Uber Eats delivers relief to independent restaurants

A leading on-demand delivery service is attempting to ease the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on smaller food service retailers.

Uber Eats is introducing a new support package that includes a waiving of delivery fees on all orders from independent restaurants across U.S. & Canada, and dedicated marketing campaigns—both in-app and via email—to promote delivery from local restaurants, especially those that are new to the app. 

Additional benefits include a new opt-in program for all restaurants in the U.S. and Canada using the Uber Eats platform to receive daily payouts, rather than the company’s standard weekly payout.

Throughout the coronavirus outbreak, Uber Eats has acted globally to support users including delivery people, restaurants, and drivers. Efforts include financial assistance to drivers and delivery people who are either diagnosed with the virus or have been asked to self-isolate by a public health authority.

Uber Eats has also begun a user campaign to drive awareness of “contactless” delivery options where customers do not directly interact with drivers, provided CDC guidance to restaurants to ensure all delivery orders are properly sealed in tamper-evident packaging, and is working to provide delivery people with sanitization materials in the most impacted markets.

“We know the coming weeks will be challenging ones for many small business owners, and we want to help restaurants focus on food, not finances,” said Janelle Sallenave, head of Uber Eats for the U.S. and Canada. “That’s why we’re working to drive increased demand to more than 100,000 independent restaurants across the U.S. and Canada through free delivery and marketing efforts.”

“We've heard from restaurants that they're worried about what the health crisis will do to sales, and its impact on cash flow and their ability to pay suppliers or employees,” said Therese Lim, head of restaurant product at Uber Eats. “That's why, from today we'll provide restaurants with the option to receive daily payouts rather than waiting until the end of the week to see revenue from deliveries, which can be even more important as delivery becomes a bigger share of their sales during this time.”

In addition, to support first responders, Uber Eats has pledged 300,000-plus free meals to be delivered to healthcare workers and other relief efforts in coordination with local and state governments.

Uber Eats is an on-demand food delivery app and website with over 400,000 restaurants in more than 6,000 cities across 45 countries.