Page 12 - Food & Drink Magazine July 2018

SMART BUSINESS
Share and share alike
While offering staff share options is a common way for companies to lure and retain senior staff, very few offer them across the board to the junior ranks. Food delivery company Deliveroo has become an exception.
AT only five-years-old, Deliveroo turned heads when it announced it it would give all its employees equity in the company in May this year.
The move, which is worth over $18 million for most of the 2000 staff employed globally, means all permanent staff, present and future, will be given share options in the company – except for delivery staff, who are independent contractors.
“Our phenomenal growth and success has been made possible thanks to the hard work, commitment and passion of the people who make this company what it is, and that deserves recognition, which is why I want all employees to be owners in Deliveroo and to have a real stake in the company’s future as we expand and grow,” CEO Will Shu said.
“This is for all permanent staff and all new joiners, and is is on top of existing options agreement for a number of staff who already had share options in the company.”
Deliveroo operates across 12 markets, and 80 staff from the
Australian headquarters in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth offices are benefiting from the shift in remuneration.
Deliveroo also has partnerships with over 4500 restaurants and over 3800 riders.
DRIVEN TO WIN
Following its last fundraising round, the company has raised $1.2 billion to date and is valued at over $2.6 billion
kitchens – called ‘Deliveroo Editions’ – helping restaurants expand into new areas.
“Also, with our riders, Deliveroo is the only platform to be arguing that we want the law to change to enable us to offer riders more benefits and protections while they are riding with us,” he says.
“Wewanttobeabletodoso in a way that is compatible with flexible working.”
BELOW: In addition to giving employees equity, Deliveroo is campaigning for better protections for its riders.
dollars, and earlier this year, the company announced that by the end of 2018 it will have created nearly 600 new tech jobs in just two years.
Deliveroo’s country manager Levi Aron says the company is set apart by “its immense hunger to win, strong focus and care, and a clear vision for the future”.
He says Deliveroo is “leading on innovation” in the Australian food sector, with delivery-only
TECH JOBS IN
THE WORKS
In terms of future tech jobs the company expects to create, Deliveroo plans to bring experts from around the world to Deliveroo headquarters in the UK, according to Aron.
“The new hires will include data scientists, software engineers, product designers and managers, and specialists in cybersecurity,” he says.
“Many of these roles will be at a senior level, building on Deliveroo’s reputation for attracting tech talent from around the world.”
TRENDS IN
FOOD DELIVERY
Aron says Deliveroo Editions is the biggest development in the market since Deliveroo first launched, and a key focus for the company globally.
“It’s a revolutionary new platform that enables restaurants to open delivery- only kitchens that help them reach new audiences in cities around the world,” he says.
“For restaurants, this means being able to expand without having to invest in new high-street premises.
“For customers, it means access to great new food from restaurants that haven’t opened wheretheylive.” ✷
“ The new hires will include data scientists, software engineers, product designers and managers, and specialists in cybersecurity...”
12 | Food&Drink business | July 2018 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au