Local man launching food ordering service 'Lichfield Eats'

The company is a franchise of the company 'Local Eats', which helps franchisees launch in their area.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Mark said: "I have a few friends in the restaurant and takeaway business and we were speaking about the commissions they pay to the deliver companies, and I thought that we should do our own, with a local feel being the main point.

"At the moment delivery services charge commissions between 10 and 30 per cent, and so these are high in comparison with what we are set to charge, and we will also be reducing the price of the actual items on the menus which are often inflated on the delivery service apps.

"To give it a local feel, we added the Lichfield Cathedral into the logo, so that people in the area would recognise it.

"The three postcode areas in Lichfield and surrounding areas will be covered by us, spanning approximately 6-8 miles."

According to Mark, Lichfield Eats is set to launch at the beginning of August, and they currently have 21 food businesses signed up to use their service, and they are continuing to search for more sign-ups from local restaurants.

Speaking about what makes Lichfield Eats different, Mark added: "The price is the biggest difference.

"We are going directly to the restaurants and will be charging just 7.5 per cent commission, and will be giving free advertising to the food businesses on our social media pages and website, and will also be advertising around the area with banners.

"The whole concept is to help restaurants pay a lower commission, and also customers will get their food for cheaper as their items that they order will be cheaper on Lichfield Eats than other apps because they have increased prices.

"For drivers, 90 per cent of the businesses have their own delivery drivers and so they will be using their own, otherwise our app will run as a click and collect service.

"So if the takeaway or restaurant has their own driver, then the customer can have their order delivered.

"We may introduce delivery drivers in the future depending on success.

"The local people are excited and the reaction has been positive.

"At the moment we have around 1,300 followers on Facebook, and I am going around Lichfield talking with people and creating awareness, which is making people happy that it is coming.

"The other food ordering apps have a stranglehold and monopoly, so we would eventually like to get around 50 per cent of the customers that use these apps, that would be great but of course over time.

"I spent a lot of time in Lichfield as a child, it is a welcoming place with a great community and so I'm glad to be doing this"

The smartphone app will be available to download on the relevant app stores in the next couple of weeks, and the website will be launched alongside.

Some of the restaurants in Lichfield that have signed up are:

• Qmin Indian Fusion
• Siam Corner Mama Thai
• Lombard Chinese Takeaway
• Eastern Eye Indian Brasserie
• Jannat Indian restaurant
• Zaazi at the Lodge
• Shenstone Country Club - Punjabi Kitchen
• The Valley Fish bar & pizzeria

Mark added: "We have also signed up several local food vans and a number of local businesses trading from residential addresses.

"Our app will give them scope to increase their customer base and potentially gain them additional orders."