Deliveroo runs a three-sided marketplace that connects consumers, restaurants and grocers, and riders, delivering food and groceries typically in under 30 minutes. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in London, the company operates in 10 markets worldwide and works with approximately 160,000 restaurant and grocery partners. Fulfilment is underpinned by proprietary logistics technology.
Engineers at Deliveroo work across machine learning, logistics optimisation, routing algorithms, marketplace platform technology and demand/supply optimisation. The Frank algorithm, the company's core machine-learning system, continuously learns and refines restaurant preparation times and route efficiency according to the time of day. The broader product suite includes the Deliveroo marketplace platform, Editions - delivery-only kitchens that let restaurants enter new areas without the cost of physical storefronts - and Hop, sites dedicated to rapid on-demand grocery delivery.
The company was founded by Will Shu, who served as its first rider and delivered orders himself during its first year. That experience informed a hands-on culture and a working understanding of both sides of the marketplace. Deliveroo frames its technology as a means of supporting partner growth as well as improving delivery efficiency.
