Grocery shopping used to be a simple experience a couple of years ago; however, the pandemic has changed everything. From opening stores for limited hours/days to going odd-even and not finding slots in online delivery apps, we saw it all time and again during the COVID-19 induced lockdowns. While these restrictions may have been beneficial in the fight against the deadly virus, it’s no denying that a lot of people have faced grocery anxiety due to them. That said, a lot of apps and portals have come up since then to let you find out how late nearby grocery stores stay open and order groceries online, among other things. We take a look at some of those online tools here in this article.
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What is a grocery store?
A grocery store, better known as ‘kirana’ shops in India, is a place where you can buy all your daily needs, including food items and other household products such as soap, shampoo and more. The shops have become an indispensable part of the weekly (and even daily) routine of millions of people across the country. Now, you can order groceries online as well through BigBasket, Blink it, Swiggy, Big Bazar Online, or other delivery apps.
How to find nearby grocery store
The best and most efficient tool for you to find a nearby grocery store is Google Maps.
Via Website:
- Open Google Maps on your computer
- Type an address or name of the locality near which you wish to find a grocery store in the Search box and press Enter
- Click on Nearby tab, type “grocery stores” in the Search box and press Enter
Via App:
- Open Google Maps app on your computer or tablet
- Type an address or name of the locality near which you wish to find a grocery store in the Search box and press Enter
- Scroll down to different category tabs and select Groceries (If you can’t see it, click on More and select Groceries under the Shopping section)
You will get an extensive list of grocery stores near you along with their location on the map shown as red mini-pins (top results) or red dots. You can even filter your search results using the drop-down menus below the Search box, based on rating, distance and more.
How to find whether the nearest grocery store is open or closed
Via Google Maps
Google Maps is also your best friend to find out whether a grocery store near you is open or closed. Once you have the search results following the above-mentioned steps, you’ll see that it is mentioned under most stores if it is Open Now, Open 24 hours or Closed. In the case of the latter, it also shows when the store is going to open the next day. You can even find out the weekly timings of a store by clicking on its name followed by the Timings drop-down menu.
If you wish to find which nearby stores are open at the moment, you can filter your search results by selecting the Open Now option under the Hours drop-down menu on the website or simply clicking the Open Now tab on the app. Interestingly, Google Maps can also tell you how busy a particular store is for shopping at that time and day for added convenience.
How to get groceries home delivered using online apps
To get groceries home delivered, download the online delivery apps. There are several apps available, but here are some of the best that you can download to get groceries and other daily essentials delivered to your doorstep:
- Big Basket
- Blinkit (formerly Grofers)
- Amazon Pantry
- Flipkart Grocery
- JioMart
Apps like DMart Ready, Spencer’s, Nature’s Basket and Easyday are also quite popular, but they don’t offer their services pan-India yet. Once you have downloaded the app, log in and enter your area PIN code to know the availability of the service. If the service is available, you can order the grocery online. One of the most exciting parts of ordering groceries online from these apps, other than home delivery, is the discounts and attractive offers they offer along with a membership programme for added benefits.
That said, a lot of grocery stores across India have also transitioned online to survive the pandemic and many of them have adopted a hybrid model to get the best of both channels. You can easily fetch their contact number online from Google Maps, share your grocery list with them over the phone, and ask them to get everything delivered at home.
