OrderUp explained

OrderUp
Founder:Chris Jeffery, Jason Kwicien
Fate:markets acquired by Grubhub
Area Served:United States
Industry:Online Food Ordering and Delivery
Owner:Just Eat Takeaway
Num Employees:100+
Parent:Grubhub
Homepage:orderup.com
Former Name:LocalUp
Foundation:Baltimore, Maryland
Location City:Baltimore, Maryland
Location Country:United States
Locations:37 markets

OrderUp was an online and mobile food-ordering and delivery company which operated in at least 37 markets. Prior to being acquired by Grubhub, OrderUp was a part of the Groupon family of companies and operated as both OrderUp and Groupon-To-Go.

History

OrderUp started as an online food ordering business, called LionMenus, which served State College, PA.[1] In 2009, the founders relocated to Baltimore, MD and formed LocalUp to expand to additional markets.[2] The company used $1.5 million in investments to facilitate growth into small markets.[3] OrderUp is one of a growing number of companies geared towards capitalizing on online food ordering. Other companies, including Grubhub, provide similar services to restaurants and consumers.[4]

Initially, LocalUp licensed their technology to entrepreneurs who created online food ordering sites in their own communities[5] These licensees white-labeled the technology and ran the everyday operations.LocalUp operated under this licensing model until 2012, when the company rebranded as OrderUp and switched to a franchising model. Now, OrderUp has switched most local sites to the national brand. OrderUp is one of the first companies to provide a digital franchise in order to target local markets.[6]

In August 2014, the company announced a $7 million Series A investment round focused on growing its technical team and expanding its delivery service nationally.[7]

In July 2015, Groupon acquired the company.[8]

In July 2017, Grubhub acquired 27 company-owned OrderUp food delivery markets from Groupon and announced plans to retire the OrderUp brand. Sixty full-time employees were laid off from OrderUp's headquarters in Baltimore.[9] [10]

In October 2018, Grubhub acquired certain assets of 11 remaining franchisee-owned OrderUp food delivery markets across California, Colorado, Indiana, Missouri, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Virginia.[11]

Size

As of August 2013, OrderUp had sites in about 25 American cities and had launched a mobile application from which users can order food using Android or iOS devices.[12] In 2016, OrderUp was in 62 cities.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PSU Grads Make Ordering Out Even Easier. WTAJ-TV. 2013-10-22.
  2. Web site: Zaleski. Andrew. OrderUp: Canton startup invests in 'digital franchising' to bring online food-ordering nationwide. 28 January 2013. Technically Baltimore. 2013-10-22.
  3. Web site: Sentementes. Gus. LocalUp finds footing in online food ordering. The Baltimore Sun. 2013-10-22.
  4. Web site: LocalUp: Building Online Ordering Hubs for Restaurateurs. 2 August 2011. 2014-01-20.
  5. Web site: Rao. Leena. LocalUp Wants To Be a Hyper-Local Grubhub for Smaller Cities and Neighborhoods. TechCrunch. 2013-10-22.
  6. Web site: Digital Franchises: New Spin on an Old Business Model. 7 March 2013. Inc. 2013-10-22.
  7. Web site: Waldman. Tyler. OrderUp served $7M investment. 20 August 2014. Technical.ly. 2014-09-11.
  8. Web site: Correa. Cynthia. Groupon Acquires Food Delivery Service OrderUp. Eater. 17 July 2015.
  9. Web site: Groupon and Grubhub Announce Strategic Partnership to Bring Food Delivery to Groupon Customers Throughout the United States. 31 July 2017.
  10. News: Matlach . LeAnne . GrubHub Acquiring OrderUp's 27 Food Delivery Markets . 13 February 2024 . Technical.ly . 1 August 2017 . en.
  11. Web site: Grubhub, Inc. - Media - Overview.
  12. Web site: Lawler. Ryan. 'Hometown' Food Delivery Startup OrderUp Launches a Mobile App. TechCrunch. December 11, 2013.
  13. Web site: OrderUp: Digital Delivery. 2016-11-29. Columbia Business Times. 2017-03-16. 2017-03-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20170317054947/http://columbiabusinesstimes.com/2016/11/29/orderup-digital-delivery/. dead.