There are multiple benefits of buying fresh, locally-sourced groceries like supporting local produce growers and helping small-scale suppliers. However, wouldn’t it be great if you could do the same from the comfort of your home to skip the queue? Well, the Dutch startup Crisp offers an app-only based service that does exactly that, while supporting local small-scale suppliers and produce growers.
The company launched its services for the public in 2018 and it says the number of small-scale suppliers and growers for its platform have doubled to 360 since launch. In addition, the number of active users of its supermarket-app has apparently increased fivefold in the first five months of 2019. Now, the company has announced securing €5 million in Series A funding. We found out how the flourishing startup intends to utilise its freshly obtained funds and what its future plans are.
Crisp raises €5 million
The app-only service from the startup Crisp caught the eye of multiple investors with its rapid growth. The company raised €5 million in its Series A round of funding, which was apparently oversubscribed. However, the three founders of Crisp chose to go with the Dutch investor Robert van der Wallen of ‘Opportunity Partners’ who had previously invested in the startup. New investor, Alexander Ribbink, also joins Crisp’s supervisory board.
Co-Founder and CEO of Crisp, Tom Peeters, says, “Our self-developed supply chain technology makes it possible for the customer to order fresh fish in the evening, for us to pick up the fish from our supplier that same night, and to deliver it to the customer the next day. This provides more and more Dutch families with easy access to their fresh groceries. The average basket, containing over 35 products, shows that people do not just order delicacies through Crisp, but affordable daily groceries as well – such as milk, bread and cheese. High-quality daily groceries, from small-scale manufacturers and growers.”
How is Crisp different from other online grocery companies in the Netherlands?
Crisp made a name for itself by offering fresh food that can be ordered tonight to be delivered the next day in a 1-hour timeslot. The company’s USP is “product quality x convenience” and even though its an app only service, it offers fresh food assortment from over 360 different small scale quality suppliers that consist of baker, fishermen and farmers.
What are your strategies to tap the market and where do you operate?
The startup has invested heavily in its brand, packaging, app and the shopping experience it delivers. Crisp believes that if your product/service is great, customers will automatically be attracted to use it. In addition, the company showed exponential growth by leaning on the strong traction of organic food. In terms of service, Crisp delivers groceries not only in Amsterdam but throughout the whole country.
How Crisp plans on utilising the new investments?
The new funds will be used by the startup to further improve its operations infrastructure and tech platform. Crisp says it will also add some new functionality in its app, which is said to enable a faster shopping experience.
What new products are in store and how is there a plan for expanding outside The Netherlands?
The variety of foods and groceries available via the service will soon grow to include more seasonal foods. In addition, the company will work on improving its warehouse operations for better fulfilment of orders. As for expanding outside The Netherlands, Crisp says that everything at the company is build to internationalise but it is not in a rush. So, international expansion is not on the agenda, at least not in the coming months.
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