Finding good quality, fresh vegetables at fair prices when you can’t personally make it to the Kalanki vegetable market has always been a challenge for people living in Kathmandu. Metro Tarkari, an online grocery store, has become a boon for all those who want to be able to shop for groceries without having to hunt and haggle for it. At this hassle-free online market, you can order fresh produce that you need in the kitchen like vegetables, fruits, meat products, bakery items etc. with just a single click and the goods will be delivered to you at your doorstep.
Anil Basnet, the man behind this ingenious idea, says he launched metrotarkari.com with the sole intention of catering to those who, at the end of a long day or the start of one, don’t want to head to the market for groceries. “People don’t want to go out in the scorching sun or deal with muddy roads during rain and buy vegetables. But it’s a necessity and, for that, a daily struggle for many,” says the CEO of Metro Tarkari.
Varied shopping choices this Dashain
Currently, with Metro Tarkari people can shop for good quality produces in addition to other household items like cleaning products from the comforts of their own homes. And what’s more, the prices are completely reasonable, you won’t feel like you are getting duped and there is no delivery charge. It’s perhaps because of this stellar customer service that the business is now flourishing in Kathmandu. However, initially, it was not an easy ride for the team of Metro Tarkari. “It was a big investment but we only had a few customers,” explains Basnet.
According to him, since the concept was the first of its kind in Nepal, many were doubtful that the vegetables they delivered would be fresh. “Also, it was hard to earn people’s trust because there had been many cases of online scams in the past,” he adds. However, rather than letting that act as a major hurdle, the team took it as a challenge and kept working hard, promoting the business through dedication and an aim to make online shopping a pleasant experience.
“Now we have many satisfied customers,” says Basnet adding that even though they sometimes aren’t able to deliver orders exactly on time due to heavy traffic, Metro Tarkari has been diligently working on being punctual and efficient. Recently, the company that was founded in 2012 expanded its services to Pokhara and Chitwan too. But, for now, the products available are a bit limited though. But Basnet says they will slowly give it shape and become a complete package like they are in Kathmandu. Meanwhile, Basnet strives for perfection so that those in Kathmandu don’t have to worry about their kitchen needs.
(The Week Bureau)
