New York, USA — Jamaicans across the United States are now able to shop for their loved ones back home through an innovative move by just the click of a button.

The experience has been made possible through a newly formed Jamaican-owned digital platform GroceryList Jamaica, which operates out of Pompano Beach in South Florida.

In a press statement promoting its operations, the company says that it is connected to 150 local stores in Jamaica and that the platform, covering all 14 parishes, allows for purchase of grocery items to be made here in the Diaspora and for such items to be delivered to the recipients in Jamaica within minutes.

Co-founder of the business Jermain Morgan said he and business partner Rory Richards were “inspired to create the grocery shopping platform after Richards’ mother was unable to physically attend to her shopping needs due to illness”.

“Now, you don’t necessarily have to send money to your loved ones in Jamaica for grocery shopping. By going to GroceryList you can place your order and our network of shoppers will make the purchases and deliver them.”

“To this end, GroceryList is not only connecting grocery shopping in Jamaica with the Diaspora, we are also providing employment for Jamaicans at home as there are some 500 people there who are employed to do the shopping and deliveries,” said Morgan.

General Foods supermarket and Shoppers Delight in Kingston, Giant Family Mart and L & Y Supermarket in St Mary, National Self Serve and Valu Mart Food Store in Clarendon, and Best Value Supermarket along with Bogue Supermarket in St James are among the first outlets connected to the platform.

Richards, who is chief executive officer, added that GroceryList “was designed to ease the economic burden on Jamaican households as well as empower Jamaicans to earn through an additional income stream.”

He noted that the platform “has completely digitised the end-to-end grocery operation and is set to revolutionise online grocery shopping throughout Jamaica and the Diaspora.”

“As for an even bigger picture and growth prospects for the GroceryList Jamaican team, there are plans to use the platform as a philanthropic tool to address food security and poverty alleviation throughout Jamaica by working with our global partners,” said Richards.

Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami Oliver Mair has lauded the concept and has praised the two young entrepreneurs, while noting the addition of more Jamaican jobs which the effort brings with it.

The platform can be accessed at www.grocerylistjamaica.com.