- Online food ordering service Seamless has taken a step to help independent restaurants struggling to stay open as more people forego eating out for takeout.
- The platform announced that it would be deferring its commission fees for independent restaurants in order to help small businesses continue to pay their employees.
- Users of the platform can also choose to use "contact-free delivery" at checkout, which allows drivers to call or text when they arrive and drop the food off at a customer's doorstep.
- Several US cities and states have taken major steps to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, including shutting down nightclubs, canceling holiday festivities, and forcing restaurants to serve food by delivery or takeout only.
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Online food ordering service Seamless announced that it would be deferring its commission fees for independent restaurants struggling to stay in business as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the US.
In an emailed statement, Seamless said that the move came in response to declining restaurant sales as more and more people forego eating out for takeout.
"With dine-in down as much as 75%, local restaurants need our support more than ever," the statement reads. "As their partner, it is Seamless's responsibility to step up during this difficult time. So, we are deferring commission fees for impacted independent restaurants."
Seamless said that by deferring its fees, it would better allow vulnerable businesses to continue to pay their employees and sustain cash flow.
It added that it would be matching all promotions run by independent restaurants with its "Smart Promotions" feature to "help make their investments in growth twice as effective."
The GrubHub-owned food delivery business added that it created a "Seamless Community Relief Fund," which takes contributions from users who choose to round up change from every order and donate it to charity, in order to provide additional financial relief for the platform's drivers and restaurants.
"Local independent restaurants are the lifeblood of our communities and we must do everything we can to get them through this time of uncertainty," Seamless said.
"With empty dining rooms, restaurants are depending on pickup and delivery orders more than ever."
Users of the platform can also choose to use "contact-free delivery" at checkout, which allows drivers to call or text when they arrive and drop the food off at a customer's doorstep. This delivery option minimizes person-to-person contact as part of social distancing measures in order to slow the virus' spread.
The US has reported over 3,800 cases of coronavirus, which causes a disease known as COVID-19. The disease has also killed at least 69 people in the US and has spread to over 100 countries.
Several US cities and states have taken major steps to curb the spread of coronavirus, including shutting down nightclubs, canceling holiday festivities, and forcing restaurants to serve food by delivery or takeout only.
Major cities, including New York City and Los Angeles, as well as several states including Washington, Ohio, Illinois, have already announced a shutdown of bars and restaurants in order to limit social contact.
On Sunday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put forward new guidelines recommending that all gatherings and events of 50 people and more be postponed until May.
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