Deliveroo has started assigning major corporate clients with a “dedicated event coordinator” who will organise the catering at company conventions and get-togethers.
It is one of the new services launched by the company’s Deliveroo for Business arm this week. Deliveroo will also work with businesses to “design and create tailor-made events and experiences” and help match food to any event themes.
The move was described by Deliveroo For Business global chief Juan Diego Farah as a “natural next step” for the company.
The event and office catering service has grown since launching in the UK in September 2016. It now counts 10,000 clients around the world, up from 7,000 last year.
The UK is the largest market globally for Deliveroo for Business, with catering order volumes up more than 110% this year against 2018.
So far in 2019, the company has organised around 9,500 corporate events in the UK, it said. Earlier this year it hit a record single order value of £40,000 from an unnamed “large corporate client”.
The range of services has expanded since launch. Deliveroo for Business currently offers a van delivery option, so food from several restaurants is picked up and delivered at the same time.
The company says corporate catering is also good for restaurant partners - allowing them to be more productive during less busy times, increase average basket sizes and boost profits.
“It’s perfect for our teams during the slow periods of the day,” said Deliveroo for Business catering partner Coco Di Mama.
Deliveroo for Business has also started moving into fresh fruit delivery to corporates and catering for hotels. There is also a “pop-up restaurant arm” which allows companies to book more than 50 pop-ups across London for large team functions.
The Competition & Markets Authority is investigating an investment by Amazon in the delivery firm over concerns the two may have “ceased to be distinct”. The authority is due to reach a decision on whether to continue with the investigation next month.
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