New Delhi, March 17 (IANS): Online grocery retailer Grofers has seen a spike in business with a rise in both the number of orders as well as order value.

The outbreak of coronavirus has provided an unexpected boost to the e-shopping category companies as consumers have resorted to panic buying and restricted their movement due to safety concerns.

For Grofers, the company has seen a 45 per cent rise in orders as well as 18 per cent hike in order value.

The online grocery retailer said that Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Ahmedabad have seen a higher surge with nearly 80 per cent growth followed by Delhi NCR and Hyderabad at a 60 per cent spike in business.

"Personal hygiene products, followed by floor cleaners, have seen a surge in demand along with immunity boosting products such as chyawanprash and honey," Albinder Dhindsa, Co-founder and CEO of Grofers, said in a statement.

"Essential items such as atta, dal and rice are also being bought in large quantities by our customers. While we appreciate customers moving to a safer medium for purchase of these items... We are discouraging hoarding behaviour of essential items and promotions for the same are being discontinued as well."