Have you noticed that no matter how much technology is created and developed, we never seem to have enough time for anything anymore? I don’t remember who it was, but someone once said all we have, really, is time. Do with it what you will. Of course, we know the answer is the fact that technology allows us to do more with our time so we will read that book while we chat with a friend in Abu Dhabi via Whats App. It happens. Of course it does.
The feeding frenzy on our time (ultimately the greatest commodity) has led to the development and evolution of the drive thru restaurant. Any spot with a drive thru will likely do better because you don’t have to get out of your car, right? It saves you time. Well, drive thru food has taken a step further and has reached a fevered pitch in Savannah in a very short time. Of course, we are talking about food delivery services.
A couple of weeks ago Uber Eats made their big Savannah splash and everyone appeared to jump on board because of the popularity of Uber as a taxi service. Brand recognition is obviously huge in marketing. Food delivery services, however, have been around for a few years in this city. Just like alternative taxi services, Uber wasn’t first. But will they be better? We shall see.
“We’d known for months that Uber Eats was coming to Savannah” says Stephen Xuereb, owner/operator of Savannahtakeout.com a locally owned delivery service that started up late 2017. “It’s not only Uber Eats in Savannah, but also Waitr and GrubHub are here or on the way as well.” 912foodtogo.com is another service that has been operating in the area for quite some time.
Stephen tells me the way he hopes to separate his brand from the others is via customer service. He views Savannahtakeout.com as more of a food concierge than a grab and go delivery situation. The kind of business where you can develop relationships with clients on both sides of the delivery chain.
These services charge restaurants anywhere from 25-35% of the tab they are delivering. It’s big business. I’m told a similar food delivery service in Statesboro has delivered close to $3 million dollars in receipts. One restaurant owner told me he is considering a delivery-only side kitchen that will only operate during peak times so that volume won’t affect in-house ticket times or quality. Yes, it can be big business for everyone.
Not everyone is on board with it, though. Some restaurants are resisting the delivery push because they don’t want the quality of their product compromised on the way to their customer. As far as delivery services go, I think it would be fair to say some take better care of your food on its way to you than others.
Of course, some of those restaurants are also charged a premium to sign on with the delivery services. Uber Eats was shopping an introductory $100 sign up fee when they first arrived in town. In other cities, that fee is normally $500. For restaurants, of course, not the consumer.
Who does it best? Like anything else, the market will dictate that. Is Uber Eats the best way to go because of that brand recognition and ease of use of their mobile app? Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. If you get your food delivered on the regular, then you will ultimately decide that, won’t you?
Just keep in mind that, like anything else food-wise in this town, you have choices. Choices and options are good and keep everyone on their toes. Don’t be afraid to try one you’ve not heard of because of the fact that you’ve not heard of them. As we speak, all of these delivery groups in town are knocking on doors trying to fill their portfolios with your favorite foods. If a restaurant signs on with a delivery service, they are obviously happy with what they’ve heard and the promises they’ve been made. You get to decide if everyone is holding up their end of the deal.
Ultimately, this is just another indicator of the growth in our food scene. 4-5 delivery services around town seems like a bit much, but the good news is you get to save valuable time while you Eat It and Like It.
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Jesse
