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Top 10 Most Popular Online Food

Delivery Apps in South Africa
Ashish Sudra   
November 22, 2023

Table of Contents
1 How Food Delivery Apps in South Africa are Effectively Ruling the
Food Marketplace
2 Top Online Food Delivery Apps You Must Try in South Africa
 1. Mr D – Groceries & Takeaway
2. UberEats
3. Debonairs Pizza
4. WeChow
5. UCook
6. Glovo
7. KasiD: Food Delivery
8. Heyfood
9. Nando’s
10. The Flying Pan
3 Future Perspective of Food Delivery Business Model in South Africa
4 The Key Takeaways
5 FAQs

We all enjoy eating, but when we are too exhausted to prepare a meal at
home, we often opt to grab a bite somewhere else instead. Customers love
food delivery apps as they are simple to use and quick to place an order,
and the deals blow them away. Time is money, and these apps help save it
for consumers.

Do you want to know more about the top food delivery applications in
South Africa?

“ The Online Food Delivery market in South Africa is likely to

reach a revenue of ZAR US$ 2.10 billion by the end of 2023.
 “ This market segment is anticipated to showcase a yearly
growth rate (CAGR 2023-2027) of 10.8 percent, resulting in an
expected market volume of around ZAR US$ 3.17 billion by
2027.

Despite these lucrative statistics, limited food delivery enterprises thrive in

South Africa. Uber and Takealot rule national food delivery. Fast-food chains
like McDonald’s use these food delivery services because of their popularity.

However, more food delivery apps are needed to serve the huge market.
South Africans have long awaited these services. The Top Food Delivery
Apps in South Africa are covered in this blog, so let us explore them. We
will also discover how White-label Food Delivery App Solution helps in
enabling on-demand food delivery businesses.

How Food Delivery Apps in South Africa are

Effectively Ruling the Food Marketplace
According to research reports, the South African meal delivery app market
will be a more worthy marketplace in the coming time. The marketplace is
estimated to upsurge at a CAGR of around seven percent between 2023
and 2028.

“ ALSO READ: Online Food Delivery Statistics: Overview and

Industry Analysis
People all around Africa use popular applications to ship themselves drinks,
garments, meals, groceries, and much more. The new consumers just need
to get the app on their phone, and once they do it, they will be good to go.

Online ordering and delivery systems have made people’s lives

considerably more accessible globally. Mobile apps are affordable and
versatile, making them convenient. Users can get free shipping, features,
and functionality with the same app.

On the other hand, both startup companies and enterprise firms are
looking to develop food delivery apps or going for subscription technology
enablement models to enable their businesses across South African
regions.

Top Online Food Delivery Apps You Must

Try in South Africa
Looking at the top 10 South African food delivery companies may help you
understand how they succeeded and you can replicate the same in your
ongoing or startup business.
1. Mr D – Groceries & Takeaway

Mr D Food is South Africa’s most popular meal delivery app. Being a

Takealot Group subsidiary has always provided Mr D Food with an edge
over other South African food delivery applications. With a 30% market
share, Mr D Food is the leading food delivery app in South Africa.

The delivery service has over five million downloads and one million regular
clients. Demand for Mr. D. Foods is rising.

The company expects to increase revenue in 2025 owing to its partnership

with Pick N Pay. Mr D Food App users may order alcohol and groceries from
Pick n Pay.

Download the Mr D app to enjoy convenient grocery and food delivery from
over 11000 restaurants and stores, and 300+ Pick n Pay grocery stores. New
Mr D Food customers get R50 off R100+ orders. Enter the coupon code
“DEAL50” at checkout to save 50% on your first app purchase.

Mr. D Food offers happy hour bargains and other offers to its loyal
consumers. They provide customizable food deals based on individual
interests.

2. UberEats

While UberEats is a widely used service worldwide, its popularity in Cape

Town is unparalleled. Local favourites like Nando’s sit alongside
international fast-food giants like KFC and McDonald’s on the site.

The “Pickup” option is a standout function of the UberEats Food Delivery

App. Hence allowing food lovers to order ahead and skip the queue at
partnering restaurants for online meal ordering.

When consumers are pressed for time or during peak lunch hours, this
functionality can come in handy.

This SaaS-based food delivery app solution is convenient because it links

directly to the Uber app. For customers familiar with the Uber platform,
switching between ride-sharing and food delivery is as simple as opening a
new tab in the app.

UberEats Alternative

UberEats Clone

3. Debonairs Pizza

Debonairs Pizza began its journey in 1991 when the first store opened in
Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. marking the start of the journey that
Debonairs Pizza has taken since that time. Established by Craig MacKenzie
& Andrew Harvey, the concept was creating an American-style delivered
pizza to households across South Africa. From there a single store
expanded to become the biggest pizza delivery chain in South Africa.

Debonairs Pizza is South Africa’s largest pizza delivery franchise, blending

age-old pizza-making experience with state-of-the-art delivery systems.
With a wide net of outlets spanning the country, the brand has made a
name for itself by serving always fresh hot pizzas every day. Such quality
and innovation have earned them their place as one of the South African
food delivery chains.
The Debonairs Pizza app, launched in 2012, marked a significant milestone
in the company’s digital transformation. Available on both Google Play
Store and Apple App Store, the app has achieved remarkable success:

Downloads: Over 1,000,000+ downloads on the Google Play Store

Rating: Maintains a strong 4.5/5 star rating
Active Users: More than 500,000 monthly active users
User Satisfaction: 88% positive review rate

4. WeChow

WeChow, launched in March 2021, has rapidly transformed the South

African food delivery landscape by bringing a unique blend of cultural
diversity to digital food ordering. Founded by Marcus Ndlovu and Sarah van
der Merwe, this innovative platform bridges the gap between local cuisine
and modern delivery convenience.

WeChow is a Halal food connector that connects you with different Halaal
restaurants & Halaal home industries to choose from, delivered to you.
WeChow offers its users, a variety of cuisines and flavors to choose from,
allowing them to enjoy good appetizing quality food in a hassle-free
manner.

WeChow features straightforward, localized, convenient, and easy-to-use

designs. If you already know what you want to order, input your
search/menu item and WeChow will reveal all options and choices that are
offered in your area. WeChow is location-based, so your craving is just a
swipe away!

Even the same service, which is WeChow source in fact, still helps and
delivery local restaurants stay afloat, providing South African consumers
with food variety around the South Africa food delivery market. With the
help of trained delivery partners, the platform manages to keep the
delivery fees competitive while ensuring the quality of service.

“ Also Read: Best Food Delivery Apps in USA

5. UCook
Regarding food delivery in South Africa, UCook is among the best. Cape
Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, as well as several smaller communities,
can all make use of the meal delivery service.

UCook fills a need in South African cuisine by selling raw ingredients that
can be processed at home. The On-Demand Food Delivery Service
accommodates customers with dietary restrictions by allowing them to
order meals based on the servings they need.

Pre-cooked meal orders can be placed on the platform for those who prefer
them. Gluten-free, dairy-free, high-fibre, vegetarian, high-protein, and
meat-based recipes are available at food delivery apps South Africa.

Frozen craft pizza, kid-friendly dinners, and even baby food are all available
at UCook. There is also an extensive wine list, with many merchants giving
deals on cases of three or more bottles.

UCook is a subscription service in which clients select the meals they want
to consume every week. The client is free to choose the number of persons
to be served and the frequency of service.

6. Glovo
Sacha Michaud and Oscar Pierre founded Glovo in Barcelona in 2015. One
of the most popular online courier services, its app may be used for
pickup, delivery, and purchases. This all-purpose living app delivers meals
and other things on demand.

Glovo’s most popular function is food delivery. With the greatest food
delivery app in South Africa, Glovo raised $528 million in Series F funding.

Customers in your location can order from any supported city, making this
service convenient. Customers can order groceries, gifts, and food. After
receiving an order, the nearest delivery service will acquire the product
from the nearest store and deliver it.

“ ALSO READ: Top 10 Online Food Delivery Apps in India

7. KasiD: Food Delivery

The KasiD app, founded by Freddy Mahhumane in 2020, has revolutionized
food delivery services in South Africa’s townships. This app provides users
with the convenience of accessing a wide variety of meals from local
township restaurants, ensuring reliable and timely deliveries. By
empowering local businesses and offering a user-friendly platform, KasiD
has garnered More than 10K downloads available on the Play Store itself.
Powered by it, the app has been thriving, helping the community, and
improving the food delivery experience.

Kasid Food App creates an easy and connected delivery experience to bring
you the best of food delivery and grocery delivery and medicine and parcels
as well at your doorsteps. Our services are aimed at making everyday life
simpler and more enjoyable by being the go-to service provider you need.

8. Heyfood

HeyFood, founded by Akinropo Taiwo and Demilade Odetara in 2021, is

transforming food delivery services and is a changing game-changer in
South Africa´s food delivery. The app provides users with the convenience
of accessing a wide variety of meals from local and national restaurants,
ensuring quick and reliable deliveries. HeyFood is a popular app among
users because of its features such as real-time tracking of orders, secured
payment options, variety of cuisines, etc. Its promotions and coupons offer
great savings, making it an economical choice. With over 50,000+
downloads on Google Play Store, Heyfood is still shaping the future of food
delivery.

Additionally, HeyFood is dedicated to supporting local businesses

partnering with various restaurants, from small local restaurants to popular
national chains. It not only benefits the local economy but also allows users
to have options to eat. With numerous positive reviews attributed to it due
to its easy-to-use interface and user-centric elements, the app has
developed into a go-to food delivery platform throughout South Africa.

In addition, HeyFood has implemented advanced technology to enhance

the user experience, including AI-driven recommendations based on users’
preferences and order history. This personalized approach ensures that
customers always have access to their favorite meals and new culinary
delights.

“ 3 Reasons, How Your Restaurant Menu Inspires Your

Restaurant Revenue!

9. Nando’s
In South Africa, however, the Nando’s App made a unique niche for itself in
the food delivery ecosystem, turning South African dining into a local affair
by delivering its famed PERi-PERi flame-grilled chicken. South Africans
have evidently taken to this digital ordering solution, as it has over
1,000,000 downloads and a phenomenal 4.5-star rating on the Play Store.
The way people are ordering has been revolutionized by the app, which
also has 70% less wait time compared to phone orders which is a huge hit
with customers that are craving for their Nando’s fix.

Financial benefits for Nando’s App users are impressive, with exclusive
deals saving customers around R200 monthly. The Nando’s Rewards loyalty
program has become a digital success story in South Africa, offering
members average rewards of R75 per month.

The app prioritizes security, maintaining a 99.9% secure transaction rate

and holding ISO 27001 certification for top-level information security
management.

10. The Flying Pan

 The Flying Pan

The Flying Pan was built to deliver online food to food lovers right at their
doorsteps. The digital platform offers healthy and ready-to-eat meals in
South African regions. All the meals are freshly cooked on the same day of
the delivery. The food delivery app offers consumers a balanced and
nutritious food item across South Africa.

Customers can easily order their food dishes online for dinner and relish it
with their loved ones. Diverse meal options are obtainable on the digital
platform; these choices comprise low-carb, classic health meals, and
vegetarian food items.

This food delivery app solution is, without a doubt, the top South African
food delivery app. Customers may easily order their go-to dishes from their
preferred eateries using the site.

Future Perspective of Food Delivery

Business Model in South Africa
When it comes to international food delivery, South Africa holds a
considerable stake. The food delivery business in South Africa is growing
and maturing at a quick speed.

With a high projected annual growth rate, the food delivery industry and its
different inner food segments are poised to exceed the projected mark by
the year 2027.

South Africa’s statistics and projections are large-sized, with already

successful and other upcoming enterprise food delivery and related
organizations.
Regarding food delivery services, some of the biggest companies in the
country are Uber and Takealot. Their dominance has led major fast-food
franchises like McDonald’s to contract them to deliver their food.

“ Online Food Delivery Business Plan for Startups: Step-by-Step

Guide

The Key Takeaways

Some may try to imitate these above ten food delivery business models,
while others may build their own. There are not yet enough innovative
businesses to match all the variety of food demands in the South African
marketplace, so now is a great opening to become and directly involved in
this type of online food ordering and delivery business venture.

As a food technology business leader, we with our highly professional team

can assist you start your own food delivery business with our app-based
solutions and other technology resources in South Africa or even at any
other part of the world.

So, if you are discovering a SaaS-based Food Delivery App Solution in 1

Week, we at DeOnDe provide the best readymade food delivery solutions
to offer a result-oriented application and business solution particularly
created to enable your online food business.

Let us get connected and discuss more about enabling your food delivery
business with our latest technology and a proven app-based business
model to facilitate your seamless global operations.
FAQs
1. How many food delivery drivers are there in South Africa?

ANS: There are no official numbers in South Africa on this expanding

workforce but the Durban-based research and training organization
estimates there were at least 50,000+ active food delivery drivers in South
Africa.

2. What is the most popular takeaway food in South Africa?

ANS: Chicken reigns supreme in South Africa Beef-focused establishments

attract 6.7 million customers monthly.

3. How Can I Pay for These Applications That Bring Food?

ANS: Food delivery apps in South Africa offer multiple payment options
like UPI, cash on delivery, and credit/debit cards.

4. Can I Build an App Like Uber Eats with a Monthly Subscription Model?

ANS: Yes, you can build an app similar to Uber Eats. Deonde offers an Uber
Eats clone app with a monthly subscription model, allowing you to start
your business within a week.

5. How does online food delivery work?

ANS: The process consists of a customer choosing the restaurant of their

choice, scanning the menu items, choosing an item, and finally choosing
for pickup or delivery.
  

Ashish Sudra
Author

Ashish Sudra is the founder of Deonde and has over 15 years of experience in IT and
On-demand Solutions. He is a professional in Digital Marketing, ASO, User
Experience, and SaaS Product Consulting. He is also an accomplished Business
Consultant who delivers an Online Food Ordering and Delivery System for Food
Startups, Chain Restaurants, and Cloud Kitchens.

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We have used the term “UberEats”, “swiggy”, “Zomato”,

“Chownow”, “Postmates”, “Talabat” etc. to explain the workflow
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Zomato Ltd, Swiggy etc. or connected to them in any way. Our
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