TheFork Australia explained

TheFork Australia
Founded:2009
Location:Sydney, New South Wales
Country:Australia
Country Of Origin:Australia
Area Served:Australia
Founder:Stevan Premutico
Employees:50
Parent:TripAdvisor & TheFork
Website Type:Online restaurant reservations

TheFork Australia (formerly known as Dimmi) was an online restaurant reservation platform founded in 2009 by Australian entrepreneur Stevan Premutico.[1] The company closed its Australian operations in March 2024.

The company provided a cloud-based reservation service to over 4,500 restaurants across Australia.[2] Reservations could be made by diners online through its website.

Dimmi's restaurant reservation engine, dining portal and online bookings was powered by ResDiary.[3]

In January 2024, TheFork announced it would be discontinuing operations in Australia from 31 March 2024.

History

The idea behind Dimmi was created by Stevan Premutico on a coffee shop napkin in 2007. "I was sitting in a coffee shop in Chelsea, thinking about how the internet and online was transforming the hotel business, when it dawned on me that the same impact could change the restaurant business", says Premutico.[4]

In May 2015, TheFork, a Tripadvisor company acquired Dimmi for AUD $25 million.[5]

In June 2016, Dimmi announced a new product, Dimmi Off Peak, designed to fill restaurant tables during quiet times by offering diners a discount on select days and times.[6]

In January 2019, Dimmi announced its rebrand to TheFork operating as part of the TripAdvisor.[7] [8]

On 8 January 2024, in a statement issued online and sent to members, TheFork announced it would be discontinuing operations in Australia from 31 March 2024.[9]

Notes and References

  1. News: Remaining sane when you're considered nuts: Dimmi's departing CEO on the hurdles he faced. 2017-06-22. Dynamic Business. 2017-07-17. en-US.
  2. News: Stevan Premutico. 2017-02-22. ADMA. 2017-07-17. en.
  3. News: ResDiary in Australian restaurant deal. BQ. 2017-07-17. subscription .
  4. News: From a coffee shop napkin to rubbing shoulders with the world's greatest chefs. Hawthorne. Mark. 2017-04-08. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2017-07-13. en-US.
  5. News: TripAdvisor acquires Australian restaurant bookings site Dimmi. Redrup. Yolanda. 2015-05-20. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2017-07-13. en-US.
  6. News: Dimmi, TripAdvisor roll out first online yield management system. Kitney. Damon. 20 June 2016. The Australian. 17 July 2017.
  7. Web site: Dimmi Rebrands to TheFork . Hospitality Magazine . 7 January 2019 . 8 January 2019.
  8. Web site: Current details for ABN 49 135 408 927 . Australian Business Register . ABN Lookup . 8 January 1019 . 8 January 2019.
  9. Web site: TheFork ceases operations in Australia . 7 January 2024 .