'They are parasites': Why restaurants are boycotting food delivery apps

While the ease of ordering a meal from the comfort of the couch may be too good to pass up for some, fed-up restaurant owners are pleading with customers to re-think their dining methods.

Two prominent Melbourne eateries are urging customers to boycott “parasite” food delivery apps, including Uber Eats, Menulog, Foodora and Deliveroo, saying the increasingly popular way of eating is killing small businesses.

Marios Cafe has been trading on Brunswick Street since for more than 30 years but as they confirmed in a strongly worded Facebook post, they have no intention of joining in the delivery app trend.

“We do not use Foodora , Deliveroo or Uber and we encourage u not to , they are parasites that take high percentages from the establishments that they have sucked into dealing with them, (up to 30 per cent),” the post read.

“Please spare a thought for the people who are loosing (sic) money for your comfort factor and the delivery people are earning next to nothing for their work, while the people in their ivory towers are earning big time for doing nothing: parasites.

“If you need to have your food delivered make sure the establishment you are ordering from has their own delivery.”

They told customers either “get off you’re a** and pick it up” or alternatively dine in at the restaurant.

Taste of Texas BBQ said they would also no longer be offering their food via Menulog as it was unsustainable for small businesses to employ drivers and pay commission for deliveries.

Hoewver, they said they would continue to offer a “limited menu” through Uber Eats.

Foodora pulling out of Aust ‘to avoid millions in back pay’

The boycott-plea comes just weeks after Foodora pulled out of Australia, with a key union suggesting the exit is an attempt to avoid paying workers millions of dollars owed in back pay.

Workers will only be given one week of normal shifts before the company begins winding down before they officially exit on August 20.

The company, in a statement released on Thursday, said it would “cease operations in response to a shift in focus towards other markets where the company currently sees a higher potential for growth”.

The Fair Work Ombudsman took the company to the Federal Court in June alleging two Melbourne bike riders and a Sydney driver were classed as “independent contractors” when they did the work of full-time employees.

Another rider appealed to the Fair Work Commission saying he was unfairly dismissed after speaking out over low pay and poor condition for delivery riders.

His campaign attracted the attention of the Transport Workers Union who, on Thursday, accused Foodora of abandoning Australia while owing millions of dollars in back pay.

“Ever since they arrived in Australia, Foodora, like other food delivery companies, has denied its riders fair rates, superannuation, workers compensation, annual leave, the right to collectively bargain and even forces them to work shifts for no pay at all,” TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon said in a statement.

Yahoo7 News has contacted Uber, Menulog and Deliveroo for comment.