Deliveroo slammed by eatery owner over commission hike

A Dundee restaurant owner claims Deliveroo is taking advantage of businesses during the coronavirus crisis.

Lauren Runciman, owner of Giddy Goose, said she has decided to dump the third party app after it hiked its commission rate to a massive 60%.

The multinational company usually takes around a third of order totals for home deliveries but the shock bill, covering the last two weeks, left the business struggling to make ends meet.

It came at around the same time as unprecedented lockdown measures were announced by the UK and Scottish governments.

Ms Runciman, 22, who opened the Perth Road eatery with her partner in 2018, said: “Usually it’s around 35%, which is really high anyway, but this latest cut was crazy.

“We couldn’t believe it. It was actually costing us money to be on the app.

“While we are trying to sustain our business, these big companies are rubbing their hands together at the

“These big companies are rubbing their hands together at the thought of making even more money than they usually do. LAUREN RUNCIMAN

thought of making even more money than they usually do.”

Deliveroo has in the past said research shows partnering with the company can increase restaurant turnover by up to 30%.

However, accountants Price Bailey and Moore Stephens recently pinpointed the rise in takeaway delivery apps as one of the main reasons for an increase in the number of businesses going under.

Ms Runciman, who also owns the White Goose on Dock Street, asked people to consider supporting local businesses directly.

She said: “I know why people use the apps of course, I do it myself sometimes without even thinking.

“But I would ask people to think about going direct and keep money local. Usually it’s the same price or cheaper to do it and businesses can do things like waive the delivery fee.”

Deliveroo did not respond to a request for comment.