Uzbekistan is the second Central Asian country where the Finnish company has expanded, having begun operations in Kazakhstan in 2019. At a press brunch held on the day of the launch, Wolt representatives highlighted the significant potential of the Uzbek market for global companies. When asked about competition from other established unicorn businesses, Olli Rissanen, Wolt’s Head of Expansion, said the company welcomes competition. He emphasized Wolt’s extensive experience in international markets, noting that in Europe, for example, the market is ten times more saturated than in Uzbekistan, offering plenty of room for growth. This, combined with the population's growing interest in such services, presents a strong opportunity for Wolt to expand its presence.
Key Company Figures Present at the Event
Elina Hakkarainen, another key representative, stressed that Wolt’s primary goal is to support merchants rather than impose strict requirements. The company aims to optimize and streamline processes between merchants and couriers, ultimately making the service as convenient as possible for customers. Wolt has already partnered with 500 venues in Tashkent and plans to expand its reach to include merchandise shops in the future.
"We want to create a shopping mall in your pocket," said Olli Rissanen. He explained that Wolt is committed to supporting local producers and small businesses by empowering local stores and offering various technological solutions. Rissanen emphasized that Wolt is more than just a delivery company; it’s also a tech firm evolving into a general logistics platform, utilizing advanced analytics and data to improve its services. He also mentioned the potential introduction of a subscription plan that would allow customers to make unlimited orders with free delivery, focusing on providing exceptional customer care and support.
The company has already employed 200 couriers in Uzbekistan, offering flexible working hours. Couriers can choose to work anywhere from two to ten hours, depending on their availability. With a team of 40 employees already in place, Wolt’s representatives expressed enthusiasm about their official entry into the Uzbek market.
Unique Aspects of the Uzbek Market
One of the unique characteristics of the Uzbek market is the limited presence of international companies, similar to how things were a decade ago. Another key difference is that Uzbeks are particularly fond of ordering national dishes and take great pride in their cuisine. "We plan to make our operations stellar," Elina said, outlining Wolt’s initial goals in Uzbekistan. The company aims to make customers happy and eventually expand into other regions of the country, including smaller cities. "We want to be the top choice for our customers," she added.
Wolt is constantly learning and refining its processes to serve more people and improve delivery time estimates. The company is focusing on fine-tuning many small aspects of its operations, which will help it scale in the future.
As more international companies like Wolt enter Uzbekistan, there is a growing opportunity for knowledge sharing, fostering cooperation, and encouraging openness to global markets. This exchange of expertise will likely drive innovation within the local market.
About Wolt
Wolt is an international company that offers food and merchandise delivery platforms. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, it was founded in 2014 with a small team of six people working out of a 10-square-meter office. In 2016, Wolt expanded into Sweden and Estonia, and it has since grown to operate in 28 countries and more than 500 cities. Today, Wolt employs over 13,000 people, with 43 million registered users, 150,000 merchant partners, and 250,000 couriers. In 2022, Wolt was acquired by the American company DoorDash.
Wolt ranked second in the 2020 edition of the FT:1000 Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies, published by the Financial Times.
