Restaurant food delivery apps have become a part and parcel of the industry across the globe, particularly in Europe, as the demand for online food ordering is witnessing an uptick.

In the European food delivery market, the size of the market is anticipated to grow with a CAGR of 10.7% by 2027, reaching and expected to reach another level of $66 billion at the end of 2027.

With so many food delivery apps to choose from, restaurant owners may wonder which is the most beneficial to their business. Is it the giants like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Glovo, or do you have better options with smaller niche food delivery apps?

Support is another crucial factor for restaurants when choosing apps for food delivery. Easy access to customer service and quick resolution of issues, especially with transactions, can significantly impact operations.

In this article, we take a closer look at the food delivery apps in Europe and compare the primary food delivery services in Europe based on commission fees, consumer adoption, and city coverage, to help you decide which platform is right for your restaurant.

Why Should a Restaurant Care About Food Delivery Apps?

Food delivery apps play an essential role in supporting the growth and competitiveness of restaurants today.

The delivery platforms, including Uber Eats and Deliveroo, allow restaurants to connect with a broad range of customers, some of whom prefer to eat out.

In this way, restaurants can make more money without relying solely on foot traffic, and the apps also reduce the administrative burden on restaurant workers by streamlining the process of ordering, paying, and delivery.

They also provide restaurants with information about what customers want so they can improve their offerings.

Those that don't, meanwhile, can face immense competition from other restaurants.

Top 10 Food Delivery Apps in Europe

More people in Europe are using food delivery apps. In 2024, some apps became very popular. If restaurants want more customers and better delivery, they should use the best apps.

Commission fees – how food delivery apps in Europe charge restaurants

Year over year data shows that food delivery applications have become a backbone to the restaurant industry, providing a vast opportunity to reach customers and enhance services.

Growth in the food delivery market is expected to continue, with a 8.49% annual growth through 2028 in the United Kingdom alone.

Though they can help you get more customers, these food delivery apps, aren't free, and their commission fees can significantly affect your restaurant's bottom line if you don't stay on top of them.

As a reference point, food delivery apps in the United States often charge a roughly 15% to 30% commission fee on every order.

How does that compare with how it works in Europe?

Let's look at that next.

Commission Fee Volume and Form

Every food delivery app has a unique commission fee according to its business model and offered services.

As a rule of thumb, restaurants are usually charged a commission fee of between 15% and 35% of an order, depending on the platform.

The fee generally guides the price of the delivery logistics, keeping the app running, marketing, and other services that it offers to facilitate orders.

Uber Eats and Deliveroo, for example, are two of the most popular food delivery apps in Europe, which generally charge restaurants between 25%and 30% per order.

This is the standard rate, though it can change depending on the region and your terms with the restaurant.

By comparison, apps like Wolt and Glovo may charge lower commission rates, of 15% and 25%, and thus they might prove more attractive than Uber Eats for restaurants seeking to keep expenses low.

Can Commission Fees Be Waived or Lowered?

Restaurants often have difficulty paying commission fees when working with a food delivery service. These apps usually have fixed fees, but restaurants can sometimes negotiate for lower rates.

Some food delivery apps give discounts for large restaurants, popular locations, or regular orders.

For example, McDonald's, a big restaurant chain, can negotiate lower rates because they have a strong brand. Since many delivery orders will likely be received, food delivery apps may offer discounts.

Additionally, some applications offer discounts on commission fees for new restaurants when they enroll. This lowers the startup costs for new or small eateries using the platform.

Suggestions for Lowering or Absorbing Commission Fees

Food delivery apps usually suggest that restaurants try to reduce the commission fee. The most popular way is to raise menu prices on delivery orders, so restaurants do not lose money from the commission.

For instance, if an in-store meal costs €20 and the delivery app takes a 30% commission, the price can increase to €26 for delivery orders.

For eateries, raising pricing can be a poor idea.

They won't get many orders if they raise their prices. Everyone is struggling when there are many shops.

So, raise prices only when necessary.

Some apps recommend selling extra delivery food to make more money. Apps also offer much food, so the delivery cost is spread out.

Payment Frequency: How Quickly Do Restaurants Get Paid?

Food delivery apps pay restaurants weekly or daily. This, of course, depends on the food delivery app and the agreement with the restaurant.

For instance, Deliveroo and Uber Eats usually pay once a week. However, some restaurants can receive their earnings daily if they meet certain sales goals.

The app used to pay the money also affects the timing of the payment. Some apps offer real-time payments but charge extra fees for this service.

Since cash flow is crucial for a restaurant's operations, there is nothing wrong if restaurants must communicate with their food delivery app providers to align payment schedules with their business needs.

Food Delivery Apps in Europe: Who Dominates?

Europe's food delivery apps have their unique preferences and dynamics. Some apps do well while others struggle.

In other words, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for food delivery apps in Europe.

This section discusses Europe's leading food delivery apps and recommends the best for our readers.

We also highlight smart market leaders in different regions and suggest restaurant choices.

Who Are the Market Leaders in Europe?

A few food delivery services are great in Europe. They have been able to sign up many users across different nations.

• 🔥 Uber Eats is popular in the UK, France, and Germany. Uber's brand name recognityion has helped it with consumer adoption all over Europe. It offers a vast catalog of restaurants for consumers to choose from and is regarded as an easy-to-navigate app.

• 🔥 Deliveroo started in the UK but now serves Spain, Italy, and Belgium. It partners with good restaurants for fast delivery service, which makes many people use the app, especially in the UK.

• 🔥 Just Eat is present in over 20 European nations. Though it mainly operates in the UK, it has also gained ground in France, Spain, and Italy. The company is widely known because it teams up with many eateries and has a simple ordering process.

• 🔥 Glovo started in Spain. Now it has spread over Italy, France, and Portugal. Customers can get food, groceries, and other stuff. Glovo is popular in places where other apps don't work much.

• 🔥 Wolt came from Finland. It grew fast in the Nordic countries. Now it is also in Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe. Wolt is known for quick delivery and happy customers. It keeps getting bigger in Europe.

Public Perception: How It Affects the Adoption of Food Delivery Apps in Europe

The public views food delivery apps in different ways. This has a significant impact on how well the food delivery apps do.

Some people may think that Deliveroo and Glovo are bad, but there are other food delivery apps to use.

So if they get a bad reputation, people won't start using them. Also, people's bad experiences spread fast online. One slow driver or a rude one can quickly cast a shadow over an entire app.

People want their food to arrive on time and the drivers to be friendly. If there is a failure in these areas, people won't think highly of the app.

When this happens, the company must work hard to keep on improving. If they don't fix problems with deliveries or undertakings, they will lose customers.

On the other hand, good customer service can change things around.

When apps like Uber Eats engage with users, listen to what they say, and solve their issues quickly, people trust them again.

This shows that when there's a negative perception, it can be turned into something positive.

Beyond Delivery: The Added Benefits of Food Delivery Apps for Restaurants

Food delivery apps connect restaurants with customers for home delivery. But there is more to it than just delivery.

Restaurants can get valuable insights from these apps that help them improve operations and sales.

1. Performance Dashboards and Reporting Tools

On the restaurants' side, food delivery apps have dashboards filled with specific information about how many orders they are getting for each item on the menu, how those sales compare with those of competitors, and even how that particular item's sales are affected by the weather.

This information lets restaurants iterate on their menus to match customer preferences and the season.

If a dish is getting a lot of orders, for instance, restaurants can feature it or list it as a special.

Low-selling products can be reviewed or eliminated, reducing the number of SKUs and increasing customer satisfaction.

These reports help the restaurant make fact-based decisions about what the customer wants and could make more of.

In addition to basic delivery, some food delivery apps UK offer advanced features like performance dashboards and promotional tools that help restaurants optimize their service and boost sales.

2. Customer Insights and Marketing Tools

Food delivery apps provide customer feedback and insights. These help restaurants know what customers like and dislike. Restaurants can learn about their strengths and weaknesses.

Apps also have marketing tools for restaurants. They can run promotions or discounts to get more customers.

Just Eat and Deliveroo let restaurants target discounts to new customers or specific items. This helps build loyalty and drive sales.

3. Delivery Management and Operational Support

Food delivery apps like Glovo and Uber Eats help simplify restaurant deliveries. They give orders to manage every step and keep track of where the drivers are.

This makes deliveries faster and smoother, so customers get their food sooner without stressing out the staff.

During busy times, these apps can send more drivers when needed. This way, restaurants can serve customers quickly without making them wait too long.

Happy customers come back more often.

4. Integration with POS Systems

Another plus is letting these apps talk to the restaurant's point of sale (POS) system.

Orders from the food delivery app automatically go into the kitchen, reducing mistakes and speeding things up.

For bigger restaurants, this helps save time and gets the orders right.

5. Branding and Increased Exposure

Food delivery apps increase the visibility of restaurants.

They provide options for premium listings that elevate a restaurant's exposure. For smaller eateries, this spotlight can help grow their customer base significantly.

Paying for featured spots on these apps results in higher search rankings, leading to more new customers.

Support

Restaurants that are reliant on food delivery apps need support.

Ease of access to customer care and prompt problem resolution, particularly in the ordering process, can have a significant impact on business.

For example, food delivery apps UK like Deliveroo offer direct customer support through live chat.

With Uber Eats, you might have to wade through automated systems before someone picks up.

Food delivery apps like Just Eat and Glovo provide tailored support for transaction issues, including the ability to have account managers, to get problems resolved more quickly.

Bad support can mean late response times, lost revenue, or bad reviews, so food delivery apps must provide efficient, human support to keep things running.

Ultimately, reliable customer service enhances the restaurant's experience and keeps customers satisfied with their choice of apps for food delivery.

FAQs

How much are commission fees for Deliveroo?

Deliveroo takes 25% to 35% commission on each order. This is from the total order value.

How much are commission fees for Just Eat Europe?

Just Eat charges 14% to 18% commission. It can be lower if restaurants use their delivery drivers.

How much do food delivery apps charge restaurants?

Food delivery apps in Europe charge 20% to 30% commission on orders. It depends on the app used.

What is the best food delivery app for a restaurant in Europe?

Uber Eats and Deliveroo are the most popular food delivery apps in Europe for restaurants.