Uber Eats heats up Christchurch's food delivery scene

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

Food will be delivered by bicycle, scooter or car to homes, offices and picnic spots all over the city.

Christchurch's food delivery scene is heating up with the launch of UberEats.

UberEats, a smartphone application from ride-sharing service Uber, gives users access to a broader range of food for delivery, UberEats New Zealand lead Emma Foley said.

Uber Eats launches in Christchurch on Wednesday.

It offered everything from green smoothies and salads to Mexican feasts from over 50 popular Christchurch eateries.

Meals from Madam Woo, Welles Street and Steampunk Laboratory feature on the app alongside Asian delights from Sister Kong Bao House, Eight Grains and Mumbaiwala, and sweet treats from J'aime Les Macarons and Rollickin Gelato Cafe.

Delivery will be available to all of Christchurch's inner suburbs seven days a week from 8am to 10pm by bicycle, scooter or car. It would cost $7, with no 'minimum order', Foley said.

UberEats launched its Auckland branch in March and entered Wellington's food market in early September. Although they had both been successful, 'it feels like Christchurch has been next level excitement', she said.

'We've had an awesome response from both Auckland and Wellington so Christchurch was the obvious place to come next . . . we'll be focusing on the existing cities for a while but never say never [to adding more].

'The restaurants here have been really great, everyone is really keen to get on board and excited to share the news.'

Foley said insulated delivery bags would be used to ensure the food stayed hot – or cold – and hundreds of delivery drivers had already signed up. Many would operate as both Uber and UberEats drivers, she said. The number of available food options was expected to double in the coming weeks as more restaurants signed up.

Tom Newfield, owner of Mediterranean-style pub Welles Street, said several items on the menu had been designed with UberEats in mind, including the rotisserie chicken and Greek salads. He said the launch was an exciting opportunity for expansion and 'another step in the city's development into a global city'.

'[It] means we can be accessible to a bigger audience . . . if someone is stuck at home or working late, we can spread the love to them.'

Hong Kong-inspired Asian restaurant Sister Kong Bao House owners Sally and Sam Hooper said the app meant they could serve people who could not get into the restaurant because they were at work, sick or 'just feel like a night in'.

Foley said the company had not ruled out partnering with global fast food chains, such as McDonald's or Burger King, but that option was not yet available in Christchurch.