A new player in the food delivery biz is coming to town and is set to compete with Manitoba’s other third-party delivery options.
Global News has obtained a letter sent by the Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservices Association (MRFA) and circulated among local restaurateurs, welcoming U.S.-based DoorDash to the province and encouraging members to meet with the DoorDash team.
MRFA executive director Shaun Jeffrey said in the letter that the connection with DoorDash was made in part due to association members experiencing frustration with Winnipeg-based SkipTheDishes.
“As a result of numerous meetings and conversations with DoorDash, the MRFA is confident our members will see significant improvements in both partnership and communications relations compared to the current level of service recieved from SkipTheDishes.”
The letter then states that the MRFA feels DoorDash is a “viable and realistic” alternative to SkipTheDishes.
Jeffrey told 680CJOB the letter was simply to let their members know there were “additional options” to the current delivery services in Winnipeg.
“We had some members reply to us. .. with concerns with their relationships with SkipTheDishes.”
Jeffrey confirmed that DoorDash is offering restaurants a 90-day commission-free trial to try their product. After that, the association will be discussing commission rates with DoorDash, he added.
The MRFA is not suggesting restaurants forgo using SkipTheDishes, he said.
“It’s in our best interest to use them all. The more coverage that you have, the more platforms that you’re on, the better,” he said.
Global News has reached out to DoorDash a for comment.
In a statement, SkipTheDishes said it remains committed to the local market.
“It is natural for competitors from the U.S. to see value in this market, and we’re confident in Skip’s position as Winnipeg’s homegrown food delivery company.
“We’re powered by the Prairies – born and raised here – proud of our roots and Skip’s growing workforce of more than 2,300 people across over 130,000 square feet of office space in the Exchange,” the company said.
“We are highly committed to supporting the growth of our local economy and restaurant industry, now and always.”
DoorDash, founded in 2013 in California, was the top-selling U.S. delivery service as of March, overtaking both Uber Eats and GrubHub in total sales.
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