Restaurants band together in takeaway project to take on Deliveroo and Just Eat
Over 100 restaurant owners in the Capital have registered with the Secret Takeaways platform to form a united front against third-party delivery companies like Deliveroo, Just Eat and Ubereats.
The owners – who are fed up with paying commission rates of up to 35 per cent to delivery services – have registered with the new platform in a bid to drive business directly to their door rather than allowing the industrygiantstocontinuetaking advantage.
Secrettakeawayslaunchedin Edinburgh yesterday, and will rollouttoothercitiesacrossthe Ukinthecomingmonths,after initiallylaunchingasawebpage in March 2020.
Theserviceoriginallyjustlisted local and independent restaurants which weren’t available on the “big three” delivery appsinedinburghandlondon.
Founder, Callum Macpherson, said: “Unfortunately the big three apps hold most of the consumer demand, so restaurants are at their mercy.
“You won’t find Nando’s or Mcdonalds on Secret Takeaways. It is a place for independent brands that have their own ordering processes.
"They have partnered with some of the best brands in Edinburgh including Civerinos, Bross Bagels, Chop House, Lioness of Leith, Luxford Burgers and about 100 other great Edinburgh restaurants, many of whom consumers might not have discovered yet.”
Restaurants and takeaways arechargedaflatmonthlyfeefor membership, starting at £100 per month, saving them thousandsofpoundsincommission.
Secret Takeaways offers a platform that links customers with theirlocalrestaurant’sordering system.
User experience is at its heart, of the design with customers able to search by location and category as well as being able to view a variety of takeaway and “at home” options. Claragomes,communitymanager at Secret Takeaways said:
“Our listings aren’t just bland menus,theytellthebrand’sstory and showcase their offering making the ordering process a muchmorehumanexperience. "For example, one of our memberrestaurants,thepakorabar, is run by three brothers who want to share their mother’s cooking with the city they love. "Deliveroo don’t tell you that. But we do. Deliveroo also won’t tell you that when you order directly from The Pakora Bar, it’s 15 per cent cheaper.”
A spokesperson for Bross Bagels said: “Supporting Local has never been more important.ifthepandemichastaught us anything it's that we are stronger together, so teaming up with such an incredible list ofedinburgh'stopindependent foodiespotsforthesecrettakeaway is exactly how we want to enter the new world.
"And being able to offer direct delivery is such an incredible feeling.”
A spokesperson for Burger Mama @ Lioness of Leith, said: “Wedonotlikethecommission that Deliveroo, Uber Eats etc... demand.
“We hope to launch our own delivery service some day in the not-too-distant future, in the meantime, we feel a direct order/collection from us, provides great value and a better customer experience.”
Tupiniquim Brazil Crepes, said: “During the pandemic many businesses were forced to pay Deliveroo's commission rates. As an independent business owner, I can't survive this way so I'm so pleased to see Secret Takeaways offering an alternative.”