Deliveroo to recruit more riders in Belfast expansion

FOOD delivery service Deliveroo has said it will grow the size of its 160-strong fleet of riders in Belfast after announcing it is expanding in the city.

The company’s self-employed riders, who Deliveroo said can earn an average of £12 per hour, will now cover Ardoyne in north Belfast and the Ormeau Road in south Belfast.

A spokeswoman confirmed it has 160 riders in Belfast at the moment but could not say by how much the numbers would increase.

She said: “Deliveroo is constantly expanding and developing in line with customer demand.”

The company now delivers food for a number of chain and independent restaurants around the city, including Mexican food chain Boojum, noodle restau- rant Wagamama and independent Cafe Fish.

The spokeswoman added that most drivers are paid per delivery instead of per hour, with the pay working out at an average of £12 per hour.

“A fee per delivery structure means riders maximise efficiency at the busiest times — as opposed to a limited fixed hourly rate,” she said.

I t comes af t er DUP East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson said even greater expansion was on the cards by Deliveroo, with riders now to deliver in Craigavon, Lisburn and Londonderry. However, Deliveroo has given no details of the expansion.

The s p o k e s woman said: “We’ve seen a big appetite for Deliveroo in Belfast since we launched here in 2016 — we’re excited to be working with even more great restaurants in the wider area, and to be serving the hungry people of Belfast.

“Customers outside of Belfast city centre will now have more dining choice than ever before from local and chain restaurants.”

More and more restaurants and food outlets are opting to join delivery services, with McDonald’s signing up to Deliveroo rival, Uber Eats.

Five McDonald’s restaurants around Belfast have signed up to a roll-out using Uber Eats to deliver within a 1.5 mile radius.