Uber expands meal delivery service to remote areas
Uber is expanding its food delivery service to Australia’s regional and remote areas.
The tech giant launched its delivery service in seven regional towns this week, after launching in six areas in June.
Those to get the Uber service include: Gladstone in Queensland, Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Burnie in Tasmania, Warragul in Victoria and NSW locations Bowral, Lismore, Tamworth and Coffs Harbour.
Uber chose the locations for their large populations within 30 minute delivery times of local restaurants.
"We've seen cities where there is an under-served population and a growing restaurant base that are looking for the ability to drive e-commerce," Uber Eats marketplace director Ed Kitchen said.
"We don't think that metropolitan Australia should have a monopoly on convenience."
Local restaurants and national chains will take priority, before Uber adds its grocery delivery service to the regional mix.
"We have plans to launch a number of new markets later this year," Kitchen said.
"For us this is not job done."
A report by Roy Morgan found seven million Australians over the age of 14 used meal-delivery services in a three-month period, up from 3.6 million people in 2020.
Urban dwellers still order more home delivery meals, with 38 per cent using food-delivery services compared to 24 per cent in country areas.
Uber is hoping to balance the scales.
Jonathan Jackson, 3rd July 2023
