Deliveroo is pledging to match customers' in-app tips to local restaurants hit by Covid restrictions.
In recognition that thousands of small businesses have been forced to close their doors to dine-in customers due to Covid restrictions, and to help ease the pressure before Christmas, Deliveroo is urging customers to give a little extra and will match customers' tips up until Christmas Day.
The pledge applies to eligible local restaurants who have been required to close completely to dine-in customers. This includes local restaurants in England's Tier 3.
The scheme will include areas that have recently moved into Tier 3, like London, and areas that have faced the toughest Covid restrictions for some time, like Greater Manchester. To find eligible restaurants all customers have to do is search 'tip match' in the app to bring up a list.
If regulations were to change for other parts of the UK and ban dine-in completely, the scheme would be extended to those areas.
Just before a customer confirms their order at 'checkout' on the Deliveroo app or website, they are able to opt in to add a restaurant tip, either by selecting from a list of pre-determined values or adding an amount of their choice. The chosen amount for the tip is added to the total cost of a customer's order and 100% of the tip amount is passed on to the restaurant.
Deliveroo has enabled customers to tip restaurants in the app since July, and since then generous Deliveroo customers have given a total of over £1.1m in tips to restaurants across the UK.
Will Shu, Deliveroo CEO and founder, said, 'Christmas is typically an incredibly busy time for restaurants as they traditionally welcome families and parties through their doors. This year, with more restrictions, restaurants need our support.
'Tipping in-app is an easy way for customers to show their appreciation for their favorite local restaurant. We want to work with our customers to help ease the pressure on restaurants and show how much they mean to us, especially at this time of year.'
Deliveroo will match tips paid to eligible restaurants up to a total value of £60,000 from today until midnight on Christmas Eve up to the value of £20 per tip.
In addition to Deliveroo's tip-matching pledge, to further encourage people to support their local restaurants, the food-delivery company has shared four other ways Brits can support their locals:
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Pick-up
Many restaurants are still offering click and collect services via the Deliveroo app. These orders are charged at 0% commission. Why not give that a try if you are able to. There's no delivery fee so you can add in an extra tip or side dish!
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At home kits
Restaurants around the UK have adapted to the pandemic by creating at-home kits to recreate your favourite restaurants dishes at home and have some fun at the same time. Many restaurants are stocking these on Deliveroo, or checkout their website.
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Buy a cookbook
There's never been a better time to buy your favourite restaurant's cookbook - and they make a perfect Christmas present for foodies.
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Merch
In further efforts to connect with loyal customers while closed, many restaurants have created branded merchandise available to buy online or by collection, from hats to t-shirts and totes.