So we all know of Grub Hub, Fodder, and other online food delivery services. But ever hear of Amazon Restaurant, out of Seattle? If not, then you soon will. So Amazon delivers our food now?
Food deliver has been Amazon’s dream for years. But now that they have Whole Foods in their arsenal, anything is possible. They just partnered with Olo, a digital order and pay service for over 200 different restaurant chains. These chains include Shake Shack, Chipotle, and Buca di Beppo. In fact, Buca di Beppo already said it will use Amazon Restaurant. They’re the only ones who are that committed right now. But something tells me there will be others.
However, Jeff Bezos didn’t just wake up one morning and say, “I wonder what business will I invade next?”. Amazon Restaurant started in Seattle in 2015, and slowly but surely crept into other markets. At first, they catered to small restaurants, who benefited just by using the name ‘Amazon’. But soon, they expanded to franchises, then corporations. And now, Amazon delivers has Olo. Olo can provide the technology to take orders. Amazon delivers the goods. Sounds like a match made in (not Heaven!). Olo also has Rails, their new baby that makes it easier to take orders from Amazon.
So you can probably tell I’m not excited about Amazon’s newest takeover…I meant…venture. Neither is the competition. ?GrubHub’s stocks fell over 7% at this news. That’s my problem with this. I have no problem with food delivery services at all. But in this case, I have a problem with the deliverer. I love how GrubHub and Fodder and others stuck to their thing and are now prosperous. Meanwhile, Amazon wants to take over everything. They have grocery stores, newspapers, movies, etc. And now they want the food delivery services. And here I was thinking Walmart was going to be the death of the small business. Am I being too harsh here?