Latest news with #Uber Eats
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Home Office plan to share asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms is 'pointless' and will be 'ineffective' at stopping migrants working illegally, lawyers say
A Government plan to crack down on illegal migrant delivery riders by sharing the location of asylum hotels with food delivery companies is 'pointless' and 'ineffective', immigration lawyers warned today. The Home Office yesterday struck up a new agreement with Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats, where officials will share information about hotels in high-risk areas to help delivery companies uncover illegal working and suspend accounts. It comes after it was revealed how asylum seekers in taxpayer-funded hotels were raking in hundreds as delivery riders within days of crossing the Channel illegally on small boats. The scheme is aimed at stopping delivery riders sharing their accounts with migrants who do not have the right to work in the UK. Asylum seekers are not allowed to work for the first 12 months of being in the UK or until their application is approved. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Labour party were taking 'decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement'. But, immigration lawyers today questioned how effective the crackdown will be as they called for a 'much tougher approach' over this 'blunt tool'. Emma Brooksbank, an immigration partner at Freeths, told MailOnline the agreement is 'expected to be ineffective'. She added: 'The intention is that Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats will quickly cancel accounts which are noted to be repeatedly active in high-risk areas, around asylum seeker hotels. 'It will not be difficult for illegal workers to bypass this restriction and avoid detection, thereby making the agreed data sharing pointless.' Ms Brooksbank said the 'gig ecomony operators are largely unregulated' and have 'no real incentive to clean up their act'. She added: 'The simple fact is that gig economy companies do not know who is using their app, and who is engaging with their customers under their brand name, making illegal work easy, effortless, and undetectable, which acts as a draw for illegal migrants to continue to arrive in small boats from France. The Government needs to take a much tougher approach, she said, suggesting companies must be held responsible and heavily fined for 'facilitating illegal work'. Angela Sharma, a barrister at Church Court Chambers, agreed telling MailOnline: 'Sharing information about the locations of asylum hotels may help identify hotspots where illegal working is more prevalent, but it's a blunt tool. 'The real issue lies in the ease with which delivery accounts can be sublet and exploited. Without stricter enforcement on platform verification and stronger deterrents for account sharing, this remains a systemic loophole. 'A tougher, more targeted approach that also holds companies accountable is needed to genuinely tackle the problem.' Sacha Wooldridge, partner and head of immigration at Birketts LLP, said data sharing 'will presumably enable stronger enforcement of penalties against those found to be acting unlawfully' and 'enable targeted police resourcing to higher crime locations'. But she added: 'If companies are already checking all drivers and substitute drivers on a daily basis, knowing the location of the hotels isn't likely to have a material impact.' And Victoria Welsh, partner and head of business immigration at Taylor Rose, said although the move is 'positive', the issue is 'wider than simply restricting access to legal employment.' Insisting the new scheme will bring about change, Home Secretary Ms Cooper said last night: 'Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime. 'By enhancing our data sharing with delivery companies, we are taking decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement. 'The changes come alongside a 50% increase in raids and arrests for illegal working under the Plan for Change, greater security measures and tough new legislation.' Last month it emerged that migrants living in taxpayer-funded asylum hotels – including those who arrived by small boat – are securing work as fast food delivery riders within hours of entering Britain. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said he had found evidence of asylum seekers breaking rules which bar them from working while their claim is processed by the Home Office. The Tory politician visited an asylum hotel in central London and posted a video showing bicycles fitted with delivery boxes for Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats parked outside. Days later, the Home Office said it had called in all three companies for a dressing down – and the meeting led to pledges to introduce 'facial recognition' systems on rider apps, such as those used by banks to confirm someone's identity. However, Deliveroo was refused access to hotel location data despite assurances it would be treated confidentially, the Times reported. Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam said at the time: 'The fact that the Home Office is refusing to help them just shows how topsy-turvy this country's approach to migration has become. 'Crossing the Channel illegally is a crime. Working here illegally is a crime. 'Too many people are brazenly breaking the rules and it's a disgrace that the Home Office is aiding and abetting them.' Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime at the Home Office, said: 'This next step of co-ordinated working with delivery firms will help us target those who seek to work illegally in the gig economy and exploit their status in the UK. 'My teams will continue to carry out increased enforcement activity across the UK and I welcome this additional tool to disrupt and stop the abuse of our immigration system.' The Government has also announced the trialling of AI-powered facial recognition technology to determine whether Channel migrants are being wrongly identified as children. The Home Office announced testing on new technology will begin later this year with the hope it could be fully integrated into the asylum system in 2026. Ministers admitted that assessing the age of asylum seekers is 'an incredibly complex and difficult task' but said AI might soon provide quick and cost-effective results. More than 23,000 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, up more than 50 per cent on the same point last year and the highest number in the first six months since figures began in 2018. The Home Office says there are 32,345 asylum seekers being put up at taxpayer expense in hotels, with another 66,683 in houses and flats.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Domino's Beats on Same-Store Sales, Misses on EPS
Domino's Pizza (DPZ, Financials) topped expectations on same-store sales growth in the second quarter but missed analyst forecasts on earnings per share. Shares dipped about 1% Monday. U.S. same-store sales rose 3.4% from a year ago, while international sales increased 2.4%both ahead of Visible Alpha consensus. Revenue matched estimates at $1.15 billion, up 4% year over year. However, adjusted EPS dropped 5.5% to $3.81, slightly below expectations. CEO Russell Weiner said Domino's is now fully rolled out on the two largest aggregators, referencing new partnerships with DoorDash (DASH, Financials) and Uber Eats (UBER, Financials). The company ended its exclusive agreement with Uber in May and added stores to DoorDash earlier this year. Weiner pointed to Domino's supply chain, advertising scale, and loyalty program as competitive advantages, saying the company is well-positioned moving forward. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Domino's regains US sales momentum in Q2
This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Domino's posted U.S. same-store sales growth of 3.4% in the U.S. during the second quarter, according to an earnings release. Both delivery and carryout sales grew during the quarter and the chain is now fully rolled out with DoorDash and Uber Eats, Domino's CEO Russell Weiner said in a statement. This momentum contrasts a same-store sales dip of 0.5% during the first quarter, which was driven by negative traffic and a slight decline in its sales mix. During that period, Domino's posted higher carryout sales that typically have a lower ticket than delivery, according to a Q1 2025 earnings call. Dive Insight: Domino's strong quarterly sales could indicate a return of positive momentum in the QSR pizza delivery segment. During the first quarter, all of the top three pizza delivery chains delivered negative same-store sales results. Domino's has several sales drivers in the works including the addition of its Parmesan Stuffed Crust pizza, growth in third-party aggregator marketplaces and ongoing value propositions and promotions. During a Monday call with investors, Weiner said the chain's rollout of DoorDash went 'extremely well' as Domino's learned from its previous launch of Uber Eats. The company completed its rollout with DoorDash nationwide by the end of the second quarter. Domino's is now beginning to market on the platform 'with investments coming on both sides.' The company expects sales from DoorDash to impact the second half of the year. Domino's U.S. same-store sales The pizza delivery chain recovered sales momentum in Q2 2025 after a dip in sales during Q1 2025. Delivery same-store sales also were up 1.5% during the quarter, CFO Sandeep Reddy said during the call. This reversed a trend of negative comps across several quarters in this channel. This sales momentum could grow more as Domino's gains additional market share on Uber Eats and DoorDash as awareness grows. 'We think we should have our fair share on these platforms and so that means we've got a lot to go on DoorDash, and we've got more to go on Uber,' Weiner said. 'We're going to continue to grow market share over the next few years, so that number is always going to increase. I don't think it's far-fetched to say that we should have the same or similar market share on aggregators as we do outside.' Weiner previously said the company believes that third-party delivery could become a $1 billion sales driver for the chain.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Domino's belated stuffed crust and delivery investments drive 3.4% sales growth
You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletter. Domino's Pizza reported 3.4% same-store sales growth for the second quarter ended June 15 — its highest sales rate in a year — as the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based chain's "Hungry for More" strategy began to pay dividends. CEO Russell Weiner attributed the healthy quarterly performance to the successful launch of the company's first stuffed crust pizza and the expansion of delivery partnerships with Uber Eats and DoorDash. Domino's Pizza rolled out Parmesan stuffed crust pizza early in the second quarter, notably becoming the last major quick-service pizza chain to offer stuffed crust pizza, prompting Pizza Hut to call out its competitor for bandwagon innovation 30 years after Pizza Hut came out with stuffed crust. 'Customers love Parmesan stuffed crust pizza,' Weiner said during a call with investors on Monday. 'The early read shows that the addition of stuffed crust should be a market share catalyst for us over time, as this was a big reason why Domino's customers would go elsewhere in the past.' Domino's was also a late entrant into the delivery aggregation channel, as the company for years held out by only offering first-party delivery as a brand differentiator. The pizza chain first announced a brand-first partnership with Uber Eats in 2023, which expanded to DoorDash in April. Weiner mentioned that last quarter, both the delivery and carryout businesses were strong, while the company had previously relied on the carryout channel to drive revenue growth. 'The expectation is that our sales on DoorDash will build as awareness and marketing increases,' Weiner said. 'We're now fully rolled out on the two largest aggregators, and with the stuffed crust, we now have all the major crust types on our menu. We have never had this many tools at our disposal to capture market share. This will be how we drive best in class results and long-term value creation for our franchisees and shareholders.' Besides catching up to competitors with menu innovation and delivery partnerships, Domino's is focusing on its loyalty program, which was revamped in 2023, and continues to be a growth driver for the brand as membership increases. 'I expect Domino's Rewards to be a multi-year sales driver,' Weiner said. 'We have a strong slate of initiatives ready to go for the rest of the year, including our 'Best Deal Ever' promotion, which is currently running through early August. We will continue to give customers what they want, which is more value in an environment where they remain pressured.' For the second quarter ended June 15, Domino's net income declined 7.7% to $131.1 million, or $3.81 per share, compared to $142 million, or $4.03 a share, in the prior-year period. Revenues increased 4.3% to $1.15 billion, compared to $1.1 billion in the same quarter last year. Domino's opened 178 net new stores globally, for a total of 21,536 locations. Contact Joanna at Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
12-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Can You Share Meals Over Zoom? One Startup Thinks So
At the height of the pandemic, Vishal Patel noticed a shift in his workday. Meetings hadn't stopped— they'd multiplied. But the shared meals, coffee breaks, and casual conversations that once brought people together had quietly disappeared. 'People were still meeting,' he said. 'But they weren't connecting.' With a background in tech, communications and a lifelong interest in logistics, Patel saw an opportunity: what if the social glue of shared meals could be brought back—virtually? That insight sparked the creation of GreetEat (OTC: GEAT), a startup he now leads as chief executive. The platform, which quietly rolled out across the U.S. and Canada after a beta launch, lets users attach meal vouchers to virtual meetings, delivered through Uber Eats. Attendees receive a credit before a video call, order their food from a local restaurant, and log in to join a meeting where everyone is sharing a meal— together, apart. 'Our biggest advantage? Billing goes straight to the HR department. The employee doesn't need to worry about receipts or reimbursements— it's all taken care of,' says Patel. It's not just a feel-good idea. As Patel sees it, it's a fix for one of remote work's most persistent flaws. 'People are working longer hours and attending more meetings, but they're more isolated than ever,' he said. 'Food has always been a cultural equalizer. We're just making it logistically possible again.' GreetEat allows users to attach Uber Eats meal vouchers to virtual meetings, giving attendees a ... More credit to order food from a local restaurant before the call. Remote Workers can now share meals From catered team brainstorms to donuts in the break room, meals are an unspoken but impactful part of on-site corporate culture. But in the era of hybrid and fully remote work, that has all but disappeared. What's replaced it— scheduled video calls— often feel sterile. 'It's significantly more difficult to establish trust in virtual environments,' write Mark Mortensen and Heidi K. Gardner in Harvard Business Review. 'The transition to remote work has resulted in a critical gap: virtual meetings lack the human touch that shared meals bring," says Patel. "Our vision is to merge technology and hospitality to recreate the joy of dining together, no matter the distance.' Patel is betting that food can help close the social gap in remote work— and he's not alone. ChefPassport and KraftyLab launched in 2018 and 2017, respectively, offering virtual cooking classes and food-based team events. And other companies have experimented with meal stipends and virtual happy hours to rebuild cohesion. But these efforts are typically piecemeal, lacking a streamlined way to host meetings and integrate food. Most fall apart under logistical challenges: coordinating orders, managing reimbursements, dealing with receipts. GreetEat tries to solve that with a single interface. The platform integrates video conferencing with on-demand food delivery, allowing hosts to attach meal vouchers to virtual meetings. Participants order from local restaurants, and Uber Eats handles real-time delivery through its global network. The entire process— from scheduling to tracking and reconciliation— is managed seamlessly within one system. 'This is a transformational leap forward for remote engagement,' says Patel. 'By joining forces with Uber Eats, we've eliminated borders, bottlenecks, and logistical friction. Now, companies can create rich, shared experiences that foster connection, culture, and community at scale.' For now, the platform operates on a subscription model for businesses, with GreetEat earning a fee per transaction through its Uber Eats integration. Additional partnerships with DoorDash, Grubhub, and other services are in the pipeline, as are integrations with HR platforms like Workday and SAP, and gaming platforms such as Steam, PlayStation and Xbox. More than just meals GreetEat targets office workers— the millions now tethered to screens. According to 2025 data from Gallup, 80% of remote-capable employees work fully or partially from home. Zoom alone hosts 350 million daily participants and logs over 3.3 trillion meeting minutes annually. More than half of fully remote leaders spend at least three hours a day in virtual meetings. That's alot of missed, hurried and isolated meals. And GreetEat's potential extends well beyond the typical team lunch. A tech company might use it for virtual onboarding, allowing new hires to select a meal before joining their first team meeting. A design agency could incorporate it into client pitch sessions, creating a more engaging and hospitable experience. An e-sports organization could adapt the platform to reward players with food deliveries after hitting key milestones during marathon tournaments. 'Remote work didn't eliminate food,' Patel said. 'It just eliminated the context where we used to share it.' Shared meals and remote work culture Vishal Patel, Founder and CEO of GreetEat In a world where companies offer allowances for everything from mental health apps to standing desks, Patel thinks food deserves the same status— not as a perk, but as a core driver of productivity. 'There's a budget line for productivity tools, another for wellness,' he said. 'Food cuts across both. It makes people show up.' And he might just be right. A recent ezCater report found that 53% of employees feel more productive when their employer provides free food, and 42% say it also improves the quality of their work. The impact goes beyond convenience— nearly a third of workers don't take time away from their desks to eat, a habit that can contribute to burnout and reduced performance. Whether companies agree remains to be seen. GreetEat is still early-stage. What's clear is that GreetEat is attempting to formalize a part of work culture that had, until now, gone largely unaddressed. And according to Patel, early adopters are seeing strong results: meetings with GreetEat vouchers show attendance increases of up to 60%, along with higher engagement and satisfaction. Companies also report reduced HR burdens tied to expense tracking and reimbursements. As a bonus, integrated virtual dining is proving to be a valuable recruitment and retention tool— especially among younger, remote-first workers who prioritize flexibility and lifestyle benefits. At its core is a simple proposition: that people still want to eat together, even when they're apart— and that shared meals, however digitally reconstructed, still matter. 'We didn't invent anything new,' Patel said. 'We just tried to remove the friction from something very old.'
