Liverpool has joined LA and Toronto on an exclusive deal making it easier, and cheaper, for the city’s hospitality businesses to have free food ordering and delivery during the coronavirus pandemic.

Liverpool BID Company and Liverpool Hospitality have joined forces to bring Ritual to Liverpool allowing bars and restaurants across the city to allow digital ordering, to accept takeout and delivery orders via their website, to accept orders via social media accounts and to accept contactless pickup and delivery online, commission free.

Ritual is a food ordering technology company that helps hospitality businesses to boost their digital presence. Liverpool restaurants that sign up before 31 December 2020 will get the Ritual ONE product free of charge until the end of January 2021, with no setup, subscription or processing fees.

Along with the ordering capability, the platform also offers QR code ordering and loyalty programmes.

The importance of digital technology and platforms has been heightened by the coronavirus pandemic, especially in Liverpool where hospitality businesses have been under varying levels of restrictions for six months of the year. While other platforms allow for food ordering, pickup and delivery, bars and restaurants are charged to be visible and pay commission fees.

Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool BID Company and chair of LVEN (Liverpool Visitor Economy Network) says:

“We’re delighted Liverpool is the first UK city Ritual is partnering with. Our bars and restaurants have had a torrid 2020 where their very survival has been in doubt. Digital services can be incredibly expensive, especially for small businesses, so we’re delighted that this free access will enable restaurants to reach their customers throughout the festive period”.

Chef Paul Askew is the founder of The Art School, Liverpool and Chair of Liverpool’s Restaurant Association.

“As we know first hand from the rapid development of our digital offer at the Art School, introducing digital services can be expensive and time consuming. These are resources that can be tough to put your hands on at the best of times! A platform that supports even the smallest micro business to the largest venues helps to ensure we have a fighting chance to keep doing what we love, serving excellent food to the people of Liverpool”

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