How do I get groceries delivered to my house?

Scenario 1 - Has it ever happened that you invite guests over for dinner and want to bake your yummy cake, but flour is missing from the pantry. Maybe it got over last week and you did not add to your purchase list when you went grocery shopping. I am sure we all have been through similar situations.

Scenario 2 – You have only two days of weekend to recharge and rewind yourself, but you end up spending a good four hours at the nearby crowded supermarket to get your grocery supply. How much do you wish that you do not have to stand in queue week after week? That your precious time is not spent on watching a movie or meeting your friends but at a crowded shop.

The above-mentioned scenarios are just two examples, which might make grocery shopping a challenging experience. However, we are not denying that there are times we enjoy the “long walk” in a supermarket, picking products and scanning them. Why not for homemakers and elderlies, this a good way to step out and see and make choices themselves. Also, you can compare products by comparing them there and then.

Have you ever thought – how do I get groceries delivered to my home? Wake up guys, yes, there are ways to get your daily supply right at your doorstep.

One option is to get your shopped products delivered at your doorstep would be to ask the local kirana store owner to get bought items “home-delivered”. But in that case, you have to coordinate the time with the delivery person for your availability and his convenience.

The nearby supermarket woos customers with the promise of home delivery of products sold. It might be tempting to fall into the trap but nothing comes for free. Items would be delivered only when you shop for a certain amount (often over and above Rs. 1000/-).

Thirdly, you purchase things online from portals which promise to deliver things at your home, as per your convenient time. It sounds very tempting, isn’t it? Following are a list of factors that you must take into account before taking the online delivery route.

First and foremost, you need to identify which are the trusted portals from where you can fill your shopping cart. Have you heard about Health-Fields, Amazon and Biomart.in, are some of e-tailers selling groceries. Yes, they have ads splashed all over the place.

Secondly, you need to know if these online portals can deliver purchased items to your city, as per your convenient time. Do they have the required logistics and supply chain infrastructure in place?

Thirdly, while shopping online, you must enjoy a bond of trust with the online marketplace. So, any online shopper should not only check the quality of products sold but also have confidence in sharing their credit or debit card details. After all online fraud or data, theft is a major threat for consumers. The sites should also have multiple payment options (like e-wallet, cash-on-delivery). Any online buyer should engage in some research before deciding where to buy your products. A buyer should have confidence that his or her chosen site if offering the best price for goods and products. So, when you order organic food from any e-marketplace, you should be confident that the products sold are 100 percent organic, genuine, and certified.  

Fourthly, an online shopper must know the basics of online portals' privacy policy and return policy. There might be times when products delivered to you might not meet your expectations or what the portal claims to be. How do you resolve any dispute, should be clearly mentioned on the site. Also, when you freeze the cart, does the portal keep you posted on tracking your order?

Fifthly, do they have a well-managed customer care team? The team should be quick to respond to queries and feedbacks. Ideally, the team should be operational 24*7. Their social media handles should be responsive.  

Next time, when you are lazy to step into a supermarket to buy groceries, check some of these sites and give it a try. Online shopping has come a big way in India. Like your local stores, there are a host of sites trying to woo you. Your smart and hassle-free shopping should be done after smart assessment and research. Once you have zeroed on the online site, you can plan a better weekend with your loved ones.

What is the difference between a grocery store and supermarket?

Both grocery shops and supermarket provides different shopping experiences to their customers. Grocery shops are much older version than the supermarket. Supermarket is a self service big shop.

The difference between a grocery store and supermarket

Size: - The most important difference of grocery shop and supermarket is the size as supermarket is much larger than a grocery shop so it can contain wide range of products. Supermarket are self service store while in grocery store a helper of the shop brings the goods of your choice on the counter and you pay the bill to the owner standing behind the counter. The advantage of grocery shop is that you can navigate through the varieties yourself.

Supplies: -  A grocery store is a small shop where you can get daily use items, dry food, or canned food whereas supermarket is a shop which sells large variety of foods and household items like perishable green vegetables and fruits, dry food items, canned food, baby goods, cleaning supplies, and much more. You will get more variety and options than grocery shop. Some supermarkets keep stationeries, bags, kids games and toys, kitchen appliances, crockery and even organic food.

Appearance: - Supermarkets has a uniform appearance as they arrange their products in different sections in aisles which customers can pass through and pick the item of their choice in shopping cart. Grocery shops have different looks and different items according to the preference of local customers. They have only that items which is in more demand and keeps the item which has maximum sale in front to reduce the time of service.

Sales and discounts: - Supermarket displays the items which are offering sales and discount to attract more number of customers. The discounts can be offered by manufacturers or large distributors because they give bulk order or sometimes they offer discounts to customer by lowering their profits. But grocery shop cannot afford discount or sales which supermarket provides to their customers.

Supermarket special format offers organic food also but purchasing organic food online is more convenient and safe process. Organic food is grown under strict supervision and packed under same conditions. It is kept separate from conventional food. The certified organic food is only recommended as fields are tested whether they have used any chemicals from past two years. Farmer can grow only if they have not grown crop using any synthesized chemicals from past two years and their field should be not near any salvage. The authorized certified organic company supervises the crop timely to ensure that no chemicals have been used. They harvested crop is also stored and processed separately. They also ensure no chemicals for ripening of fruits should be used. So online is the only place from where you can get fresh perishable items directly from the cold storage to your house.

Biomart.in is an online store which supplies you best certified organic food directly to your home at affordable rates.

Which pulses are good for health?

Pulses contribute good health and are the main source of protein especially for the vegetarians.

Pulses are good for health as they are rich in protein, fibre and are low in fat. Protein helps in growth and fibre helps in weight management as it helps in feeling fuller for a long period. It has complex carbohydrate which takes a longer time to break as compared to sugar and help in the production of good bacteria for guts.

Nutritionist suggests that you should consume one or more type of pulses daily and here are some pulses that you can add in your diet.

·        Tuvar dal or (Arhar): - It has a high content of protein and fibre. It also contains amino acids that are essential for muscle building, regeneration, and strength. It helps in the formation of red blood cells and keeps hypertension in check.

·        Mung Dal: - It is an excellent source of protein, fibre, antioxidants, oligosaccharides, folate and phytonutrients. It helps in controlling gas and bloating. It helps in detoxification. It helps in DNA synthesis, Cell and tissue growth. It also helps in balancing hormones, functioning of cognitive, and reproduction.

·        Masoor Dal: - It is a highly rich source of protein and fiber. It contains minerals and vitamins like iron, calcium, zinc, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B. It helps in stabilizing blood sugar level, lowering cholesterol, losing weight, act as anti-agent, and nourishes teeth and bones.

·        Black-eyed peas/Lobia: - Lobia contains high quantity of protein and fibre. It is high in vitamin A and vitamin C antioxidants and has a lower glycaemic index. It is good for diabetics, protect our body from the damage of free radicals, and reduce the risk of cancer.

·        Chickpeas: - Chickpeas are rich in protein and dietary fibre, iron, calcium, zinc, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B. It is also cholesterol free. Due to its high fiber content, it helps in the prevention of constipation. It helps in maintaining healthy bones and teeth and improves your digestion.

·        Kidney beans (Rajma): - Kidney beans are a rich source of protein, fibre, complex carbohydrates, low glycaemic index, molybdenum, folate, iron, copper, manganese, potassium, vitamin K1 and phosphorus. It is considered ideal for weight loss, control of blood sugar and the prevention of colon cancer.

Pulses are beneficial for health especially for children as it contains a rich source of protein which is essential for the growth of cells and tissues. For maximum benefits, you are advised not to use polished pulses. Organic pulses are grown under natural condition using manure made from plants and animals remains. No harmful chemical sprays or sewage water is used. Biomart supplies you certified organic food which is grown under the supervision of certified organic companies and kept separate from the conventionally grown food until they are packed and delivered. You can trust that your family will get the best certified organic food from biomart. As health is wealth so don’t compromise with it and include Biomart pulses in your daily diet. Just order online on Biomart.in and get our order straight at your home.