At 70, Dubai grocer takes Natural Spices online and hits 400 orders a day

Lalit Kumar, who has run businesses in the UAE since 1983, moved Natural Spices and Foodstuff Trading LLC online and now says the company handles about 400 orders a day across all seven emirates. The shift shows how a traditional neighborhood grocer can scale quickly through e-commerce, even during a tough retail environment.

Why it matters: - Natural Spices and Foodstuff Trading LLC shows how a small brick-and-mortar grocer can expand fast by moving into e-commerce. - The company now reaches customers across every emirate, turning one retail outlet into a broader UAE-wide business. - The move highlights how older entrepreneurs are adapting to online retail instead of waiting for market conditions to improve.

What happened: - Lalit Kumar, 70, moved Natural Spices and Foodstuff Trading LLC online after shipments were getting stuck, costs were rising and foot traffic was falling. - The business now handles about 400 orders a day through its own website, NaturalSpicesUAE.com, and major UAE online marketplaces. - The company started with one retail outlet and five staff. - Orders now go to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. - Natural Spices sells spices, herbs, Indian groceries, snacks, dry fruits and other daily essentials.

The details: - Kumar moved to the UAE from India in 1983. - He has worked in electronics, transport, oil and gas, and foodstuff. - Kumar said electronics taught him how customers think, transport taught him timing and oil and gas taught him patience. - The company set up online ordering, reorganized stock and managed packing and delivery with the same five-person team already running the store. - The website went live and products were listed on marketplaces, which quickly brought in orders from across the country. - Kumar said he remains in the store every day, talks to customers, bargains with suppliers and makes major decisions. - Staff say Kumar still knows many regular customers by name. - Kumar said customers should get the same respect and fair price whether they shop in person or online. - The company said customers return for the product range, fair prices and reliable delivery.

Between the lines: - The story is less about one grocery store and more about how legacy retailers can use online channels to survive supply-chain pressure and softening store traffic. - Kumar’s hands-on approach suggests the business is scaling without abandoning the service model that built its local customer base. - His long operating history in the UAE may have helped the company adapt quickly because the owner already understood changing market cycles.

What's next: - The company plans to add more products in the coming months. - Natural Spices also plans to grow its marketplace presence and improve delivery across the UAE. - Kumar said he intends to keep building as long as he has the energy.