Designed to reduce cashflow headaches during the coronavirus pandemic, the new service is free of charge with Deliveroo covering any increases in banking charges and will be available for at least the next three months.
Deliveroo has also announced a range of other measures designed to help restaurants that continue to offer delivery, including online marketing tools for restaurants to notify customers that they are available for delivery services; best practice guidelines for converting existing restaurants into delivery-only operations; and a new campaign called #HereToDeliver designed to support restaurant workers.
Last week, Deliveroo launched a ‘contact-free delivery’ feature in the app which sees rider leave orders by the door and retreat by at least a metre.
“At Deliveroo, we want to do everything possible to support our restaurant partners,” says Deliveroo founder and CEO Will Shu. “We are here to deliver for restaurants who want to carry on offering their amazing food to families at home. This new rapid payment system will immediately improve the cash flow of thousands of restaurants and help them better manage their finances during these challenging times.”
Earlier this week (24 March), Deliveroo partnered with BP and Marks & Spencer to offer a select range of M&S Food products, including essential products such as milk and bread.
Around 120 M&S franchises will be signed up across the UK.
The delivery platform has also announced it is rolling out its ‘Essentials by Deliveroo’ service, which is designed to offer easy access to essential household items for those isolating at home due to the Coronavirus. These include cereal; pasta; rice; sweets and biscuits; soft drinks and juices; and tinned goods.