Written by Gahiji Innocent | From News of Rwanda

What a New Yorker or a Londoner can do, a Rwandan can do. Well, that sounds overrated, but for many, ordering for, say, a fish smokie and a Pop Cola online, might seem to be a service only found in the West.

But in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, Hellofood, the German online food delivery marketplace, allows users to order food from over 50 local restaurants around Kigali city through the website or a mobile app.

The German online food delivery marketplace is a member of Africa Internet Holdings Company, of which MTN and Tigo – two of Rwanda’s three telecommunications companies – are also partners.

“Our first meal was delivered last October [2013]”, says 28-year-old Duncan Muchangi, country manager for Hellofood.

Fulgence Muhawenimana is a white-collar professional in Kigali city. With simple clicks on his computer, his favorite delicacy is delivered in minutes.

“It is a good service. It saves my time,” says Muhawenimana, who started using the online food service last month. “All I need is food,” Muhawenimana adds.

Hellofood has a chain of cyclists in different zones around the city who deliver the food to customers. “I can deliver food to five or six people a day”, says Emmanuel Twagirimana, 25, one of the motorcyclists.

Paul Ntaganda, the General Manager of Bourbon Coffee, Rwanda’s luxurious coffee shop, is happy his customers cannot crave for his delicious offers anymore.

“At least anyone who loves a Tramezzin from Bourbon Coffee restaurant can get it without coming to the restaurant,” he says.

“We deliver thousands of meals a week,” says Hellofood’s Muchangi. “We have learnt a lot, and we are very happy and comfortable with our service today,” he says.

Read more at News of Rwanda