Deliveroo looks to woo restaurants with new perks package
The company says the “roo-wards” scheme is part of its efforts to “broaden its offer to restaurants" beyond just selling dishes through its app and online.
It is open to any restaurant signed up to Deliveroo, though some offers are only available or at a better rate for those who use the site exclusively, rather than alongside its rivals such as UberEats.
Incentives include discounts on posting on job boards, reduced costs for using temporary staffing agencies, and lower fees with property firms to help restaurants find bricks and mortar sites.
Exclusive partners can access a staff benefits portal, which will offer discounts on cinema tickets, meals out and travel, as well as training courses in areas such as food safety.
The announcement comes amid growing tension between Deliveroo and some restaurant operators, who have cited a lack of control over drivers, dishes not travelling well, and packaging costs as issues with the platform.
Groups including MeatLiquor and Tommi’s Burger Joint have pulled out of the company’s delivery-only Editions platform.
“We have been working with restaurants to understand what would help their businesses and we are proud to announce a package of support that will cut their day-to-day costs, meaning they can focus on what matters: producing amazing food,” says Dan Warne, Deliveroo managing director.
"I'm really pleased that we are going to be able to give something more back to restaurant staff, who might not otherwise have access to the kinds of reward schemes staff in other industries benefit from."
Going virtual
Earlier this year Pho MD Mark Smith voiced concerns that Deliveroo could use its mass of customer data to launch virtual restaurants of its own to potentially undercut its current partners.
But in a statement to BigHospitality’s sister site MCA in March Deliveroo denied it had plans to phase out established restaurant groups.
The platform has instead begun working with existing restaurants to create new delivery-only brands.
In London barbecue restaurant Texas Joe’s has launched a Mexican virtual brand Queso Dillo at Deliveroo Editions Whitechapel, while in Brighton sushi restaurant Moshimo has created two delivery-only offshoots – Moshimo Vegan and Poke by Moshino.
Deliveroo was founded in London in 2013 and now works with over 10,000 UK restaurants.
