Bolt to take on Uber Eats, Mr D Food in South Africa

Ride-hailing firm Bolt — formerly known as Taxify — has announced it will launch a food delivery service in South Africa, in the process taking on rivals Uber Eats and Mr D Food.

South Africa will be one of the first three countries worldwide, alongside Estonia and Finland, in which the service will be offered, Bolt said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Combined with our technology, efficient operations and thousands of drivers in South Africa, we plan to build the best food delivery service for the people who already use our services daily,” said CEO and co-founder Markus Villig.

The company said its ride-hailing services are available in more South African cities than its rivals, adding that Bolt food deliveries will allow more South Africans to access “the convenience and cost-efficiency of an app-based food delivery service”.

The company recently underwent a global rebrand, including changing its name from Taxify to Bolt, in a move “aimed at bringing the brand identity in line with the company’s broader vision of transportation”.

Bolt’s services include ride-hailing, with cars and motorbikes, as well as scooter sharing.

Founded in 2013, Bolt’s investors include Daimler, Didi Chuxing, Korelya Capital and TransferWise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus. It operates in 30 countries.  — (c) 2019 Bloomberg LP