Monday, March 21, 2011

Is GrubHub Chicago's Next Big Thing?


Growing Fast in Chicago
According to Crain's ChicagoBusiness, GrubHub, based in Chicago, is growing. The company that “shows all the restaurants that deliver to you,” currently employs 100 people. Acccording to GrubHub CEO, Matt Maloney, the company plans on doubling that number this year. And that’s not all that’s doubling. Today GrubHub is in 13 markets, but expects to be in 26 markets in 2011.

This ad from GrubHub illustrates how their service works.

Ordering Food Online
GrubHub lists restaurant menus and phone numbers for free on its Web site. But a restaurant has to be signed on as a “partner” with GrubHub for you to be able to order through their site. Fifteen percent of a registered restaurant’s tab goes to GrubHub. In Chicago, less than 40 percent of the city’s 2,000 restaurants are signed on with GrubHub. 

80,000 Menus by Summer
At present, GrubHub has 13,000 menus listed, but has an ambitious plan to increase that number to 80,000 by summer. According to Maloney, pick up and delivery services are growing in the “double-digits” every year. Another impressive statistic from the National Restaurant Association (NRA) says that half of the $600 billion in revenue from restaurants today is from delivery, carry-out, and drive-thru.

 

Let's Hear From You
Have you ordered food through GrubHub or a similar site? What was your experience like? Are you a regular GrubHub customer? Please share your thoughts here.

2 comments:

  1. One thing Crain's left out is that I've been a proud South Looper since 2000! Thanks for the post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Matt, thanks for commenting. Now that I know you're in the South Loop, I'll have to write a follow-up piece. Again,thanks for taking the time to comment.

    ReplyDelete

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