Uber offers virtual restaurant platform to delivery partners

Food service retailers using the Uber Eats online delivery service have access to a new solution designed to streamline virtual restaurant operations.

Uber Eats is introducing a new Certified Virtual Restaurant Program. This initiative, launched in partnership with virtual food service brand builders Virtual Dining Concepts, Nextbite, and Acelerate, aims to create a more consistent, reliable virtual restaurant experience for consumers who use Uber Eats.

Uber, which initially expanded from its core rideshare business into third-party online delivery with the launch of Uber Eats in 2015, is rolling out the new program as part of an ongoing effort to refocus its virtual restaurant operations, which have accelerated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to over 40,000 virtual storefronts. The Certified Virtual Restaurant Program allows retailers to utilize virtual restaurant concepts curated by Uber.

By participating in the program, independent restaurants will have access to virtual concept creators' account management and customer support services. Each Certified Virtual Restaurant participant’s menu items are designed especially for delivery and allow retailers to leverage their existing supply chain, kitchen equipment and inventory.

So far, retailers taking part include MrBeast Burger (Virtual Dining Concepts), Huevorito (Nextbite), and Scratch Chicken (Acelerate), with more to come.

"With the boom in virtual restaurants over the past several years, we've noticed a wide range of approaches to creating virtual restaurant brands," said John Mullenholz, Uber head of virtual restaurants and dark kitchens for the U.S. & Canada. "We're excited about launching this program to connect the best virtual brand builders in the industry with small businesses across the country–and to bring the very best virtual brands to consumers' doorsteps."

"We are proud to partner with Uber Eats' Certified Virtual Restaurant program," said Stephanie Sollers, CEO of Virtual Dining Concepts. "This initiative benefits every member of the VDC ecosystem, including our kitchen partners, the creators, celebrities and media groups with whom we collaborate with to develop our brands, and consumers, many of whom are loyal fans of the talent behind our brands. For all parties, this program adds a layer of verification and transparency for customers, certifying that their food is coming from high-quality kitchen operators, giving the customer an added level of comfort when ordering from Uber Eats."

"Helping restaurants succeed is at the heart of our business and we're looking forward to partnering with Uber Eats to do just that," said Lindsay Barlow, Operations at Acelerate. "We're excited for customers to get their hands on Scratch Chicken."

Uber Eats is an on-demand delivery app and website that partners with over 890,000 restaurants and retailers in more than 11,000 cities globally.

[Read more: Is Uber going all in on being an e-commerce platform?]