Once seen as a niche market, meal delivery is now mainstream, with dozens of food delivery startups entering the space to meet growing consumer demand for quick and convenient food options. These food delivery startups have tapped into several macro trends propelling the popularity of food delivery – the rise of smartphone usage, busier lifestyles, and growing preference for on-demand services.
Top food delivery startups
Complete list of food delivery startups that are worth knowing:
Glovo
Founded in 2015, Glovo is an on-demand delivery app founded in Barcelona that lets users order just about anything from local stores and restaurants to be delivered in under 60 minutes.
Whether craving takeout food, needing groceries, or realizing you’re out of printer ink, Glovo connects customers instantly with couriers to purchase and transport goods right to your door. The app features partnerships with popular chains and independent businesses in major cities across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
Choco
Founded in 2018,Choco optimizes procurement and deliveries between restaurants and their vendors. Their platform enables integrated ordering and communication.
Choco serves restaurants and suppliers in urban markets across the US and Europe. Customers benefit from its network and tools optimizing procurement workflows. The platform aims to increase sales and make procurement efficient.
Manna Drone Delivery
Founded in 2018, Manna Drone Delivery makes drone delivery accessible to any food business. Their software platform manages autonomous drone fleets.
Manna partners with food businesses in urban markets across Ireland and the UK. Customers integrate drone delivery to unlock speed, lower costs and reach more customers. The service provides operational efficiency.
Flipdish
Founded in 2015, Flipdish enables restaurants to easily build their own digital ordering channels. Their software provides customizable white-label digital storefronts.
Flipdish serves quick-service restaurants globally. Customers utilize their tools to directly own customer relationships through online ordering and engagement. This aims to increase sales and loyalty.
Notch
Founded in 2020, Notch optimizes B2B orders between restaurants and their suppliers. Their software centralizes procurement workflows.
Notch serves independent restaurants and mid-sized distributors in the US. Customers benefit from the platform streamlining order management on both sides through automation. This aims to drive efficiency and sales.
RobinFood
Founded in 2020, RobinFood brings delivery-only restaurant franchises to Latin America. Their software and data manage centralized kitchen operations.
RobinFood enables anyone to launch a delivery restaurant in Latin America utilizing their optimized operating model. Franchisees benefit from starting a proven restaurant concept without upfront costs. This allows rapid expansion of delivery brands.
Gopuff
Founded in 2013, Gopuff aimed to deliver daily essentials on-demand enhanced by data and technology. Their software matches orders to a network of micro fulfillment centers.
Gopuff serves customers in over 1,000 cities across the US and Europe. Users order anything from snacks to household items for delivery in minutes. The platform provides instant access to thousands of products.
REEF Technology
Founded in 2013, REEF Technology sought to reimagine neighborhood real estate and infrastructure for the modern era. Their platform turns locations into hubs with multiple services.
REEF serves communities across the US. Partners work with them to implement flex space, retail, logistics and services at the neighborhood level. This aims to make essentials and work more accessible.
Tovala
Founded in 2016, Tovala provides home chef-quality meals easily through their oven and meal delivery service. Their oven scans packages to perfectly cook meals.
Tovala serves customers across the US through direct meal delivery and oven sales at retailers. Users enjoy gourmet ready meals cooked with ease. The service aims to simplify nutritious home cooking.
&PIZZA
Founded in 2012, &pizza creates a cool, eco-friendly quick service pizza brand. Their pizzas feature inventive flavors and sustainable sourcing.
&pizza serves customers across metro areas in the Northeast US. Guests enjoy creative pizzas, craft beers and other menu items in a vibrant setting. The concept aims to be a pizza brand with personality.
Slice
Founded in 2010, Slice equips independent pizzerias with integrated technology to operate and grow their business. Their platform manages online orders, logistics, customer data and promotions.
Slice partners with thousands of pizzerias across the US. Partners utilize their software and services to optimize online sales and expand their digital presence. This aims to increase revenue and leverage customer insights.
Freshly
Founded in 2015, Freshly aimed to deliver fresh, chef-prepared meals on-demand everywhere. Their platform manages subscription orders and logistics.
Freshly serves customers across the contiguous US. Subscribers enjoy receiving a variety of freshly prepared chef-crafted meals conveniently. The service provides hassle-free premium meal delivery.
Allplants
Founded in 2017, Allplants set out to drive plant-based eating through convenience and taste. Their chef-made meals feature veggies, beans, mushrooms and more.
Allplants serves customers across the UK. Subscribers enjoy receiving chef-prepared vegan meals conveniently. The service aims to make plant-based nutrition accessible and appealing.
HungryPanda
Founded in 2017, HungryPanda provides Chinese cuisine and specialty groceries conveniently across international markets. Their app connects users to local restaurants and stores.
HungryPanda serves customers in over 80 cities across Europe, Asia and Australia. Users order authentic Chinese meals or hard-to-find ingredients for delivery in under an hour. The app makes Chinese culinary culture accessible globally.
Taster
Founded in 2017, Taster creates delivery-optimized restaurant concepts designed to thrive on apps. Their brands leverage data analytics and centralized operations.
Taster serves customers across the UK, France and Spain. Users order Taster’s branded meals through major delivery apps like Deliveroo and Uber Eats. The concepts provide a modern digital-first culinary experience.
Collectiv Food
Founded in 2020, Collectiv Food optimizes food supply chains with technology and vertical integration. Their platform automates procurement and logistics.
Collectiv Food serves restaurants and food manufacturers in urban markets across the US. Customers gain real-time visibility into sourcing while reducing ingredient expenditure. The system aims to provide efficiency and sustainability.
Peckwater Brands
Founded in 2020, Peckwater Brands enables anyone to launch food delivery businesses by providing proven concepts. Their brands leverage centralized marketing and operations.
Peckwater Brands serves aspiring restaurateurs across the UK. Franchisees benefit from establishing a delivery restaurant without developing a concept. This allows rapid rollout of kitchens under established brands.
Gophr
Founded in 2018, Gophr improves both sides of same-day delivery with purpose-built technology. Their platform streamlines workflows for couriers.
Gophr serves independent couriers in urban areas across the UK. Drivers use the app to efficiently manage same-day deliveries. This enables increased productivity and earnings.
Urbantz
Founded in 2018, Urbantz optimizes urban deliveries through route planning and consolidation. Their software optimizes fleets and integrates analytics.
Urbantz serves retail and logistics companies in cities globally. Customers leverage real-time data and algorithms to coordinate fleets, riders and inventory. This increases efficiency and sustainability.
Picnic
Founded in 2015, Picnic developed an e-grocery system optimized for speed and economics. Their software synchronizes customers, inventory and delivery routes.
Picnic serves households across the Netherlands and Germany. Consumers use the app to order groceries and home essentials with delivery in a select timeframe. This provides affordable instant fulfillment.
Frichti
Founded in 2015, Frichti developed an integrated system for near-instant order fulfillment and delivery of groceries and prepared meals. Their software optimizes operations in real-time.
Frichti serves households primarily in urban areas. Users order groceries or meals on-demand for delivery within minutes. This provides unmatched convenience and accessibility.
Conclusion
Food delivery startups are making it easier than ever to get food delivered affordably on-demand and consumers have embraced these services as perfect solutions for busy lifestyles. While early startups first demonstrated the viability of the food delivery business model, the newcomers continue to push boundaries and innovate.
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