds, while lets users return items during delivery for any reason, in exchange for store credit.
SRSgrocery currently claims that users can place orders via the online portal, place order by phone and also through live chat on the website, although we spotted no such chat feature. As for payments, other than the standard online payment methods like credit/debit cards, the platform also offers credit/debit cards on delivery, cash on delivery and sodexo or accor meal vouchers on delivery.
Competition:
– Last week, Mumbai based online grocery store LocalBanya secured an undisclosed amount in Series A funding from a real estate development group Karmvir Avant Group.
– In November last year, Reliance Industries retail arm Reliance Retail launched an e-commerce store called RelianceFreshDirect.com to delivery grocery products in some neighborhoods of Mumbai.
– In September, discount coupon website Mydala.com had launched a grocery vertical for its website and mobile app. The website claims the service will allow shoppers to view offers on grocery items from local kirana stores.
– The same month, Bangalore-based online grocery retailer BigBasket raised Rs 200 crore investment in a round led by Helion Ventures and Zodius Capital and participation from existing investors Ascent Capital and LionRock Capital. The company had also raised $3 million from a Singapore-based private investor in April last year.
– In August, Naspers-owned online marketplace Tradus.com had pivoted to become an online grocery-only store. The company had previously started selling groceries by tying up with local sellers in April this year. Consumers could order groceries such as dal, rice, sugar, tea to dry fruits from local sellers through this service. It was initially available only in Delhi, and seems to have rolled out to Mumbai, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Noida and Bangalore in the past few months.
– Mumbai-based online grocery store EkStop had raised an undisclosed amount in funding from Unilazer Ventures, UTV founder Ronnie Screwvala’s investment company, in January this year. The company currently offers its services only in Mumbai and claims to have partnerships with more than 500 brands for daily essentials such as groceries, household supplies, personal care products, healthcare products and stationery.
