Co-ops join fray, to deliver goods at buyer’s doorstep

28/12/2025

Co-ops join fray, to deliver goods at buyer’s doorstep

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 28: Under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Union of Cooperative Societies, the cooperative societies have started shifting to digital operations by entering the consumer delivery sector. This move aims to intensify the presence of cooperatives in the market, and align with modern trends in electronic services and evolving consumer purchasing behaviors. Delivery Companies Committee Chairman Abdulaziz Al-Faleh confirmed that a number of cooperative societies have started working with a local delivery platform, which offers its services to cooperatives free of charge. He said this collaboration provides cooperatives with the opportunity to compete with the commercial delivery applications, which have become widespread in the country.

Al-Faleh described this experience as a major economic transformation for the cooperative sector, as it helps reduce operational pressure on cooperatives, enables better supply management, improves returns for shareholders, and contributes to creating a more balanced and fair environment among service providers. He explained that the success of this initiative could play a vital role in controlling prices and improving the quality of services delivered to consumers. He stressed that expanding digital transformation efforts will help establish sustainable, technology-driven business models that strengthen the competitiveness of cooperative societies in the next stage.

Considering that Farwaniya Cooperative Society was the first cooperative to implement this transformation, Fawaz Al-Murshad, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the cooperative, affirmed that 2026 will mark a milestone in the digital transformation path of cooperative societies. He considers the partnership with the ‘Cooperatives Delivery’ platform a qualitative shift in operational processes and it contributes to expanding consumer access through modern electronic channels.

He clarified that this step is part of efforts to advance the cooperative work system and keep pace with rapid developments in the e-commerce sector. He indicated that shareholders will be the primary beneficiaries of this approach due to the added value it generates, the enhancement of operational efficiency, and the expected increase in returns in the medium and long term, in addition to strengthening the competitiveness of cooperatives within the digital marketplace. He added that the coming phase is expected to witness broader participation by cooperative societies in the electronic applications market through the launch of integrated and comprehensive digital solutions.

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff