As the COVID-19 lockdown continues, at Shopizona, we are committed to strengthening our safety measures every day. The online delivery of food and groceries has been recognized by the central government as an essential service, and one that helps keep several citizens safe indoors. Additionally, credible bodies like the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have clarified that food hasn’t been found to be a medium of transmission of COVID-19. However, in order to minimize the low risk of transmission through your delivery experience even further, here are a few of the many measures we have implemented:
Shopizona Delivery Partner Training
To ensure that your order is delivered safely, we regularly send reminders to our delivery partners on best practices of respiratory hygiene, proper method, and frequency of handwashing, as well as identification of associated symptoms. A series of videos capturing pertinent details shot in multiple languages is being circulated as a ready reckoner.
Shopizona Masks for Delivery Partners
We have been working hard to get masks to all our delivery partners through our network of cloud kitchens and partners. We have additionally also created a technology-based solution to check the usage of masks by delivery partners before they start delivering every day.
Shopizona No-Contact Delivery
To make deliveries safer for you and for our delivery partners, we’d introduced a No-contact Delivery feature on our app in March 2020. By opting in for a no-contact delivery, you can maintain social distancing between you and your delivery partner. In this case, your order will be dropped off at your gate or door, which you can then pick up at your convenience.
Restaurant Partner Advisory
To facilitate the safe and hygienic preparation of every order, we have shared a detailed advisory with all of our restaurant partners on best practices to be followed. These include hand washing regimes, mandatory temperature checks, use of 3-ply face masks for all staff, self-quarantine measures in case of any illness, and sanitization facilities for delivery partners at the order pick-up points. In an effort to keep your order protected from any contact during transit, we are also urging partners to pack all orders in separate bags.
Auditing Restaurants with Best Safety Standards
We are working closely with restaurants which we have identified to be taking additional precautionary measures including daily staff testing, maintaining high hygiene standards, and safe packaging. You can look for the Best In Safety badge or collection to order from these restaurants. For many of these restaurants, you can also get a peek into their kitchen to see some of their safety processes through photos in the Safety Standards section on their menu on Shopizona.
This collection currently lives in 2 cities and we are trying to make this available to more cities soon.
Simple things you can do to make your food order risk-free
Before & While Receiving Your Order
- Choose Dishes That Are Well Cooked
Avoid ordering dishes that call for raw or undercooked food. Instead, opt for dishes that require high temperatures to be prepared such as pizzas, curries, steamed veggies, baked foods, etc. - Go Cashless
Pay online so that you can avoid exchanging cash, thus limiting or completely eliminating your contact with multiple people. - Opt for No-contact Delivery
With No-contact Delivery, your order will be left at your gate or door so you can practice social distancing. For added hygiene, please leave a bag, table, or stool outside where your order can be left. - Limit Package Handling to One Person
Ideally, only the person receiving the order/package should handle the package, till the outer packaging has been discarded. It is recommended that elderly people do not handle packages themselves in these times.
After Receiving Your Order
- Discard Outer Packaging & Transfer Your Food
Dispose of outer covers like paper or plastic bags immediately after receiving your food. It is also recommended that you transfer the food from the container to your own vessel before consumption. - Wash Your Hands
Once the packaging has been discarded, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Repeat before consuming food (and at regular intervals throughout the day). - Reheat Your Food
High temperatures can kill any potential bacteria or viruses. So, for your safety, we recommend reheating your food before consumption.
