Just Eat joins forces with Dragon's Den star to boost independent restaurants

Just Eat has joined forces with ex-Dragon's Den star Sarah Willingham to launch a Business Booster programme in a bid to help independents realise their growth potential.

Research carried out by Just Eat found that 59% of restaurateurs believe they will grow their businesses in the next five years. However, 65% are concerned about maintaining current profitability levels.

In a bid to help, Just Eat has teamed up with Willingham to provide advice through blogs. As well as this, Willingham, who has held senior management roles at PizzaExpress and oversaw the growth of Bombay Bicycle Club, will give five successful businesses one-to-one mentoring.

Willingham said: "It's amazing to see such energy and drive from independent restaurant owners to grow their business despite the challenging conditions that we continue to see in the casual dining sector.

"When you run a small business so much time is spent on the day-to-day management that it is hard to focus on growing the business. But there still exists many opportunities for independent food outlets: from making the most of the rise of marketplaces like Just Eat to the simple tricks that will help them to find efficiencies or be a bit more commercially savvy."

Graham Corfield, UK managing director at Just Eat, said: "As the market leader in online food delivery, we are committed to helping independent restaurants thrive. Whether it's using our technology to help them reach a broader customer base, our data to help restaurant owners make more informed business decisions, or our scale in negotiating nationwide deals to help reduce costs."

Any of the 28,900 restaurants within Just Eat's network can apply to win one-to-one mentoring at www.just-eat.co.uk/campaigns/businessboosters. Applications close on 1 July 2018.

Just Eat reports 45% revenue increase in 2017 following acquisitions>>

Takeaway and delivery apps pledge to reduce plastic waste>>

Get The Caterer every week on your smartphone, tablet, or even in good old-fashioned hard copy (or all three!).