Hopscotch, the largest online delivery company in Barbados, has seen new doors open during the COVID-19 pandemic, in a climate where businesses are forced to close their doors and stop their trade.
What started as a food delivery service in October 2017, has since expanded to a general marketplace across the island, with partnerships from restaurants to groceries, as well as major supply chains.
Mark Boyce, Co-founder of Hopscotch, said: “The pandemic has certainly helped to get the name out. It has helped to let people know that there are services around that do this type of thing, because they now need them in a way that didn’t need them before.”
Worldwide, the demand for food delivery has only grown during the pandemic, building on what was already a $27 billion industry, according to NPD Group.
Uber Eats saw a $2.9 billion growth in revenue between 2019 and 2020.
Internationally, Uber Eats is the most popular food delivery service
This was no different on the island of Barbados where pre-pandemic, delivery services were not a popular medium.
Mr Boyce said: “There are a lot of larger companies who you would think by 2020 would already have an online presence, but they didn’t. But when the pandemic hit, what they’d been postponing for years became a top priority and it became obvious, that delivery was the only way for people to get their stuff.”
Today, many households depend on delivery services around the island to get their food supplies, household items and appliances, something that many islanders, rejected before the pandemic.
Kenya Dottin, a local university student, said: “I never ordered when I could just get something around the corner, but most of us had to in the first lockdown. I don’t see myself going back after COVID, it’s just easier.”
However, things for Hopscotch may be taking a turn as it endures Barbados’ second lockdown. As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths climb, the national lockdown was extended until the end of the month.
Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, said: “We are going to require a little more time to do what has to be done.”
Up to Wednesday 24 February, Barbados has recorded 725 confirmed cases.