Uber launches food delivery service, UberEATS in Johannesburg

Global ride-hailing service Uber is extending its service into the food business in South Africa with the local launch on Thursday of its food delivery platform‚ UberEats.

UberEATS is an on-demand meal delivery service powered by an Uber app. It is one of the first expansion products by Uber Technologies Inc., the technology platform that connects drivers and riders, and utilizes its existing network to deliver meals in minutes. UberEats however, is a separate application from that of the ride-sharing app.

According to Uber Operations and Logistics Manager Dave Kitley, “it will begin delivering meals in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, before moving across the Gauteng province and to Cape Town in 2017.”
“Johannesburg was the first city in Africa to have Uber launch and based on the success of launching in Africa as well as the characteristics of Jo’burg and where we are right now in terms of our maturity it is really about testing the product and being the first city in Africa.”

UberEats promises an average delivery time of 30 minutes from order to drop-off, company officials said at an event on Wednesday. And deliveries come with a standard charge of R20 while meal sizes are not limited. Customers who use UberEATS will receive a promotional code, which lasts for two months, and will give them R100 off a meal if they order from food partner of the service.