The MENA regional section examines the diverse experiences of countries in the region, highlighting how the pandemic has compounded other serious challenges — including low oil prices, ongoing conflicts, and political transitions, as well as natural disasters — and has tested the resilience of those national food systems that are heavily dependent on food imports. At the launch event, speakers share updates on the post-COVID-19 recovery plans and discuss the way forward for strengthening the food system’s resilience to shocks.

1. MENA launch of the Global Food
Policy Report (GFPR)
Asmaa A. Khalil,
Head of Communications, Public Affairs and
Corporate Responsibility, talabat Egypt

2. Internet penetration: reached 60%, up from 22% in 2010
Reliance and usage of e-Commerce amounted to USD 3 billion in
2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The partial lockdown measures that were adopted by the
Government of Egypt’s (GoE) in 2Q2020 enhanced the growth of
Egypt’s e-commerce sector to unprecedented levels: Sales of
F&B retail home shopping rose by 222% to reach EGP 1.8 billion in
2020.
Egypt’s E-Commerce and
F&B Retail Home-
shopping
(Source: Euromonitor)

3. Role Delivery played
during the pandemic:
2020 for talabat: 81% increase in orders and 82% increase in
online payments. (Delivery kept people at home, contributed to
curbing the spread of the virus, and helped the economy recover.
talabat supported restaurant partners who couldn’t have dine-in
customers due to COVID.
Talabat supported SMBs who represent around 92% of talabat
inventory and reached its highest point in 2020 with 96%.

4. Launched a social media awareness
campaign reaching 7 million users,
educating them on how to prevent
Corona virus.
Awareness
training courses for our riders to guide
them on how to deal with our
customers taking into consideration
the security and safety guidelines
launched by the government.
Training
allocated a budget of 2 million Egyptian
pounds to provide sanitization and
protection tools to help protect both our
riders and our customers.
Tools
Talabat measures during the pandemic
Contactless
Launched “contactless
delivery”, to minimize rider-
customer interaction.

5. GOE Measures supporting the
industry during the pandemic
The Egyptian National Food Safety Authority (established in 2017) mandates and
licensing. talabat’s guidelines required partner-outlets to display their health-approvals
and official registration prior to enlisting (serves the general governmental strategy to integrate
informal outlets into the formal economy).
GOE’s exceptions for food outlets, e-commerce couriers, and retail outlets around the
clock during lockdown.
Policies by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and banks towards digitizing financial
transactions.
Enhancing the country’s infrastructure and improving the networking of the information
technology sector .
Ongoing efforts to develop Egypt’s policy/regulatory framework (SMEs law and its executive
regulations, Data Protection Law, Cybercrime law and is currently developing Egypt’s first E-commerce
law).

6. Beyond the Pandemic

7. Is this growth Sustainable?
What is the trend powered by?
- A youth population: 60% aged 30 and younger.
- Enhanced integration of electronic tools and smartphones,
- GoE policies that aim to promote Egypt’s digital transformation
- Ongoing GoE measures to revitalize the economy

8. Forecasts
- The industry is forecasted to
maintain a 14% compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) between 2020-
2025 to reach EGP 3.5 billion.
- Nonetheless, the food and non-
alcoholic beverages industry is
forecasted to witness growth of
13.2% and 8.46% in 2021 and 2022
respectively as private
consumption and impact of COVID-
19 wears out.
Sources: EMIS, Fitch Solutions, Euromonitor
Gross Consumption
(Ten Millions EGP)
Per Capita (Thousands
EGP)
Food Spending Per
Household (Thousands
EGP)
Food Spending Per
Capita (Thousands
EGP)
2018 56.79 5.7 21.7 5.4
2019 65.42 6.5 24.3 6.13
2020 74.01 7.2 26.7 6.8
F2021 83.81 8.03 29.4 7.5
F2022 90.9 8.56 31.2 8.05
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
F&B Consumption Stats - Overview
2018 2019 2020 F2021 F2022

9. Lessons learned & Private
sector role

10. Develop partnerships & building a robust
ecosystem
Examples:
- Financial inclusion: NBE partnership
- Partnerships to help change
mindset/behavior: VISA
Sustaining growth by focusing on the business’s core
product and/or service i.e., specialization, while
partnering up with service providers to enhance the
business model. E.g. talabat’s cutting edge technology
helping vendors enhance their efficiency and
positively affecting the economy.

11. Thank you!
Done.