Boycott Multinational Delivery Platforms

Empowering Local Businesses and Communities

In the fast-paced digital world, multinational delivery platforms like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat have infiltrated our local economies, offering convenience at a significant cost. While they provide a quick solution to dining at home, their business models are increasingly suffocating the lifeblood of our local, family-owned, and community-driven businesses.

With commission rates soaring as high as 35%, coupled with government tax VAT of 20%, the sustainability of small businesses is under severe threat.

The Cost of Convenience

For local businesses, these platforms are not partners but predators. When a delivery platform takes a 35% cut, what remains for the business owner? Consider a typical breakdown for an Asian curry house:

Food Costs: 28%

Labor Costs: 32%

Delivery Platform Fees: 35%

Government Taxes | VAT : 20%

The math is clear: businesses are operating at a loss even before accounting for rent, utilities, and insurance. These platforms extract the top cream of profits, leaving small businesses struggling to survive.

The Local Impact

These platforms market themselves as community-oriented, but their actions tell a different story:

• They are not local: These multinational corporations siphon profits out of the local economy, benefitting shareholders rather than communities.
• They kill competition: Family-run and community businesses that cannot keep up with the high fees are forced to shut down.
• They undermine sustainability: By relying on gig economy workers who are often underpaid and overworked, they exploit local labor rather than empowering it.

A Call to Action: Boycott and Build Local Solutions

It's time to reclaim control. Local businesses, consumers, and communities can band together to create sustainable alternatives. Here’s how:

1. Engage the Local Community

• Direct Relationships: Connect with your customers directly. Use social media, flyers, and word of mouth to inform them about your offerings.
• Collaborate with Local Organizations: Partner with schools, charities, colleges, and universities. Sponsor local events or contribute to community initiatives. These actions build trust and loyalty.
• Rewards for Collection: Offer discounts, say 20%, for customers who pick up orders themselves. Not only does this save on delivery fees, but it also fosters stronger customer relationships.

2. Create Independent Delivery Solutions

• Hire Local Drivers: Employ local delivery drivers, perhaps using bicycles or scooters for eco-friendly and affordable delivery.
• Innovative Logistics: Implement small-scale delivery systems, such as neighborhood hubs or community-based delivery networks, keeping profits within the community.

3. Prioritize Sustainability

• Eco-Friendly Practices: Use sustainable packaging and delivery methods that appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
• Support Local Farmers and Suppliers: Sourcing ingredients locally reduces costs and strengthens the regional economy.

4. Educate and Advocate

• Raise Awareness: Use your platform to inform customers about the high costs imposed by delivery platforms. Show them how their choices impact local businesses.
• Transparency in Pricing: Clearly communicate where their money goes when they buy directly from you versus through a platform.

5. Build Local Alliances

• Community Partnerships: Form alliances with other local businesses to share resources and amplify your voice.
• Local Loyalty Programs: Create reward programs that encourage customers to support neighborhood establishments.

Why Boycotting Multinational Platforms is Crucial

By boycotting these platforms, we shift the power balance back to local communities. When customers buy directly from local businesses, every penny spent stays within the community, fostering economic growth and ensuring sustainability. Local businesses are not just profit-making entities; they are cultural hubs, job providers, and the backbone of neighborhoods.

The Vision Forward

We need to return to our roots, creating self-sufficient, community-driven ecosystems. Convenience should not come at the cost of fairness, sustainability, and local pride. Together, we can boycott these multinational giants and build a future where local businesses thrive, communities prosper, and consumers get high-quality, personalized service.

Let’s work smarter, act locally, think globally and preserve what truly matters—our communities, our businesses, and our shared future.