E-commerce delivers fresh success

Veggie might

Ironically, it was the restrictions on movement in Hubei province, where the outbreak has been centered, that provided the new business opportunity.

Zhuo realized he could use the Shiyan Huishenghuo e-commerce platform that he had run his tourism business through to also deliver fruit and vegetables.

The idea took root early last month when his wife Zhao Mingying, 40, traveled to her home district of Zhangwan in Shiyan. She noticed that vegetables were growing in abundance and farmers could not sell them due to the travel restrictions imposed to control the spread of the virus. Fruit and vegetable wholesalers could not access the produce.

At the same time, local authorities were encouraging businesses to use e-commerce platforms to provide services for residents during the special period.

As the epidemic eased, Zhuo applied for and was granted a special permit from the local commerce department that eased travel restrictions on delivery vehicles.

The Shiyan Huishenghuo platform has over 100,000 users, providing vegetable and fruit delivery services to 58 local communities.

"We spend less than eight hours from when the orders are placed to picking up the vegetables and sending them to customers' homes. Our efficiency and the high quality of the produce has earned us many customers," Zhuo said.

Most of the farmers are located within a 10-kilometer radius of the company's office and the drivers usually pick up produce in 30 minutes. Each delivery vehicle can carry about 60 bags of orders.

The 10 original employees of the company deal with the online orders, and Zhuo has hired 15 workers for the delivery services. Since starting the business on Feb 11, the company has received over 20,000 orders and sold about 50 metric tons of fruit and vegetables.