GraceKennedy’s supermarket chain, Hi-Lo Food Stores has entered the e-commerce arena with its new online grocery shopping platform – Hi-Lo Online. The new Hi-Lo mobile app is available on Google Play and IOS App Stores, and the web-based online shopping solution can be accessed via www.hilofoodstoresja.com .
Hi-Lo Online allows customers to purchase groceries wherever they are in the world and pay online using a debit or credit card. Shoppers can opt to collect their online order in store or curbside, or have it delivered to their doorstep in Jamaica from select Hi-Lo locations. Both the app and web platform allow customers to save grocery lists to facilitate quick reordering, and the mobile app allows shoppers to scan the barcode of a product to add it to their online cart with ease.
Commenting on the latest innovation from the Hi-Lo team, GraceKennedy (GK) Group CEO Don Wehby explained that the new platform adds a whole new dimension of convenience for consumers, “The launch of Hi-Lo Online and the Hi-Lo app is a game changer not only for Hi-Lo, but for the entire GK Group. E-commerce has been on our agenda at GK for quite some time, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic we have accelerated that agenda. The pandemic has changed how, when, and where we shop, and digital, has become more important than ever. The Hi-Lo app is the only one of its kind from a Jamaican supermarket chain. It shows that for GK e-commerce is not just about serving web-based customers; it’s also about mobile-based e-commerce, which is growing exponentially in Jamaica and around the world.”
Wehby went on to say that Hi-Lo’s thrust into e-commerce is in keeping with GK’s accelerated digital transformation strategy as part of its focus on customer centricity. “The digital-first approach is not just about having the latest technology, it is about understanding our customers’ needs and delivering solutions that meet those needs,” he said.
Hi-Lo’s journey to e-commerce started in 2019 with the launch of a WhatsApp curbside pick-up and home delivery service for customers of its Manor Park store who were having challenges visiting the location during roadworks in the area. COVID-19 further pushed the supermarket chain to provide additional solutions to its shoppers in the wake of curfews and no-movement days during the pandemic.
CEO of GK Foods – Domestic Business, Frank James commented, “Without a doubt, COVID-19 has served as a catalyst for Hi-Lo Online by increasing
he demand for contactless shopping. Over the last few years, e-commerce has become an integral part of the global retail framework. Statistics indicate that in 2020 e-commerce made up roughly $1 out of every $5 spent on retail, up from about $1 out of every $7 spent in 2019.”
Hi-Lo Online currently delivers from six locations: Negril, Fairview in Montego Bay, Portmore, Barbican, Manor Park and Liguanea.
Cathrine Kennedy, Hi-Lo’s General Manager explained, “We have been providing curbside pick-up and delivery services from these locations since earlier this year. We will add more stores for fulfilment of online orders in the coming months, as demand grows.”
Kennedy also pointed out that online shoppers will still benefit from Hi-Lo’s longstanding in-store promotions and discounts, “Hi-Lo Online offers discounts for healthcare workers, civil servants, and senior citizens and our Farmers’ Market special of 20% off on Thursdays. Customers can also enter their GK Value Rewards number when they sign up to earn points each time they shop online. The online store is fully stocked with our Hi-Lo branded line of quality products and all your other favourite brands,” she added.
Acquired by GraceKennedy in 1984, Hi-Lo Food Stores is one of the largest supermarket chains in Jamaica, with 13 locations islandwide.