As the restaurant industry is left to do take-aways under lockdown regulations, a new online order service has launched, offering a low cost alternative to UberEats and Mr D Food. Mr Yum is a web-based platform which enables easy ordering and payment with venues charged only 7.5% compared to the up to 30% commissions of other delivery platforms, according to the company.

Mr Yum is not a delivery service, rather it allows restaurants to cut out the middleman and run their own deliveries while allowing for easy online ordering and payment. There’s no app to download. Mr Yum is 100% web-based and offering customers the choice of delivery to their door or pick up at the venue, as well as contactless menus and payments when in table dining re-opens.

Mr Yum SA charges venues 7.5% per order which includes VAT, all payment/merchant fees, all SMS fees. Sign-up is free and venues get unlimited support at no cost, the company notes. There is no lock-in contract and no upfront costs. Venues, apply through Mr Yum SA’s website sa.mryum.com.

Mr Yum also offers visual menus with photos of each dish; up to five language translations; ingredient definitions for those more exotic dishes; dietary filters (veg, vegan, GF); always up to date menus, and an easy to share online link.

“Mr Yum is an Australian start-up which launched two years ago. It successfully supports over 1000 restaurants in Australia. We are excited to bring this robust platform to South Africa and hope to offer financial relief to the restaurant industry here,” said COO Gary Harrod, part of a team of South African founders who have partnered with Mr Yum.

“By using Mr Yum, customers are taking less money away from local restaurants so venues make more money. It’s cheaper for the user too. Margins were thin before the crisis. Our infrastructure will enable a sustainable business model. The price is long-term and is not a Covid-19 special.”

Venues share their Mr Yum link on their website, Instagram and Facebook pages and it will even pop up when customers search for their favourite spots on Google. Customers wanting to #SupportLocal, click on that restaurant’s Mr Yum link which will take them to the menu. They order, pay, then receive a text confirmation and a tax invoice.

“Our platform empowers restaurants to take back ownership of their customer relationship,” said Harrod. “We provide the infrastructure they need to remain operational, make and serve delicious food and as a result, employ their staff in these tough times. Venues deliver their delicious food, we provide the tech infrastructure.”

For info visit sa.mryum.com