GrabFood vs. FoodPanda--How Foreign Delivery Services Help Grow Filipino Businesses

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Moneymax

I could remember the pandemic when ordering from GrabFood and Foodpanda became the thing. The COVID-19 pandemic would've totally stifled the restaurant and food businesses, especially before the vaccinations. Right now, I've had my three Pfizer shots in total. As restaurants began to re-open, dine-in was still strictly not allowed until a certain percentage of Cebu City was vaccinated. I began to order some food whenever I need to (or want to) even with such limited choices. This had me thinking about how imported services can help local businesses. 

Whether those "nationalists" want to admit it or not--neither GrabFood nor Foodpanda are founded by Filipinos. Instead, GrabFood is founded in Singapore and Foodpanda is founded in Berlin, Germany. If it wasn't for the fall of the Berlin Wall--there would be no Foopanda. Back then, I remembered dining in my favorite local restaurants. However, the delivery service came and there were times I felt too lazy to go out and eat. Instead, I decided to take advantage of the delivery services. Back then, there was Honest Bee which is no longer available. I decided to go for GrabFood and Foodpanda in order to get my favorite foods. These favorite Filipino foods are like Chika-An (part of Creative Cuisine), Golden Cowrie, and Mang Inasal (which 70% is now part of Jollibee Foods). It was something to get it delivered though I tend to prefer dine-in and served fresh. 

The idea that foreign investors don't benefit locals is a lie. GrabFood and Foodpanda (as well as other delivery services) prove it. Some naysayers may say that foreign investments don't create jobs for Filipinos. However, Grab and Foodpanda both have Philippine branches managed by Filipinos even if both are owned by foreigners. Where a foreign investor goes--they would be wise to buy local and hire locals to reduce costs. The delivery drivers aren't Singaporeans or Germans in the Philippines. Instead, they're driven by Filipino drivers. Local restaurants that don't have their own delivery services can benefit from partnering with them to deliver their food.

How did these delivery services, like GrabFood and Foodpanda, benefit the local businesses? A local restaurant owner would be able to use GrabFood or Foodpanda to deliver their food to selected areas. The local restaurants' delivery services may be very limited or maybe even more costly than partnering with a delivery service. However, some restaurants have mastered the art of delivery on their own. What happens is their coverage is increased. They may have small spaces so people will end up ordering through the delivery services. 

Can you imagine if local businesses decided to just do everything on their own? Once again, it would be, as the late Lee Kuan Yew would say it, a failure. In one of his speeches, Lee said that let's stop trying to do everything ourselves. Instead, these resourceful Filipino investors decided not to care if the delivery service was Filipino or foreign. What mattered is that the delivery service could help in their delivery of goods. They put aside sentiments of the Second World War (because Germany was part of the now-extinct Axis powers with Japan and Italy) or over the late Flor Contemplacion (who was rightfully executed in Singapore). Instead, they focused on how to grow their businesses through these foreign delivery services. Some even have both GrabFood and Foodpanda (or whatever may be good) to put their eggs in two baskets. 

As Deng Xiaoping would say, "It doesn't matter if the cat is black or what. All it matters is that it catches mice." How true. These delivery services may be foreign in origin. However, the Filipino partners didn't care if they had to partner with foreigners. What they cared about is that they could partake in the wealth generation. Deng's real Great Leap Forward was focused on one thing--results. If you're against foreign investments then one should consider not using GrabFood and Foodpanda at all. 

References

"[Battle of the Brands] Foodpanda vs GrabFood: Which Food Delivery Service is Better?" by Venuz Zoleta (Updated: May 20, 2022)

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