War looms over food delivery

THE gloves are off in the race for the food-delivery dollar.

The nation’s biggest taxi company is taking on delivery platforms UberEats and Deliveroo with its service 13cabs Delivers, offering to put more money back into restaurateurs’ pockets.

It claims to offer commission-free deliveries, which is in stark contrast to its two foreign-owned competitors.

UberEats slugs hospitality venues a 30 per cent commission fee, while Deliveroo charges up to 35 per cent.

13cabs Delivers has partnered with food delivery apps Qiki Cuisines, Woolworths, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses in Melbourne, and many family-owned restaurants across Australia.

It’s also working with WOWAPPS, which operates in all capital cities. Consumers can order from a large range of independently owned restaurants via the app.

Partnerships have also been formed with MondoMenu and Kneaded. On these food-delivery apps, which are both in pilot phases, restaurants will also not be charged commission. Instead, they will pay a flat monthly fee to be featured on the platform.

Hundreds of restaurants have signed up for the 13cabs Delivers service since it launched roughly a year ago via these apps.

“It’s time to stop big global platforms from gouging money from local Aussie businesses, which need our support more than ever now because of the pandemic,” 13cabs chief operating officer Stuart Overell said.

“Global delivery services, such as UberEats which are promoted by highly paid celebrities, charge massive commissions of up to 35 per cent to restaurants and cafes on every meal they deliver.

“However, most restaurants and cafes are not your big brand names, but small family businesses in suburban areas who cannot afford to pay huge commission fees.”