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Uber Eats is stepping up to the challenge posed by Covid-19 on restaurants, many of which will struggle to survive and rely on take-aways and home deliveries for their livelihoods.
The aggregated food delivery service provider has thrown its hat in the ring with $5 million in funding for independent restaurants in Australia and New Zealand, to be spent promotions to attract customers.
In a bid to address cash flow and payments to staff and suppliers during difficult times, Uber Eats will be offering restaurants the option to receive daily payments rather than once a week during the pandemic.
In addition, all restaurants will pay no service fees on pick up orders until 30 June.
The platform will also be extended to caterers, who have been hit hard as people continue to follow health advice and self-isolate or adopt social distancing.
The company has also pledged 25,000 delivered meals to hospital workers and frontline services; an undertaking that will be organised in conjunction with local and state governments.
Uber Eats has also started a campaign to drive awareness of "contactless" delivery, reminding users that they can request deliveries be left on their doorsteps.
For any delivery partner that is diagnosed with Covid-19 or is placed in quarantine by a public health authority, Uber has promised to provide financial assistance for a period of up to 14 days.
"There are thousands of small businesses in the restaurant, café and catering industry that have felt the full force of the coronavirus outbreak, with some reporting bookings and foot traffic down between 80 to 100 percent," says Restaurant and Catering Association CEO Wes Lambert.
"These measures by Uber are very welcome as they allow small businesses to quickly pivot to still be able to serve great food, keep their doors open and keep staff working throughout these difficult times."
Added at 5:55pm AEDT on 18 March 2020.
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