Food app name dispute is solved by alliance
ABIRMINGHAM-BASED entrepreneur has teamed up with easyJet to launch a new takeaway app that takes on giants like Deliveroo and Uber Eats.
Jeewan Sagu started developing his business, EasyFood, with his friend Gurpreet Sidhu after leaving university in 2005, but the website sparked a legal battle between himself and travel company easyJet.
After the dispute, over the use of the “easy” name, the pair managed to form a partnership with Sir Stelios Hanji-Ioannou, the founder of easyJet.
Now the takeaway site has launched a new app on Google
Play and the App store that aims to be more cost-friendly than other takeaway apps.
Jeewan said: “Our app will do so much more than other delivery apps.
‘‘For instance, if you’re eating in at a pub or restaurant you can browse the menu and order your food which will be brought to your table and then you can pay on the app.
“Visitors to registered pubs, bars and restaurants will be able to use their smartphone to scan an easyFood QR barcode at the entrance to the premises.
“This will allow customers to submit their details securely, which can then be used to alert them should there be a Covid-19 outbreak at that particular venue.
“It will also help bar, pub and restaurant owners as we will be charging them less than the big delivery companies.”
Jeewan said that his business has scrapped fees for restaurants so that companies can afford to give special offers to customers during the country’s financial recovery.
The app only lists venues with a hygiene rating of over two stars in over 300 franchise areas.
easyJet founder Sir Stelios said: “The Government’s social distancing guidance makes many restaurant owners nervous about making it through this very difficult period.
“It’s a great opportunity for those businesses that are being affected by the downturn to join easyFood and transition to a delivery-based operation.”