Bendigo Deliveroo food delivery service announces expansion in region

A new delivery food service is bounding into Bendigo this month. Find out what you can order from the comfort of your sofa.

Food delivery service Deliveroo has announced its expansion to Bendigo on March 29. Picture: Contributed

Deliveroo is bounding into Bendigo as the area becomes the second Victorian regional town the online food delivery service is launching.

And hungry diners can expect to start ordering their meals from the comfort of their home by Monday, March 29.

Deliveroo Australia chief executive Ed McManus said the service was launched in Ballarat last month.

Mr McManus said Bendigo was a natural choice given its thriving restaurant industry, with great food and a variety of cuisines.

“We know that demand in Bendigo exists and we wanted to enable these restaurants to reach a broader audience through delivery, as well as bring more choice to Bendigo consumers,” Mr McManus said.

He said the delivery service had already formed partnerships with local businesses including Piyawat Thai, Yutaka Sawa, Toppers Cafe and major fast food restaurants McDonald’s, KFC, Subway, Guzman y Gomez and Grill’d.

Mr McManus said the app would allow the restaurants to reach new audiences outside their regular dine-in and takeaway customers.

Despite the difficulty Bendigo restaurants were facing finding and hiring staff, Mr McManus said he expected drivers to be excited to sign up.

“Riders choose to ride for Deliveroo because it is a flexible way to make money on a schedule that works for them,” he said.

“It is a great opportunity for people who have other commitments, such as caring responsibilities or students who are looking for flexible work to fit around study.”

He said an company study estimated the delivery services protected around 38,000 jobs nationally during the peak lockdown periods in April and June 2020.

Mr McManus said the delivery organisation would work closely with Bendigo restaurants.

“They are the lifeblood of our business and without them we wouldn’t exist,” Mr McManus.

Deliveroo partners with restaurants and works closely with them to help them be successful.

He said the Bendigo launch was part of the London-based company’s Australian expansion this year, with the company targeting 10 cities and hoping to sign up 3000 new riders.