While Victoria’s lockdown 2.0 caused thousands of businesses to shut their doors, online food delivery services are booming and one business, in particular, is proving to have the winning formula, recording a 34 per cent increase in sales in the last week alone.

Following the forced closure of the dine-in component of all 13 locations of its cafe brand, The Jolly Miller Group rapidly pivoted its operations to launch a new online food marketplace, iPantry , providing essential grocery items and much-loved cafe brands at wholesale prices, all with next day delivery to both consumers and businesses.

Since its launch in April, iPantry has steadily gone from strength to strength with its sales in June increasing by 278 per cent compared to May, with this figure only set to climb as Victoria braces for further stay at home restrictions.

iPantry Co-Founder, and Co-Founder of beloved community cafe chain The Jolly Miller, Rimon Barbar, said the success of iPantry largely comes down to its next-day delivery, coupled with its commitment to supporting local Australian brands.

“Next day delivery is the missing component that customers have been wanting from online grocery shopping and a gap the two majors haven’t been able to bridge.

“Typically when people go grocery shopping, they’re cupboards are nearly empty and they need to replenish supplies sooner rather than later – they can’t wait for an order that will come in three or four days time,” he said.

Following the reintroduction of Stage 3 restrictions on Wednesday last week, iPantry recorded a 34 per cent increase in online orders, with the average spend around $90.

With free delivery for orders over $50 within a 50-kilometre radius of Melbourne, iPantry is being lapped up by those stuck at home and cafes fuelling Melbourne’s love affair with coffee, with MilkLab Almond Milk the top-selling product to date at 22,000 units.

iPantry’s offering ranges from staple ingredients like milk, bread and eggs, to fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry and a variety of home-cooked meals and baked goods, in addition to a whole vegan range. The evolution of the platform will see the introduction of organic fruit and vegetables, as well as the popular Oatly milk brand.

“Essentially, we are offering cafe brands Melburnians know and love at a wholesale price and delivering them fresh to their door the next day – this is why we have been so successful,” said Rimon.