Delivery apps compete over stimulus discounts

Thailand's online food delivery war is expected to be reignited as Grab has launched new promotional campaigns and offered to cut its gross profit (GP) fee to 7-9% for merchants in response to the “Khon La Khrueng Plus” co-payment scheme.

- SUCHIT LEESA-NGUANSUK

The company has also spent 200 million baht on its promotional campaigns regarding the scheme.

Meanwhile, Line Man Wongnai has appointed Kanchai Kamnerdploy — a well-known Thai actor and news anchor — as the face of its campaign, and has offered a lower GP fee and spent 200 million baht on its marketing blitz.

ShopeeFood is also offering special single-digit GP fee discounts to merchants.

All these moves aim to persuade food merchants to join their platforms, as the government's co-payment scheme requires merchants to choose a single platform in order to participate.

Currently, the industry's maximum GP fee for food delivery is 30%.

Slated to run from Oct 29 to Dec 31, the co-payment scheme offers a 2,400-baht subsidy for individuals registered in the tax system, while those outside the system receive 2,000 baht each, with a daily spending cap of 200 baht.