Deliveroo to introduce ‘no-contact drop-off’ service

By James McAllister

- Last updated on GMT

Deliveroo to introduce ‘no-contact drop-off’ service in light of Coronavirus outbreak

Related tags Deliveroo Coronavirus

Deliveroo is to launch a ‘no-contact drop-off’ service in a bid to help quell consumer concerns, as the Coronavirus crisis intensifies.

In an email sent to users, Deliveroo’s founder Will Shu wrote: “Customers have always had access to restaurant hygiene ratings on the Deliveroo app, but now we’re going one step further.

“As well as providing restaurants with additional packaging and stickers to seal the delivery bags, [Deliveroo is] also launching a no-contact drop-off service, which will mean you can request in the app that your rider leaves the food on your doorstep – removing the need for direct contact for both parties.”

Shu also said that the business was launching a fund to support riders affected by the outbreak.

“We want to ensure [riders] stay safe while working, so [those] who are diagnosed with Coronavirus and find that they are unable to work during this period are eligible for financial support,” he said, although further details regarding this were not included.

Many in the industry are anticipating that food delivery figures may see a rise in the coming weeks and months, especially if people are told they need to self-isolate.

An online survey of 1,000 consumers conducted by UK food and drink insight experts HIM & MCA Insight, and published earlier this week, found that 19% of people would use delivery companies either slightly more or much more if there were a major Coronavirus outbreak, although 39% said they would use them about the same as they were at present.

Speaking at Restaurant​ magazine’s R200 conference yesterday (12 March) Pho marketing director Libby Andrews said that the 30-strong Vietnamese restaurant – which has a strong delivery business – had so far only seen a small jump in off premises sales.

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