Consumers are turning to it more and more, and an increasing number of restaurant owners are offering it. Have you guessed which service we’re referring to? It’s none other than meal delivery—specifically, delivery via apps. The type of restaurant you run and your location will help you choose the best app(s) to develop your multichannel sales strategy. This is especially true if you operate a dark kitchen—a 100% delivery-focused model that relies entirely on these platforms.
Check out the top 4 meal delivery platforms now to get started with confidence.
Nowadays, most customers use several delivery apps on their smartphones to broaden their choice of restaurants. Among the market leaders, Uber Eats and Deliveroo stand out by targeting different audiences.
Uber Eats offers a vast selection of fast-food and burger restaurants, while Deliveroo focuses on independent, vegetarian, gluten-free and other options. Some establishments have even opted for exclusivity, limiting themselves to a single platform.
In some cities or neighborhoods, one meal delivery platform may have the monopoly. In such cases, it may be wise to choose a single platform to maximize your establishment's visibility among targeted customers in your locality.
However, it's essential to bear in mind that, in most situations, being present on all platforms ensures better visibility to a variety of customers. By being present on several platforms, you increase your chances of reaching a wide audience. In short, the more present you are, the better!
Uber Eats, arguably the best-known food delivery platform, partners with a wide range of restaurants, including major fast-food chains like McDonald’s. This is an important factor to consider if you run a fast-food restaurant and want to step out of the shadow of these giants. Through the app or website, customers have access to a menu of dishes categorized by cuisine type. Italian, vegetarian, Mexican, Thai—there’s something for everyone! Customers also benefit from a highly effective filtering system: price range, vegan, gluten-free, halal, and more. All of this helps guide them toward restaurants and dishes that meet their expectations and needs.
When the order is placed, the customer is informed of the delivery time and the total cost, including the price of the meal, delivery and taxes.
This platform charges a 30% commission on each order. You’re probably wondering what this amount covers. It includes promoting your restaurant on the platform, visibility, and compensation for delivery drivers. Another factor to consider is that VAT is not applied to this commission, since the company does not pay taxes in France.
The listing fee on the platform is approximately €600. This fee covers the equipment (touchscreen tablet), the food photography session, and the integration of the menus into the app.
If you opt for this platform, Uber Eats delivery drivers will be at your disposal, but if you prefer to work with your own drivers, the commission will be divided by 2.
The delivery charge is the customer's responsibility and varies depending on the distance between your location and the delivery address. It is generally around €3.50. Customers must also pay a service fee equal to 10% of the order total.
While Uber Eats offers a wide range of fast-food chains, Deliveroo focuses on independent restaurants with a strong and/or unique concept. The platform relies on the diversity and quality of its offerings to set itself apart from its rivals. It also stands out from the competition thanks to the quality of its customer service. Finally, its fleet of bicycles and scooters ensures a high level of mobility.
As with its direct competitor, the commission is 30% on each order. However, this is negotiable with the company and may be reduced. This amount includes visibility on the app, delivery in less than 30 minutes, customer service, and the cost of the service.
The listing fee, meanwhile, is €299, but it's not set in stone. Put your negotiating skills to work!
Delivery costs vary between €0.99 and €5, while the €0.20 service charge is constant.
👉 Learn more: An in-depth look at trends in the office meal delivery market
Just Eat, formerly Alloresto— you may be familiar with that name. With 20 years of experience, this food delivery platform is considered one of the pioneers in the French market. It has a strong presence in the Paris region and in cities outside Paris. This dense national network is, in fact, one of its main strengths. Just like other platforms, its interface includes a geolocation system and allows users to filter their searches based on which restaurants are open, special offers, reviews, and the availability of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, among other criteria. Operating hours, prices, and the most popular dishes are also clearly displayed.
Because there are no selection criteria during registration, the app lists a large number of restaurants. The commission charged by this platform is lower than that of its competitors, at 15%. How can this difference be explained? Just Eat does not offer a free delivery service, except in Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux, where the commission is 30%. This company does not charge any listing fees. For now, no delivery fees are charged to customers in the three cities mentioned above. In other metropolitan areas, you will need to set the delivery price yourself.
Instead of signing up for one of the delivery platforms listed below, why not launch your own delivery service? That way, you’ll avoid listing fees and have full control over your business from start to finish.
To achieve this goal, technology will be your greatest ally. Whether it’s receiving orders, processing data, or organizing deliveries, digital solutions like those offered by Innovorder will make your job easier!
Why have your own delivery service?
Then choose between :
"I make up to €500/day in deliveries, without going through the platforms." Anthony Lloret, Ankka franchisee in Grenoble
👉 To find out more: Why franchisee Anthony hired a delivery driver
However, this list is by no means exhaustive, so if you'd like to learn more, feel free to check out the following brands: ChowNow, GoDelivery, ApperStreet, Grubhub, Giongo Delivery, DoorDash, Glovo, etc.
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Are you interested in setting up online ordering for your restaurant? Whether through third-party platforms or your own system, contact our team of restaurant experts for personalized support.
