More than one hundred small and mid-sized F&B outlets in Dubai are coming together to launch their own order booking and delivery app and take on Uber Eats, Zomato, Talabat and others. The application could be ready to roll in three months.
The decision to launch follows the break down in talks between these F&B outlets and “food aggregators” – the online portals that take in orders and even deliver them – on the issue of the commissions they charge restaurants. These fees can make up to 35 per cent of an order (if delivery is included as well), and with the discounts and other costs added, there is little left for F&B owners to survive on.
“Most aggregators have outright rejected our request for commission reductions, some only offered partial deferment of commissions – and right now, that’s not much. More than ever, the restaurant community in the UAE feels our interests are not best served by food aggregators. This app service will be owned and operated by the restaurant owners.” – Shanavas Mohammed of the Golden Fork chain.
