Zulzi

01 / WHAT IT BUILT

What the company did

Zulzi was a South African on-demand grocery delivery startup founded by Vutlharhi Valoyi with co-founder Michael Netshipise. Instead of owning stores, its concierge 'shoppers' bought groceries at nearby malls and supermarkets while delivery riders brought orders to customers' doors, promising delivery within about an hour. The company charged retailers a commission of 7-15% per order plus a R45 delivery fee, and initially tried a 20-minute delivery promise.

03 / EVENT HISTORY

Events in the structured record

1. 2017
   Pivot to grocery

   After early experiments selling secondhand books, electronics, and food delivery, Zulzi dropped food delivery in 2017 because of competition from established players and focused solely on grocery delivery, adding in-app messaging so shoppers could coordinate with customers on out-of-stock items.

2. 2020
   R30 million raise

   The company raised R30 million from a JSE-listed investor during the COVID-19 demand surge, when it was processing 2,000 orders a day, five times 2019 levels, after quadrupling its shoppers and drivers.

3. 2023
   Reported failure

   The company record marks 2023 as a reported failure year; no independent press reporting of a 2023 shutdown or sale was found, and the company was still operating consumer delivery tests into 2023.

4. 2026
   Temporary closure by city

   In August 2026 the City of Tshwane shut Zulzi's physical fulfilment premises in Hatfield after inspectors allegedly found fraudulent compliance documents, including a fraudulent liquor licence, and raised concerns about medication sales; the city said the business could not reopen until the contraventions were addressed.