Startup of the Week: Order fresh vegetables & fruits online from Harvest app

Share it!

Discuss here!

Startup-qatar-harvest-app-vegetables-fruits-online-delivery

Every week, ILQ features a different Qatari startup in our ‘Startup of the Week’ segment. Qatar has some of the most creative, unique, and impactful startups in the region, and we cover them across a variety of industries in Doha—from fashion and beauty to food and dining, health, education, technology, and more!

Know a startup we should feature on Startup of the Week? Please email us at [email protected]!

This week, we're featuring a new mobile app in Qatar which you can use to order fresh vegetables and fruits and have them delivered to you on the same day! Harvest is the first Qatari doorstep delivery mobile application dedicated to delivering fresh vegetables and fruits. Harvest not only delivers to individuals but also to food businesses such as cafes, restaurants, and more.

We had the chance to interview the team from Harvest to learn more about the app and the startup company. Scroll to find out!

How does the Harvest app work?

Harvest app Qatar fresh vegetables and fruits online delivery — Image credit: Harvest

The first step is to download the app which is available for free on Google Play & Apple App Store. It's not required to register to check out the available products in the app. All users will be able to browse the available items including prices, quantities, or categories.

If the user decides to order, he/she will be required to provide his/her own credentials details including name, phone number and detailed location. However, the user can leave instructions on how to leave the order in front of his/her door.

The user can add to the cart at any time, leave notes and select the best time slot that works best for the user's schedule. Users can also choose to pay online or by cash on delivery.

The story behind the brand

Harvest app has been operating in Qatar for just five months. When asked how did they come up with the name, the team said they chose "Harvest" because they plan on providing not just one service but expanding the business in the future.

One of their motivations in starting Harvest was the lack of similar businesses in Qatar. Although there are lots of online grocery services now, they don't specialize in just delivering fresh fruits and vegetables to consumers.

The online grocery & doorstep delivery services are full of immense opportunities, considering the competitiveness and fast growth in this field. We have found most available delivery service providers in Qatar do the usual delivery services, playing the role of being an online marketplace but not being more specialized in handling or dealing with the item nature as we do. On the other hand, Qatar would be considered as a very high consumption area which opens more opportunities for startup businesses. The COVID-19 was another reason behind initiating the Harvest app, taking into consideration the high demand on the grocery market. "Just In Time" strategy is another reason for establishing the Harvest app, as we don’t only compete in the grocery market but also we compete in delivery for businesses. - Harvest team

What sets the Harvest app apart?

Harvest is the first Qatari application dedicated to delivering fresh vegetables and fruits that are of very high quality, taking into consideration the "Just In Time" delivery as well as using technology to manage and deliver.

The company also seeks to reduce the shopping time spent offline by giving users the choice to include frequently ordered products into a list of preferred items (Favorites).

Harvest shared that they're dedicated to handling fresh produce - from selecting the items until it's delivered to the customer, making sure that what you get is as fresh as handpicked. On the other hand, Harvest also does special treatment in regards to cleaning, chilling and delivery, taking into consideration the current COVID-19 situation.

What was the hardest part in the early stages of the company’s growth? What are Harvest's achievements so far?

The response from Harvest's customers was better than their expectations. It was a boom because the customers have been waiting for the service.

In terms of challenges, Harvest shared that they had a hard time finding the employees they need due to the shortage of specialists for such business in Qatar. For their achievements, they managed to expand their service across Qatar (and working on adding more locations very soon), increase brand awareness, and acquire 3k+ new monthly clients just to name a few.

What can customers expect from the Harvest app soon?

According to the Harvest team, they're planning to provide a variety of high-quality fresh products with doorstep delivery service in less than 15 minutes!