Unlocking Growth: Expanding Access to Capital for Restaurant Partners

Restaurant owner handing pizza boxes to a Delivery Hero rider at the counter

At a glance

Financing partnership rolled out across multiple European markets
Helping hundreds of restaurants
Faster, more flexible alternative to traditional loans
Enables investment in growth, hiring, and operations

Through a partnership with finmid, Delivery Hero is helping restaurants access the capital they need to grow, strengthening our role as an economic amplifier supporting local business expansion.

For many small and medium-sized restaurants, access to financing remains a major barrier to growth. Traditional loans can be slow, complex and difficult to secure, limiting the ability of businesses to invest in equipment, expand operations, or manage working capital.

Delivery Hero is addressing this challenge by helping restaurants access third party financial services. Through an expanded partnership with financial infrastructure provider finmid, eligible restaurant partners across several European markets can now access fast, flexible financing tailored to their needs.

The solution allows vendors to apply for cash advances directly through the platform, with a streamlined approval process that is significantly faster than traditional banking channels. Repayments are linked to sales, making financing more accessible and aligned with business performance.

Following a successful pilot at foodora in Austria and Glovo in Spain and Portugal, the offering has now expanded to additional markets, including eFood in Greece. Already, over a thousand restaurant partners have accessed funding through the program, enabling them to invest in their businesses and unlock new growth opportunities.

The impact goes beyond individual businesses. Access to capital enables restaurants to expand, hire staff, upgrade operations, and increase purchasing from suppliers – generating wider economic activity across local markets.

"I'm so happy about it because it's so hard to get money. I used it for marketing and to upgrade my restaurant."
Mario, restaurant owner in Austria

As part of Delivery Hero’s wider ecosystem, initiatives like this contribute to a model where economic value flows to partners, reinforcing our role as an economic amplifier operating at scale.

Scaling Local Success: Supporting Emirati Entrepreneurs Through talabat Grow

At a glance

Partnership with Dubai SME (Dept. of Economy & Tourism) to support the D33 Economic Agenda
12-month program supporting Emirati-owned restaurants
Delivered through talabat grow SME enablement platform
Focus on training, mentorship and commercial support
Supporting local entrepreneurship and SME ecosystem growth

Through Emirati Chef’s Table Plus, talabat is helping local businesses scale by combining training, technology and commercial support to strengthen the UAE’s SME ecosystem.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in shaping local economies, driving innovation and creating jobs. As Dubai marches toward its D33 goal of doubling the city’s economic footprint, the mandate to transition local talent into scalable digital businesses has never been more crucial. In the UAE, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs is a key national priority, particularly for homegrown businesses looking to grow sustainably in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Launched officially at the World Governments Summit, the Emirati Chef’s Table Plus is talabat’s flagship response to this national priority. In collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, this initiative moves beyond traditional mentorship to offer a comprehensive, 12-month commercial roadmap for Emirati-owned restaurants.

talabat Grow program for Emirati entrepreneurs

Building on the success of the original Emirati Chef’s Table program focused on brand awareness, this enhanced initiative is designed for commercial acceleration. By leveraging the talabat grow enablement platform, Emirati-owned restaurants gain access to the same high-level data and digital tools used by global franchises. talabat is bridging the gap to long-term success through a structured model of training, mentorship, and commercial enablement.

The program is divided into two critical phases:

The Scaling Bootcamp: An intensive six-week period focusing on operational excellence, menu engineering for delivery, and digital marketing.
Continuous Enablement: A long-term support phase where entrepreneurs receive one-to-one advisory and performance optimization to ensure their growth is both profitable and sustainable.

"Through this strategic partnership with talabat, we are enabling Emirati-owned restaurants to scale with confidence, strengthen their competitiveness, and play a lasting role in Dubai's food and hospitality ecosystem."
Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, Acting CEO of Dubai SME

By combining Emirati culinary heritage with talabat’s technological infrastructure, the initiative does more than help restaurants navigate the digital marketplace, it empowers them to lead it.

From neighbourhood roots to city-wide scale: growing The Hood with online orders

At a glance

Founded in 2016, inspired by hip-hop culture and local community
Expanded from a single location to four points of sale
On demand online orders account for approximately 30% of total turnover
Dedicated orders coordination and kitchen garnishing teams
Supporting SME scaling and menu innovation through digital reach

Through partnership with SMEs like The Hood, Glovo is supporting local restaurants to scale sustainably while maintaining a strong cultural identity.

In Tunisia’s competitive culinary landscape, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face a choice between maintaining a local identity and achieving commercial scale. For Samer Rabii, manager of The Hood, the solution lay in bridging the gap between a brand rooted in “the neighborhood” and a high-tech delivery ecosystem. Since its founding in 2016, The Hood has grown from a passion project inspired by urban hip-hop culture into a thriving network of four points of sale, driven by a strategic partnership with Glovo.

The brand’s identity is deeply connected to its community, yet Samer recognized that physical foot traffic alone would not reach the business’s full potential. Since establishing a digital presence, the impact on The Hood’s bottom line has been transformative. The partnership now represents approximately 30% of the brand’s total turnover, providing the financial stability necessary to reinvest in the business and expand its footprint across the city.

To manage this increase in demand without compromising quality, The Hood has introduced specialized roles, including a dedicated order coordinator who manages the interface between the kitchen and couriers. Additionally, kitchen staff are organized into specific “garnishing” teams focused exclusively on delivery orders. This structured model ensures that the high-volume demand from the platform is met with the same precision as in-store service.

This operational efficiency has created a foundation for menu innovation. While The Hood is recognized as a local reference for the Makloub, a traditional Tunisian stuffed flatbread, the stability of their digital revenue has allowed them to experiment with new concepts, such as a Shawarma-stuffed Makloub. This blending of traditional flavors with modern street-food trends reflects a business that is evolving alongside its customer base.

"The partnership is growing with us, and we are growing with it."
Samer Rabii, Manager, The Hood

By providing the tools for data-driven growth and a reliable logistics engine, Glovo is enabling local entrepreneurs like Samer to scale their businesses while staying true to their cultural roots.

Such collaborations show how digital platforms can act as economic amplifiers for the hospitality sector.

At a Glance

~30%

of total turnover from delivery

points of sale across the city

Building Stronger Businesses: Supporting SME Growth Through talabat Academy

talabat Academy SME training program in Egypt

At a glance

talabat Academy (t-Academy) supporting SME growth through education
Delivered in partnership with AHK Egypt
20 businesses trained in latest Egypt cohort
+18% increase in orders post-training
-3% reduction in failed orders
Focus on digital optimisation, operations and marketing

Through talabat Academy, Delivery Hero is equipping small businesses with the tools, insights and capabilities they need to grow.

Across emerging markets, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are a critical driver of economic growth. Yet many face challenges in adapting to digital commerce, optimizing operations and reaching customers effectively in an increasingly competitive environment.

talabat is addressing this through talabat Academy (t-Academy), a structured learning program designed to help partners unlock growth through Quick Commerce. Delivered in collaboration with expert organizations such as the German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Egypt), the program provides tailored, industry-specific training that reflects the real needs of local businesses.

SME partners during talabat Academy training session

Participants gain practical, hands-on knowledge across key areas of business performance including digital menu optimization, customer behavior analysis, operational efficiency and targeted marketing strategies. By combining platform data with expert-led training, talabat Academy enables even small, local businesses to access the tools and insights typically associated with larger, more established brands.

The most recent edition in Egypt focused on health and beauty partners, bringing together 20 SME owners for a dedicated training program. The results demonstrate the tangible impact of capability-building at a local level.

Within one month of completing the program, participating businesses saw:

An 18% increase in order volume

A 3% reduction in failed orders, reflecting improved operational efficiency

These outcomes highlight how targeted support can translate directly into business performance and help partners grow sustainably while improving the customer experience.

By focusing on long-term capability rather than short-term gains, talabat Academy supports SMEs in building more resilient and scalable businesses. Improved visibility on the platform, stronger operational foundations and higher customer retention all contribute to sustained growth over time.

This reflects a broader role for platforms in today’s economy: not only enabling transactions, but actively investing in the success of the businesses they support.

At a Glance

+18%

increase in order volume post-training

-3%

reduction in failed orders

Building Better Businesses: Eleven Years of Supporting Restaurant Growth Through Baemin Academy

Baemin Academy restaurant partner education program in South Korea

At a glance

300,000+ restaurant partners trained since 2014
Blended learning: in-person, live and on-demand courses
Curriculum covering marketing, operations, hygiene and customer experience
Includes AI-powered training and one-on-one counselling
Supporting long-term SME growth and competitiveness

Through Baemin Academy, Delivery Hero is equipping restaurant partners with the skills, knowledge and support they need to succeed.

In an increasingly competitive and digital-first marketplace, restaurant owners face growing pressure to adapt, from managing operations and maintaining quality, to understanding customer expectations and digital platforms. Access to practical, relevant education can make a critical difference in helping small businesses thrive.

Since 2014, Woowa has been addressing this need through Baemin Academy, a dedicated education program designed to support restaurant partners at every stage of their journey.

Over the past eleven years, the Academy has become Korea’s leading restaurant business education platform, training more than 300,000 partners as of April 2025. The program combines in-person learning at dedicated centres in Seoul and Gyeonggi with live and on-demand online courses, ensuring that training is accessible, flexible and tailored to the realities of running a restaurant.

The curriculum spans both foundational and advanced topics, from business management and marketing to customer service, safety and hygiene. Through AI-powered, hands-on training programs and one-on-one counselling, partners gain practical skills they can apply immediately, helping them improve performance, adapt to changing demand and better connect with their customers.

Collaboration with government agencies further strengthens the program, ensuring that training aligns with industry standards and provides timely, relevant guidance to support day-to-day operations.

"When everything felt overwhelming, Baemin Academy was like a guiding light. It helped me understand my customers and rediscover confidence in my business."
Baemin partner

By combining education, technology and tailored support, Baemin Academy is helping restaurant owners build stronger, more sustainable businesses. Beyond individual success, this contributes to a more dynamic and resilient food ecosystem, where partners are better equipped to grow, compete and deliver value to their communities.

At a Glance

Partners trained

300,000+

restaurant partners since 2014

Legacy

11 years

of dedicated education through Baemin Academy

From farm to table: building a resilient restaurant model with Krud

At a glance

Founded by partners with backgrounds in agribusiness
Strong farm-to-table model built on direct sourcing
Delivery accounts for ~25% of total turnover
Pivot to a dedicated dark kitchen during the pandemic
Community-led restaurant with a loyal local customer base

As shown by its partnership with Krud, Glovo is supporting restaurants to build more resilient, flexible business models.

For the founders of Krud, the path to becoming a culinary landmark in Romania was anything but linear.

Before opening Krud, Bogdan Ghinea worked closely with farmers and food producers across Romania. That experience became the foundation of the restaurant, with a farm-to-table philosophy and homemade produce.

Over time, a loyal customer base formed around the restaurant drawn to its familiar, community-oriented atmosphere. Manager Naiana notes that the restaurant has developed a distinct feeling of “cosiness” where regulars know one another as well as the staff. The founders even held their civil wedding in the restaurant’s garden.

However, even the strongest community faces trials. When the pandemic hit, the “cosiness” of a physical dining room was no longer enough to sustain a business. Ordering through Glovo quickly became essential, eventually accounting for around 25% of total turnover. “It’s what got us through 2020 and into 2021,” says Bogdan.

The stability of the partnership gave the team confidence to innovate further. Instead of waiting for the world to “return to normal,” Krud invested in a new dark kitchen focused solely on online orders, allowing them to maintain artisanal standards while scaling operations. Today, Krud operates a dual model: a welcoming in-restaurant experience paired with a structured, efficient ordering operation.

Krud stands as a testament to the resilience of local businesses. Bogdan, Naiana, and their team remain guided by the same mission they had on day one: serving food that honours the land and the people who produce it. By giving Krud access to an established customer base and supporting scaling through a dedicated dark kitchen, Glovo helps the team maintain artisanal quality while reaching more customers efficiently.

Such collaborations strengthen small businesses and contribute to a more resilient local food ecosystem, enabling small restaurants to grow sustainably, adapt to changing demand, and participate fully in the digital economy.

Unlocking Growth: Expanding Access to Finance for SMEs in Latin America

PedidosYa vendor partner at their store in Latin America

At a glance

80,000+ loans delivered across Latin America
€150 million in financing unlocked for SMEs
Funds available in under 48 hours
Supporting business expansion, investment and job creation
Designed around real-time platform data and performance

Across Latin America, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the economy, representing over 90% of businesses and employing over 60% of the workforce. Yet many face a common barrier: limited access to capital. Traditional financing can be slow, complex and out of reach, preventing businesses from investing, expanding or hiring.

PedidosYa is helping to close the gap through PedidosYa Créditos, a fintech solution designed to provide fast, accessible funding to businesses operating on its platform.

Since launching in 2022, the program has delivered more than 80,000 loans, totalling approximately €150 million, to SMEs across Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Uruguay, Honduras and Bolivia. This process is fully digital, with funds typically available within 48 hours, and automated payments, deducted directly from their weekly sales, enabling businesses to act quickly on growth opportunities.

Partners often highlight how the simple, secure, and automated repayment structure makes the credit a reliable solution for solving immediate operational issues.

"When we started, the beer tap wasn't well-chilled and customers complained. PedidosYa Créditos was accessible and fast. The payment method was the determining factor – it's simple and secure, automatically discounted from our weekly sales."
PedidosYa partner

Small business owner using PedidosYa Créditos financing

The model is designed to work with, not against, business realities. Loan amounts are tailored to each partner’s sales performance on the platform and repayments are automatically linked to future sales. This creates a more sustainable financing structure, reducing risk while supporting continued growth.

The Impact of a Single Order

For every

80,000+

loans delivered across Latin America

An additional

€150M

in financing unlocked for SMEs

The impact extends beyond individual businesses. By enabling SMEs to invest, expand operations and hire more staff, PedidosYa Créditos contributes to broader economic development across the region.

PedidosYa Créditos: helping SMEs access fast, flexible financing across Latin America.

As part of Delivery Hero’s wider ecosystem, this initiative demonstrates how platforms can go beyond connecting supply and demand, providing the financial infrastructure that helps businesses grow, scale, and succeed.