Nowadays, going to the store for certain items can seem like an unnecessary chore given the variety of e-commerce and delivery options available. In response to this phenomenon, knockmart.com emerged as Egypt’s first e-commerce delivery hypermarket.
Launched in 2014, knockmart.com was the first online market of its kind in Egypt. The company was launched in response to the demand for local delivery options that could supply all the food commodities and home goods found at a hypermarket. Beyond this demand, the company benefits from avoiding the high cost of land in Egypt by providing their services online for delivery only. Today, the company operates in 14 areas around Cairo, guaranteeing delivery 60 minutes after a request is made.
Knockmart.com announced Wednesday that they plan to open the first online hypermarket in North Coast in summer 2017. This launch comes with the company’s aim to expand to more areas of Egypt.
Ahmed Taher, CEO of knockmart.com, said his company is seeking to open several branches over the next year. The North Coast branch will serve El Alamein, Marina, and surrounding areas spanning to Sidi Abdel Rahman.
The company also plans to inaugurate two new branches at the beginning of next year: one in Sheikh Zayed city to serve the greater 6th of October City region and the second in Dokki to serve the central neighbourhoods of Agouza and Mohandseen.
Taher added that the new branches are being launched to meet customers’ needs for food and household goods especially in newer areas of Cairo and Egypt where there is a lack of such services.
As part of its expansion, the company has launched a mobile app sharing the same name. Through the app customers can quickly and conveniently order all items without even having to be at their computer.
Currently, knockmart.com delivers food commodities to in the central neighbourhoods of Garden City, Giza, Zamalek as well as the areas of First Settlement, Third Settlement, Fifth Settlement , 6 October City, Rehab, Madinaty, Obour, Shorouk, Nasr City, Maadi, and Heliopolis.
Taher noted that e-commerce and the delivery of household commodities and groceries to customers is one of the main solutions to meeting residents’ needs in new cities where there is a lack of services.
He claimed that e-commerce in Egypt will witness increased popularity in the coming period and may compete with many industries, including real estate owing to the diversity of consumers’ needs. He pointed out that e-commerce growth rates in Egypt have increased by 30% this year.
Taher pointed out that the volume of e-commerce has risen since the beginning of this year by nearly 300% compared to 2015, reflecting the success of the means to reach a larger tranche of customers as a result of the diversity of needs and the development of urbanisation in the new cities.
“The idea of e-marketing household products is found in many European countries, led by the UK, which introduced this service in 2002. The grocery supplies sales online ratio in the UK represents 4.5% of total sales,” Taher said. “I expect to reach that figure in Middle East, particularly Egypt by spreading this service.”
