DoorDash, the United States' largest on-demand local delivery platform, has officially arrived in Aotearoa.
DoorDash offers a similar service to competitors such as UberEats, connecting merchants and restaurants with their customers via an easy-to-use marketplace app.
For customers, the platform aims to provide access to a wide selection of food options from the local neighbourhood. Similar to the likes of UberEats, the service offers secure payment processing and customers can see where their order is at all times - with the option to contact their driver if needed.
Since its establishment in 2013, DoorDash has expanded to countries including Canada, Australia, Japan and Germany. Each month, the platform connects more than 25 million consumers with more than 550,000 local businesses and restaurants in more than 7000 cities.
And New Zealand can now be added to the list, with the service available to use in Wellington - widely considered New Zealand's favourite food city - and the adjacent Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt as of Wednesday, May 25. Neighbourhoods in Porirua and Johnsonville are next in line.
Using the app, Wellingtonians can now order from a variety of popular local merchants including Mama Brown, The Ramen Shop, 1154 Pastaria, A Taste of Home, Zany Zeus and Boneface Brewing. Customers will also be able to order from their favourite food chains, with the likes of McDonald's, Hell Pizza, Nando's, Subway, Tank Juice, Taco Bell and Burger Wisconsin on the menu.
Beyond food, locals can also place an order from a range of convenience and specialty stores, with more categories on the horizon.
"Having DoorDash in New Zealand brings in a huge opportunity for us as a restaurant," said Vaibhav Vishen, who previously worked as head chef at DoubleTree by Hilton Wellington and the Pan-Asian restaurant, Mr Go's. He also runs Chaat Street by Vaibhav Vishen, which opened in Te Aro earlier this year.
"In a market that is heavily stretched between the pandemic and very few delivery options, it only makes sense for a new venture like Chaat Street by Vaibhav Vishen to launch itself on a globally known platform that is making its first entry in New Zealand."
General Manager of Australia and New Zealand, Rebecca Burrows, said DoorDash is excited to kick off its New Zealand operations in an area with such a vibrant and exciting culinary scene.
"We're thrilled to offer locals unprecedented access to the restaurants, cafes and food spots they love, not to mention a growing number of retailers offering groceries and convenience items - everything from hair products to pet food."
Burrows added that the expansion has been well-received by the service's new Wellington partners and 'Dashers'. As part of the platform, Dashers - the couriers who make the deliveries - decide when, where, and how they want to work. Dashers can choose whether or not to accept deliveries, find the orders closest to them, and earn more by participating in various promotions. All Dashers receive the appropriate safety training and an activation kit, which contains items such as a food-warming bag, branded clothing, hand sanitiser and a mask.
"Our arrival in New Zealand opens up exciting new earning opportunities for local residents. The Dashers who use our platform are stay-at-home parents, students, small business owners, and others who value the ability to flexibly earn supplemental income," Burrows said.
"We can't wait to bring DoorDash to more places in New Zealand as we strive to connect more communities, one doorstep at a time."
To celebrate the launch, new customers can enjoy 50 percent off their first two orders and $0 delivery fee for their first 30 days.
The online food ordering and delivery platform, based in San Francisco, California, has a 56 percent market share - making it the largest food delivery company in the United States. It also has a 60 percent market share in the convenience delivery category.
It's currently unclear when DoorDash will be rolled out nationwide, but it's understood there are plans to bring the service to Auckland over the next year.
