The Delivery App Problem

You're Paying Too Much for Your Own Customers

Here's what delivery apps cost you:

• Uber Eats: 30-35% commission
• Deliveroo: 25-30% commission
• Just Eat: 14% + VAT + fees = ~20-25% total

Real example:

• Customer orders £20 worth of pizza via Deliveroo
• You pay £6-7 in commission
• Customer thinks they're loyal to Deliveroo, not you
• Next time, Deliveroo shows them your competitors
• You have no way to contact this customer directly

The £1 billion problem: UK delivery apps take £1bn+ annually from restaurants in commission fees. That's £1 billion that could have gone to independent business owners like you.

You Don't See the Customer

When someone orders via delivery apps:

• ✗ You get zero visibility on who they are
• ✗ You can't understand their ordering patterns
• ✗ They might order from a competitor next time
• ✗ The app controls the relationship, not you
• ✗ You're paying 30% for customers who were already yours

This is not sustainable for independent takeaways.

Why Takeaways & Pizza Shops Choose Lokaly

Built to Reduce Delivery App Dependency

We're not saying "stop using delivery apps." They're useful for discovery. But your regular customers - the ones who order every Friday - shouldn't be costing you 30% commission every single time.

Lokaly gives you an alternative:

• Reward customers who order direct (phone, collection, your own website)
• Gain full visibility via customer insights dashboard
• Send campaigns via Lokaly's platform (no app middleman)
• Encourage repeat direct orders with stamp cards

Still use delivery apps for new customers. Use Lokaly for your regulars.

Staff-Worn NFC = Perfect for Collection Orders

Unlike QR codes that get lost or delivery app systems that don't apply to phone orders, Lokaly's NFC tags work for every order type:

Collection orders:

• Customer collects pizza at counter
• Staff holds out NFC lanyard
• Customer taps phone, gets stamp
• Takes 2 seconds

Phone orders:

• Customer phones in order
• Collects at counter
• Taps NFC tag when they arrive
• Gets stamp for ordering direct

Own website orders:

• Customer orders via your website (no commission)
• Collects at shop
• Taps for stamp
• Rewarded for avoiding delivery apps

This means:

• ✓ No commission paid to third parties
• ✓ Full visibility into customer behaviour
• ✓ Customer loyalty to YOU, not to delivery app
• ✓ Staff control every stamp (fraud prevention)
• ✓ GDPR compliance handled professionally by Lokaly

Want to understand digital loyalty systems? Read our complete guide to digital stamp cards.

How Lokaly Works for Takeaways

For Your Customers (30 seconds)

1. Download the free Lokaly app (iOS/Android)
2. Order direct (phone, collection, your website - NOT through delivery apps)
3. Tap their phone to your staff's NFC lanyard when collecting
4. Collect stamps automatically
5. Get free pizza when card is full

Simple message: "Order direct, collect stamps, get free food."

For You (10 minutes)

1. Create your account at merchant.lokaly.co.uk
2. Design your stamp card: "9 pizzas, get 10th free"
3. Choose what counts: Collection orders? Phone orders? Website orders?
4. Clip NFC tags to your counter staff's uniforms
5. Promote direct ordering: "Order direct and collect stamps for free pizza"

Your team presents the NFC tag when customers collect. That's it.

The Economics

• Delivery app order: £20 pizza = £6 commission to app = You keep £14
• Direct order with Lokaly: £20 pizza = £0 commission = You keep £20
• Free 10th pizza costs you: ~£3-5 in ingredients
• Savings: £6 per order vs giving away £3 every 10 orders

Lokaly is 10x cheaper than paying delivery app commissions.

Delivery Apps vs Direct Orders with Lokaly

Reality Check

If you sell 100 pizzas per week at £15 average via delivery apps:

• Annual commission paid: £23,400-46,800 (30% of £78,000)
• Lokaly annual cost: £120 (£10/month)
• Potential savings: £23,280-46,680/year

Even if only 30% of customers switch to direct ordering, you save thousands.

Perfect for UK Takeaways & Pizza Shops

🍕 Independent Pizza Shops

Challenge: Domino's and Papa John's have their own apps, you're stuck paying Just Eat 30%

Lokaly Solution: Your own loyalty program to compete

• "9 pizzas, get 10th free" stamp card
• Reward phone orders (avoid app commission)
• Reward collection orders (better margins than delivery)
• Gain customer insights for direct marketing via Lokaly

Example Setup:

• Card: "Buy 9 any-size pizzas, get 10th free"
• Stamp only for: Phone orders, collection orders, own website orders
• NO stamps for: Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats orders
• Message: "Order direct and save - plus collect stamps!"

🥡 Chinese, Indian & Asian Takeaways

Challenge: Customers use delivery apps out of convenience, not preference

Lokaly Solution: Make direct ordering convenient AND rewarding

• Stamp cards for different order types (collection, delivery, phone)
• Reward customers who call directly
• Understand your regulars for CNY/Diwali campaign targeting
• Encourage midweek orders with bonus stamps

🌮 Fast Food & Quick Service

Challenge: High volume, low margins - can't afford 30% commission

Lokaly Solution: Volume loyalty rewards

• Quick stamp collection (tap and go)
• "Buy 5 meals, get 6th free"
• Targets your high-frequency customers
• Works for collection and phone orders

🍗 Chicken Shops & Kebab Shops

Challenge: Late-night customers order via apps because it's easy

Lokaly Solution: Make phone orders just as rewarding

• "10 orders, get free meal" card
• Works 24/7 for late-night phone orders
• Understand late-night regulars via insights
• Send weekend promotions directly

Benefits for Takeaway Owners

1. See Your Customers (Finally)

With delivery apps:

• Customer orders £150 worth of food over 6 months
• You have ZERO visibility on who they are
• Can't send them a birthday offer
• Can't tell them about new menu items
• Delivery app might show them your competitor next time

With Lokaly:

• Customer orders £150 worth of food, collects stamps
• You see their name, visit patterns, order frequency in your insights dashboard
• Send campaigns via Lokaly: "Thanks for being a regular - here's 20% off this weekend"
• They see YOUR message, not a delivery app advert
• Full visibility + GDPR handled professionally by Lokaly

2. Reduce Commission Fees Dramatically

Let's do the maths on a typical independent pizza shop:

Current situation (all delivery app orders):

• 200 orders/month
• £15 average order
• £3,000 monthly revenue
• 30% commission = £900/month lost
• £10,800/year to delivery apps

After 6 months with Lokaly (30% switch to direct):

• 140 delivery app orders = £630 commission
• 60 direct orders = £0 commission
• Gave away 6 free pizzas (£24 ingredient cost)
• Monthly savings: £654
• Annual savings: £7,848

Lokaly Growth plan costs £120/year. ROI: 65x your investment.

3. Encourage Higher-Margin Orders

Not all orders are equal:

Delivery app order: Customer orders £18 pizza + £3 delivery fee → You pay £6.30 commission → Net to you: £14.70

Collection order with stamp: Customer orders £18 pizza → You pay £0 commission → Net to you: £18

£3.30 better off per order. Lokaly lets you promote collection orders with rewards, maximizing your margin while keeping customers happy.

4. Stop Competing on Price Alone

Delivery apps constantly push discount codes and train customers to wait for deals. Lokaly rewards frequency, not discounts. "Order 9 times, get 10th free" = loyalty, not price cutting.

5. Market Directly to Your Customers

What you CAN do with Lokaly customers:

• Birthday rewards: "Free dessert on your birthday"
• New menu: "Try our new burger - first 50 customers get double stamps"
• Quiet nights: "Monday special - 3x stamps on any order"
• Re-engagement: "We miss you - here's 20% off to come back"
• VIP treatment: Exclusive early access for top customers

All sent directly to their phone. No delivery app in between.

Pricing for Takeaways & Pizza Shops

Getting Started (Takes 10 Minutes)

Step 1: Create Your Loyalty Card (5 minutes)

Log into merchant.lokaly.co.uk and design your stamp card:

• For pizza shops: Card name: "Pizza Lover Card", Stamps required: 9 (customer gets 10th free)
• For general takeaways: "10 main dishes, get 11th free" or "5 collection orders, get free starter"

Pro tip: Create different cards for different goals - "Collection Card" for best margins, "Phone Order Card" for direct ordering.

Step 2: Set Up NFC Tags (2 minutes)

• Clip NFC tags to your counter staff's uniforms/aprons
• Position tags near the till/collection point
• Test by tapping your own phone

Step 3: Promote Direct Ordering (3 minutes)

This is crucial. Your customers won't know to order direct unless you tell them.

• In-shop: Poster at counter: "Order direct - collect stamps - get free pizza"
• Phone orders: "Did you know we have a loyalty app? Order direct and collect stamps"
• Social media: "Stop paying delivery fees to apps! Order direct, collect stamps, get free food"

Step 4: Train Your Team (5 minutes)

When customer collects food:

• If ordered via delivery app: "Did you know if you order direct next time you can collect stamps for free food?"
• If ordered direct: "Do you have our loyalty app? Great! Tap here for your stamp"

That's the entire training.

Real Takeaway Results

Want to see detailed takeaway case studies? Visit our case studies page

Compare Lokaly to Delivery App Loyalty Programs

Key insight: Delivery app loyalty programs build loyalty to THE APP, not to you. Lokaly builds loyalty to YOUR business.

Frequently Asked Questions