Food and beverages from the Terrace Central food court can now be ordered using the Rivershop smartphone app with the option to 'click and collect' from the five eateries directly or delivered to an address in Raymond Terrace and surrounding suburbs.

Chakyl Camal, chief executive officer of Panthera Group, owners of the Raymond Terrace shopping centre, said the online delivery service was the initial stage of what the Rivershop app would offer, eventually expanding to other retailers.

"We wanted to support the local community and believe that providing an offering where the community can capitalise on online shopping and deliveries to support their local businesses is an exciting way forward," Mr Camal said.

"Rivershop is a unique service for the area and we are proud to have provided this new level of convenience for the wider Raymond Terrace community."

On offer through Rivershop delivery, Panthera's own service using their own drivers, is food from Proud Rooster, Wok This Way, Melts N More, Zeez Eatz and Hunter Seafood Shack - the stores within Terrace Central's food court, which opened in July.

The online platform was originally designed to support the community throughout COVID-19 restrictions but seeing its value in connecting businesses with the community, will continue to operate and grow.

Click and collect launched through the Rivershop app was the first stage of Panthera's online services followed by the delivery of food and beverages to the Terrace and surrounds.

Stage two of the online services plan is to implement a 'multi-merchant transaction system'.

This will allow customers to purchase a whole range of consumer goods from multiple retailers and have them delivered to their homes.

Work is now underway by Panthera and its Rivershop development team to provide Terrace Central and the Raymond Terrace central business district with an online marketplace and delivery solution that will connect "bricks and mortar merchants" to their customers in new ways.

The online development is in addition to the construction work of an outdoor food and children's play area at Terrace Central, which is due to open in October.

Businesses interested in adding their products and services to the Rivershop app can get in touch with the development team via email hello@rivershop.com.au or visit merchants.rivershop.com.au.

Customers who wish to use the Rivershop app can download it from the App Store or Google Play store. They then add their delivery and payment details to the app to begin ordering.

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