Diners and restaurants alike flocked to delivery apps in record numbers when the pandemic forced establishments to close their dining rooms. The surge in business has driven huge revenue growth for companies like
DoorDash Inc.,
Grubhub Inc.
and
Uber Technologies Inc.,
which owns Uber Eats and Postmates. While the apps’ growth is expected to slow from last year’s levels, the companies say they expect people to order in more frequently than they did pre-pandemic.
Wonder why delivery orders have become more expensive during the pandemic? Want to know what share of your money restaurants are getting? Here’s a breakdown of several identical orders from the same New York City restaurant.
In many markets, the price of food ordered via delivery app has gone up since the pandemic began. Since apps’ service fees are partly determined by food prices, that means a higher bill overall.
Other costs also fall on customers. In California, for example, apps began charging customers a fee related to benefits that they promised drivers. In Philadelphia, where the city capped the amount apps can charge restaurants during the health crisis, DoorDash is charging a “regulatory response fee.”
To illustrate this, The Wall Street Journal compared otherwise identical pre-pandemic and 2021 orders from three Philadelphia-area restaurants using DoorDash, Grubhub and Postmates. In each case, this year’s orders were more expensive.
DoorDash charged a $1.50 regulatory response fee.
The cost of two pasta orders from Applebee’s via DoorDash
Four Bacon King Sandwich Meals from Burger King via Grubhub
Grubhub was running a free delivery promotion in the area at the time of the order.
Three harvest bowls from Sweetgreen via Postmates
The cost of two pasta orders from
Applebee’s via DoorDash
DoorDash charged a $1.50 regulatory response fee.
Four Bacon King Sandwich Meals
from Burger King via Grubhub
Grubhub was running a free delivery promotion in the area at the time of the order.
Three harvest bowls from
Sweetgreen via Postmates
The cost of two pasta orders from
Applebee’s via DoorDash
DoorDash charged a $1.50 regulatory response fee.
Four Bacon King Sandwich Meals
from Burger King via Grubhub
Grubhub was running a free delivery promotion in the area at the time of the order.
Three harvest bowls from
Sweetgreen via Postmates
The cost of two pasta orders from
Applebee’s via DoorDash
DoorDash charged a $1.50 regulatory response fee.
Four Bacon King Sandwich Meals
from Burger King via Grubhub
Grubhub was running a free delivery promotion in the area at the time of the order.
Three harvest bowls from
Sweetgreen via Postmates
Many restaurants—including big chains—are encouraging more-profitable pickup orders and raising delivery menu prices on apps.
said in April that its delivery prices now average 17% higher than those in stores. Similarly,
Del Taco Restaurants Inc.
raised delivery prices by around 20% last year to improve margins and is testing further increases.
Service and delivery fees
Chicken burrito bowl and large chips and guacamole from Chipotle
$0.99 ‘CA Driver
Benefits’ fee
A burrito meal combo and chips and guacamole from Del Taco
Service and delivery fees
Chicken burrito bowl and large chips and guacamole from Chipotle
Burrito meal combo and chips and guacamole from Del Taco
$0.99 ‘CA Driver
Benefits’ fee
Service and delivery fees
Chicken burrito bowl and large chips and guacamole from Chipotle
Burrito meal combo and chips and guacamole from Del Taco
$0.99 ‘CA Driver
Benefits’ fee
Service and delivery fees
Chicken burrito bowl and large chips and guacamole from Chipotle
A burrito meal combo and chips and guacamole from Del Taco
$0.99 ‘CA Driver Benefits’ fee
Restaurants believe that customers who want the convenience of delivery will keep paying for it. Many are investing in pickup and drive-through services to make those options more appealing.
Have you used food-delivery services more than usual during the past year? If so, what have you noticed about the price of your meal? Join the conversation below.
—Yasufumi Saito contributed to this article
Write to Stephanie Stamm at Stephanie.Stamm@wsj.com, Preetika Rana at preetika.rana@wsj.com and Heather Haddon at heather.haddon@wsj.com
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