The takeaway meal gets a whole new meaning with the launch of home-delivery service Yummy Post

It's Saturday noon and the doorbell rings twice. Jiraporn Yodbutr opens the door to the postman she's known since childhood and jumps for joy when she sees the package postmarked Nong Khai.

"I wasn't expecting dinner quite so soon," says Jiraporn. "My mom was about to cook lunch."

Just 24 hours earlier, she'd ordered a postal delivery of naem nuang (Vietnamese style snacks) from her favourite Daeng Shop in the northeastern province especially for her mother.

That may sound strange, but today's postmen no longer just deliver letters and bills. From September 1 - the launch of the aptly named Yummy Post - they also deliver food.

It's been possible for a while to order from upcountry and pay by money transfer, but that's meant heading out to the bus station to pick up the food.

"Yummy Post is very reasonable and convenient," says Jiraporn who paid Bt250 for the naem nuang including delivery. "I would have paid Bt160 to the restaurant in Nong Khai then spent time and money heading to the bus station."

Food from four regions

For now, the food delivery service, which offers 18 dishes from famous regional restaurants, is limited to 158 post offices in Bangkok and its periphery. The list includes Northern-style sausage and chilli dip from Chiang Mai, grilled chicken from Khon Kaen, baguettes from Udon Thani, fish balls from Phuket, crispy roti from Pattani and sangkaya bread from Uthai Thani.

The additional fee depends on the packaging. If the shop does the work well, only the delivery cost is added. If the food is sold by kilogram in the market, the postmen pack it nicely for you.

Every care is taken to ensure the food reaches customers fresh and in shape, says marketing communications vice president Parisa Pananond. Most of the orders are carried in the truck, except the breads, which travel in the air-conditioned cab with the driver.

"This is how we encourage local businesses around the country," says Parisa.

Right now, about 100 people are making orders daily.