This archive report was first published on 4 June 2020.
June 2, 2020, marked a significant milestone in Ethiopia's fight against COVID-19, with nearly 1,300 confirmed cases and 12 deaths. Amidst the crisis, a local food delivery service, Deliver Addis, has found an opportunity to thrive.
Restaurants in Ethiopia may still be officially open, but the coronavirus pandemic has led to a decline in foot traffic. Deliver Addis, launched in 2015 by Feleg Tsegaye, has seen a surge in demand since the start of the health crisis, providing a lifeline to struggling restaurants.
For many restaurant kitchens, takeout has become a vital source of income since Ethiopia confirmed its first case of coronavirus in March. Henok Girma, a 26-year-old communications company owner, recently used Deliver Addis' mobile app to order Mexican food from La Morena in Addis Ababa.
“When it comes to working from home in a safe environment and being able to order whatever I want, it has really made that aspect of this whole situation a bit easier to deal with,” Girma said.
La Morena's owner, Selamawit Paulos, echoed Girma's sentiments, stating that joining Deliver Addis “really kept our business alive” after their sales plummeted to almost 10% of their usual levels.
Deliver Addis is growing, hiring staff and drivers to meet the increased demand. Tsegaye noted, “We don’t see that subsiding any time soon,” as the company continues to adapt to the changing landscape.
