New Zealand’s restaurant and hospitality sector will get a major boost when online food delivery marketplace Menulog launches its full delivery service this month.
The Menulog Delivery Service has been launched in Central Auckland and will be expanded across wider Auckland in March with it then rolling out in 23 cities and towns by April including Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch.
Menulog has operated in New Zealand for nine years with its core marketplace business providing self-delivery and online ordering technology for more than 1,000 local restaurants nationwide. Now, with the launch of the Menulog Delivery Service, Menulog is the widest-reaching hybrid food delivery marketplace in New Zealand.
The move follows increased demand from Kiwi consumers wanting better value and more food delivery choices along with increasing numbers of restaurants looking to introduce delivery to expand revenue opportunities.
For the first three months, Menulog is removing all delivery fees with a $10 minimum order before moving to a tiered system with an average delivery fee of $5 and as low as $1.99 during off-peak times.
“We’ve made a significant investment to launch the Menulog Delivery Service and we’re focused on delivering greater value to our customers, providing new opportunities for our restaurant partners, and supporting them to grow their businesses,” said Morten Belling, Menulog Managing Director, adding that Menulog is committed to growing order demand for restaurants, creating jobs in both cities and regional areas, and providing greater choice for customers.
Menulog’s new delivery technology provides a new customer experience, with greater visibility of their order from door to door and new features such as courier tracking with an integrated map.
“Technology has transformed the hospitality industry and customer experience and Menulog’s world-class technology enables restaurants to share their delicious food with more customers.”
Restaurant Association of New Zealand Chief Executive, Marisa Bidois, noted that facilitating self-delivery can be a stressful and expensive process for restaurants in the current market.
“Online marketplaces like Menulog offer restaurants the opportunity to diversify their offering and reach more customers. COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of including an online offering in your business; it allows you to have more touchpoints with your customers and removes barriers to the ordering process.”
Combining Menulog’s core marketplace business with its new delivery service will mean the company will have more than 1,800 restaurants on its platform by April 2021.
“By mid-2021, the establishment of Menulog’s Delivery Service will see the number of New Zealand restaurants with access to a network of food couriers increase by 200%,” said Belling.
“The number of restaurants on the platform is growing daily as the New Zealand hospitality industry continues to grow and evolve and restaurants are looking to diversify revenue streams and provide their customers with the best possible service.”
Menulog, which is part of the global group Just Eat Takeaway.com, enables its restaurant partners to identify and adapt quickly to changes in customer demand, which ultimately helps restaurants drive orders. The company’s hybrid delivery model allows restaurant partners to secure lower commission rates if they facilitate their own deliveries or take advantage of Menulog’s network of food couriers as part of the Menulog Delivery Service.
