Mr Yum, a web-based platform that allows consumers to order food from local restaurants, has launched in South Africa. The service is positioned as a cheaper alternative for restaurants than competitors Mr D Food and UberEats.

Mr Yum, which first launched in Australia, provides a digital platform for local restaurants to allow customers to choose, order and pay for food. Customers can choose between delivery or pick up at the restaurant.

Mr Yum’s USP is that it charges 7.5% of the order value, compared to 30% charged by the more popular platforms. In Australia, it claims to work with more than 1,000 restaurants. In May 2019, the company secured AUD$1.5m ($1.04m) in seed funding just six months after it was founded.

Participating restaurants can put their menus online, along with images of dishes they serve. The site also provides descriptions of ingredients. Users can also filter dishes according to their dietary requirements. Another feature that suits COVID-19 social distancing requirements is that users going to the restaurant itself can scan a QR code on the physical menu using their smartphone camera as a means of ordering.

The service is positioned at restaurants that need to compete with the growing market for app-based food ordering, but who may not want to transition to a volume-led model that leaves them paying 30% of revenues for lead generation and fulfilment. Features for restaurant owners include access to sales and trends reporting as well as the ability to view and export customer data and purchase behaviour.