Deliveroo, The Food Solution For Singaporeans

Deliveroo Singapore is the newest delivery service to take the island’s food scene by storm, setting itself apart with premium restaurant fare, expeditiousness and a big focus on customer service. Here, we get a glimpse at what the thriving new startup is all about, and talk to the man behind it, Spanish expat Tristan Torres Velat.

- Amy Greenburg

Already a popular service in London since 2013, Deliveroo has been a game changer for those in Singapore looking to enjoy good food from high-quality restaurants that don’t normally deliver – we’re talking first-rate eateries like Meat Liquor, Bergs, PS.Cafe Petit, Chopsuey Cafe, Potato Head Folk, Motorino Pizzeria, Muchachos, Kinki, Wine Connection Tapas Bar & Bistro, Gaest, The Halia at Raffles Hotel, Dapper Coffee and Club Street Social, among others – in the comfort of their own homes or offices, and with an average delivery time of 32 minutes. What’s more, Deliveroo charges a fixed fee of just $3 for orders over $25.

“After living in Singapore for three years with kids, I realised that ordering food here wasn’t easy,” says Tristan. “I’d never know when my meals were going to arrive, and it seemed acceptable to assume that delivery time would be 60 to 80 minutes! So, when I was contacted by Deliveroo, I began thinking about how I could really improve the food delivery business here.”

Tristan adds, “I really fell in love with Deliveroo when I went to London. It was peak time and raining, and I decided to see how good the service was. I ordered and then went into the shower; before I even got out, the food was at my door – it only took 21 minutes. In that moment, I realised that this company had the capacity to change the food delivery market in Singapore.”

So, Tristan – who previously worked in Manila for one of Southeast Asia’s leading e-commerce platforms; prior to that, he was Vice-President of Sales at Groupon in Spain – began working with Deliveroo Singapore in October 2015, operating as the single office employee with four drivers. By February 2016, the company had 35 office employees and a fleet of 300 drivers.

All-round quality