It is lunch hour in Nairobi and at the Tuskys supermarket on Kenyatta Avenue in the heart of the city, there is a hive of activity in the deli section. These are not usual shoppers picking up groceries but hungry city workers and students here to buy take-away food.

Unlike in restaurants and cafes, there is no menu. You choose from what is on display — chips and chicken, steamed or fried rice, beef and chicken stew, chapati, various traditional vegetables, sandwiches and burgers among a wide range of traditional food.

Selling ready to eat food in supermarkets is on the rise in Nairobi with Tuskys, Uchumi and Naivas supermarkets leading the way. The supermarket delis are not part of the food courts that feature in many malls. The rise of supermarkets deli or delicatessen (a shop that sells cooked ready to eat food) in Nairobi was fast.

First, the fact that the delis are inside the supermarket, made them convenient for shoppers who lead the typical fast-paced life of the growing middle class and expatriate community in the city. Many in this group seek ready-made meals — that can rival any home-cooked food as they also shop for other household items.

Susan Chelimo, an audit associate who frequents Uchumi, Mama Ngina Street branch in the CBD, for fresh food, says it about the convenience and trust that is driving most people to the supermarket deli food.

“Nairobi’s life is quite dynamic and you have to be time conscious. After sitting through traffic, you cannot have the energy to prepare yourself a decent meal. That’s why I resort to buying my ready-to-eat meals from the supermarket,” Chelimo said.

“We need to appreciate that the Kenyan middle class that is the main target market for these stores are well-educated, curious and want to try new things. This is someone who will want to get home, enjoy their meal while watching a TV programme or movie before retiring for the day, they basically don’t have time to prepare the meals themselves. They will either buy take-away or order a meal and it will be delivered.”

The pioneer of this trend was Tuskys T-Mall on Lang’ata road. Then deli created quite a buzz and caught the imagination of both single people and families who needed well done ready-to-eat food from a convenient place. Soon, it became a trend with almost all new supermarket outlets featuring a deli. Now this is almost a must have in most supermarkets.

Whether buying breakfast, lunch or dinner, the food is always fresh and hot. The queues in these supermarkets food sections is testimony that a lot of people’s lives have been made easy by this one-stop shopping.

Moses Mwakisha, a photographer, said he enjoys the food bought from a deli store in Nairobi Eastland’s because of the variety, pricing and the savings he makes.

“I am able to save money on cooking gas, food items and time. My work involves working irregular hours and I cannot afford the luxury of cooking. I stock my house with cooked food from the supermarket. All I do is warm it in the microwave and eat,” Mwakisha said.

There are now several online platforms that offer food delivery service. Hellofood, a website and a mobile phone application allows one to order from their favourite restaurant for delivery regardless of the location in the city.

Ed Barrow, the managing director of Hellofood East Africa, said they currently serve over 40 areas, from Thika road to Karen in the upmarket suburbs and have 22 cuisines available on their site, from Kenyan classics such as nyama choma (roast meat) to sushi.

“The customers pay cash on delivery. Currently, we have 140 restaurants on our list with over 20 cuisines and we are constantly looking to broaden our offering by adding local gem restaurants and exciting cuisines. We are rolling out online and mobile payments later this year,” says Mr Barrow.

From the traditionally way of physically going to the local nyama choma restaurant for lunch, or engaging the service of a motorbike rider to pick and deliver take-away food, new mobile platforms now allow people the convenience of calling and having food delivered.

Mr Barrow said the market response has been overwhelming, explaining a lifestyle shift amongst Nairobi residents.

“Customers enjoy convenience and this is what the online platform gives. We are dealing with a group that works within set time limits and they cannot afford to lose it. From the Hellofood platform, we have seen that it allows them to discover new restaurants from the comfort of their own home saving on petrol and time. We are seeing 35 per cent month-on-month growth and 30 per cent of our customers re-order within a week,” he says.

However, some people like Miriam Makena said the middle class that frequents these delis will soon forget how it feels to enjoy a well-prepared home meal. “The idea sounds appealing and healthy, but home cooked food is always healthy, nutritious and for those with families, encourage bonding during meals,” Makena says.

Apart from food, fruits, flowers and grocery deliveries are also just a phone call away. Alcohol too can now be delivered to your doorstep showing the changing lifestyles.

The deli idea is one whose time has arrived, but is it really a healthy way to eat?

Nutritionist Elizabeth Omollo says such lifestyle changes comes with lifestyle diseases like obesity, high blood pressure and other food-related diseases. “It’s always important to watch what you eat and also because how it is prepared affects your overall health,” Ms Omollo says.

For now convenience trumps all concerns.