NZ-owned and operated company launches food delivery service in response to COVID-19 Level 3.
With its services on hold since 25 March, the move from level 4 restrictions to level 3, gave Flamingo an opportunity to operate some of its fleet safely again whilst simultaneously supporting local restaurants and businesses by providing them with a way to reach their customers. Since conception four weeks ago, Flamingo has had more than 50 hospitality businesses sign up as a partner. Some of these include; Khu Khu Eatery and Ika Bowl in Auckland, Portofino and Little India in Wellington and MexicaliFresh and Rollickin Gelato in Christchurch. This new offering has also generated between 500-600 jobs across the country, allowing Kiwis to pick up some additional work on their own schedule when they sign up as a delivery partner. To date, 100 delivery partners are employed, inducted and standing by for their first orders and 500 applications are being processed.
Unlike its competitors, The Flamingo Food service is structured so that delivery partners are paid per delivery based on distance, as opposed to taking commission on a delivery partners’ fee. This means that as a delivery partner, you keep the money you make. Another point of difference is that customers will be charged a flat rate fee of $5.00 for delivery, as opposed to varying from restaurant to restaurant.
For restaurant partners, a one-time activation fee to set up the restaurant including the software, a tablet and a professional photoshoot is required. Following this, Flamingo takes just 20-25% commission on all Flamingo Food orders to cover all service, delivery and administration fees. It was important to Flamingo to offer a special and competitive commission rate to its restaurant partners as they get back up and running at this time.
Restaurant partners advertise their menus on the interactive Flamingo Food app, which customers then use to search for and order their favourite food. Orders are then received directly through a tablet that is provided to each restaurant and once ready, Flamingo’s delivery team collects and delivers these orders to the customer on a Flamingo E-scooter. Each delivery partner is provided with their own Flamingo e-scooter and an insulated delivery backpack to keep the food warm and secure. At this stage, delivery partners are able to ride their e-scooter at a radius of approximately 4kms to ensure the quality of the food being delivered.
The Flamingo E-scooters used for delivery are made by the highly regarded manufacturer Segway-Ninebot, and for which Flamingo has a robust safety check process in place to ensure the entire fleet is monitored, well-maintained and safe to operate. In response to COVID-19, delivery partners adhere to strict hygiene and safety requirements and deliveries are contactless.
In June last year, Aucklanders welcomed Flamingo to their streets as the company officially launched in New Zealand. The trial has seen significant success for the NZ start-up, founded by young Wellingtonian entrepreneurs Nick Hyland and Jacksen Love, with Kiwis flocking to use its services. Flamingo continues to proudly hold its position as the only NZ-owned operator and the only company to be operating in NZ’s three biggest cities - Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
“We couldn’t be more excited to launch the Flamingo Food service to Kiwis and bring their favourite local restaurants’ food to their doorstep. We’re proud to have the opportunity to work alongside our amazing restaurant partners and support them as they get back into business by utilising our services as we move out of Level 4,” says Love. Nick Hyland adds, “This time has been challenging for all of us and as a locally owned company, we’re all about Kiwis supporting Kiwis, we know what people want from us and we will continue to listen and respond accordingly.”
To make the most of the Flamingo Food service in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, customers will need to download and open the ‘Flamingo Food’ mobile app, available now on the App Store and Google Playstore, where they can search and select food for their favourite local restaurants and cafes.