National wholesaler JJ Food Service is rolling out ‘restaurant website zones’ in each of its eleven UK branches to encourage restaurants and takeaways to invest in online ordering.
The independent business, which supplies 60,000 restaurants and takeaways across the UK, said that the large online takeaway sites have become vastly over-populated.
“Restaurants are competing in a crowded market over the same customers”, said JJ Food Service CEO Mustafa Kiamil (pictured). “They may not realise it but the large online takeaway sites are their new ‘business partner’ taking up to 30% commission. They are rapidly eroding restaurateurs’ margins.”
According to NPD Group, the delivery sector rose by 10% in the past year compared with 1% for eating out. 'We expect this trend to continue,” said Kiamil. 'We want our customers to be well prepared with their own online ordering facilities, which will enable them to take back control of their business, their website and their customers.'
JJ Food Service offers its own in-house restaurant website service, FOODit, which puts restaurants and takeaways online in just a few days.
Kiamil said that businesses need to be able to promote their unique selling points. He added, 'The best restaurants are highlighting what really sets them apart. We are encouraging customers to identify their 'Signature’ dishes and invest in marketing them well.'
