In 2013, when Deliveroo founder Will Shu moved to London, he discovered a city full of amazing restaurants but was surprised that so few of them offered food delivery. This gap in the market sparked a personal mission to bring the best local restaurants directly to people's doors. Starting as the company's very first rider, Shu spent that first year delivering orders himself, learning firsthand what worked and what didn't in the world of food delivery. This hands-on experience shaped the company's foundation and understanding of both sides of the marketplace.
Today, Deliveroo has evolved into a sophisticated three-sided marketplace connecting local consumers, restaurants and grocers, and riders to fulfill a mission-critical service in under 30 minutes. The company's pioneering logistics technology, powered by intelligent machine learning through its Frank algorithm, continuously learns and optimizes everything from restaurant preparation times to route efficiency at different times of day. Operating across 10 markets worldwide, Deliveroo has grown to work with approximately 160,000 restaurant and grocery partners, including major retailers like Marks and Spencer, Waitrose, and Whole Foods Market. The company's innovation extends beyond traditional delivery with its 'Editions' delivery-only kitchens concept, which helps restaurants expand to new areas without the high costs of physical storefronts, and 'Hop' sites for rapid on-demand grocery delivery.
