Online takeaway services stepping up to fill the eating out gap
ONLINE takeaway services Just Eat and Deliveroo are stepping up to fill the eating out gap as restaurants and cafes across Ireland have shut their doors against the coronavirus pandemic.
Restaurants and cafes across Ireland have opened up online delivery services for the duration of the pandemic lockdown
Some of the new restaurants that have joined their already extensive platforms in recent weeks include Boojum, Elephant & Castle, Gourmet Food Parlour, Xian, Burger Hut and TriBeCa with delivery for the first time to its customers.
Their growing service that comes on the back of contact-free payment and delivery extends across major cities in Ireland including Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick, allowing customers to order favourite local takeaways for lunch or dinner while maintaining national health service guidelines on social distancing and isolation.
The move to extend the online ordering platform comes on foot of a decision by the National Public Health Emergency Team that all restaurants and cafes limit their supply to takeaway and deliveries only until 19th April due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision by NPHET has earned the support of the Restaurants Association of Ireland.
“The Restaurants Association of Ireland is asking all members, restaurants and cafes throughout the country to please adhere to this decision,” said RAI chief executive officer Adrian Cummins. “Public safety and stopping the spread of this pandemic must come first. The fact is maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy restaurants and cafes is increasingly challenging and we must act in the interests of both our staff and customers.”
Since the NPHET decision, delivery and takeaway service across this country has jumped by more than 80%, and Just Eat and Deliveroo have been recruiting additional resources to support the demand while abolishing the usual sign-up fees.
As Irish restaurants and cafes have closed their doors many menus are available online
“We are working tirelessly to get as many Irish restaurants online so that they can continue to service their customers through delivery, encouraging them to avoid offering a collection option where space is limited,” said Just MD Amanda Roche-Kelly. “The introduction of contact-free payment and delivery means that our customers can still order their favourite takeaway from their favourite local eatery and maintain some sense of normality and routine in these difficult times.”
The free sign-up service is set to continue until 19th April, when the total lockdown of Ireland’s population is scheduled to be lifted.
“We are here to deliver for restaurants that want to carry on offering their amazing food to families at home during this difficult time, said Deliveroo Ireland general manager Michael Healy. “We are working with restaurants to optimise their operations for delivery and we are doing everything we can to make sure people still have access to the food they want and need.”
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