End of an Era for Australian Food Delivery
The Australian food delivery landscape is undergoing a significant shift as Menulog announces it will cease operations later this month. After nearly two decades of service, the platform will stop accepting orders from November 26, 2025, marking the end of an era for one of the country's pioneering delivery services.
Local Businesses React to the News
For Canberra cafe owner Selina Choi of Seoul Sistaz, the announcement comes as no surprise. Despite having Menulog as part of her delivery options since opening her Korean cafe over a year ago, the platform generated minimal business compared to competitors.
"Since opening last year, we've only received three or four orders in total from the app," Ms Choi revealed. "Whereas on Uber Eats - that's our most successful one - we'd get about 10 orders a day. And Hungry Panda is also quite good."
Ms Choi noted that while other delivery companies had visited her Canberra establishment to take professional photographs and provide active support, Menulog had shown significantly less engagement with local businesses.
Wider Impact and Industry Response
The closure will have substantial consequences across the industry. Menulog employs 120 staff members and relies on approximately 21,000 couriers throughout Australia. Managing director Morten Belling confirmed that eligible couriers would receive a four-week voluntary payment, while staff would be offered redundancy packages exceeding legal requirements.
Transport Workers Union National Secretary Michael Kaine described the closure as a "shock" for delivery drivers and highlighted ongoing concerns within the gig economy. "In the gig economy, workers are still languishing with below-minimum wage rates, no sick leave or superannuation, and deadly pressure to rush to make a living," Mr Kaine stated.
The union emphasized the urgent need for standards in the gig economy, noting that new laws introduced by the Albanese government should help level the playing field for remaining platforms including Uber Eats, Hungry Panda, DoorDash, and Easi.
Customers with unused vouchers or credits have until November 26 to redeem them, as the platform will become inactive after 23:59 AEDT on that date. Menulog's departure follows similar exits from the Australian market by Foodora in 2018 and Deliveroo in 2022, signaling ongoing challenges in the competitive food delivery sector.
