Expanding Your Customer Base with Delivery Apps
According to Roy Morgan’s latest industry research, nearly 4 million Australian’s aged 14 and over have jumped on the meal delivery bandwagon.
With Melbourne’s extended lockdowns continuing to impact foot traffic, demand for food delivery has surged – and it’s giving the hospitality industry a crucial lifeline.
For cafés and restaurants that haven’t yet embraced takeaway or delivery, now is the time to act. Platforms like Uber Eats, Menulog, and Deliveroo offer a ready-made infrastructure that makes launching delivery services easier than ever – no delivery drivers, apps, or technical setup needed.
Even before the pandemic, food delivery was a fast-growing trend. Now, it’s become an essential service. In fact, Melbourne ranks just behind Sydney in meal delivery demand, by a margin of only 0.2%. That means customers are out there, actively searching for options. The opportunity to grow your reach and generate revenue, despite restrictions, is very real.
Taking your menu online isn’t just a stop-gap solution; it’s a strategic move to future-proof your business and meet customers where they are.
The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Food Delivery Service Partner
Meal delivery isn’t new, but what has changed is how accessible and scalable it’s become for small hospitality businesses.
Before platforms like Uber Eats, MenuLog, and DoorDash, delivery required costly infrastructure: paid drivers, branded vehicles, e-commerce-ready websites, and sometimes even custom apps.
These high upfront costs made delivery unfeasible for many smaller operators. Now, third-party platforms have removed those barriers by offering everything needed to launch delivery, without requiring any capital investment.
One of the biggest advantages of joining a delivery platform is instant exposure to a large, ready-to-order customer base. With over 4 million Australians using home delivery services, the reach is enormous.
These apps make it easy for customers to browse, compare, and confidently order from multiple venues, helping your café or restaurant get discovered by new audiences.
By being visible on these platforms, your cafe business can build brand recognition, grow its following, and increase orders without a major marketing budget.
That said, the major drawback is commission fees. Typically, commission fees are between 20–35% of each sale. Considering most cafés and restaurants operate on slim profit margins (often under 10%), this can feel unsustainable.
To protect profitability, many businesses now add a small premium to delivery menu items to offset these fees. Another smart tactic? Create a separate delivery menu using high-margin, easy-to-prepare items (e.g. chicken over lamb). Keep it tight, profitable, and built for speed.
If you decide to offer delivery, be sure to also invest in your own online ordering system for pickup orders. A user-friendly website with payment options gives customers an alternative to third-party platforms – helping you retain more profit and maintain direct relationships.
Consider offering a newsletter or loyalty sign-up to capture customer data, so you’re not reliant on delivery apps for long-term reach. This also gives you the ability to gather feedback and improve service over time.
Whether it’s lockdown survival or long-term growth strategy, delivery is a powerful tool for cafés and restaurants; but only when approached with clarity, margin awareness, and a plan to build independence beyond the app.
