Advertise on podcast: The Delivery Prophets

What if the entire delivery revolution came down to one person who just wanted a decent meal brought to his door? That is essentially what happened. Will Shu, co-founder of Deliveroo, unpacks how delivery really began, why logistics is "shockingly complex," what the three sides of a delivery marketplace actually demand, and where drones, AI and dynamic pricing are taking the industry next. In this episode, we discuss: Building Deliveroo from a personal need into a global delivery platformBalancing consumers, merchants and riders in a complex three-sided marketplaceUsing data, machine learning and dynamic pricing to optimise delivery logisticsTrusting founder instinct while using data to make better decisionsHow AI, drones and changing consumer expectations could shape delivery’s future Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews

What happens when ChatGPT becomes your food ordering platform? The answer might transform how restaurants connect with customers forever. In this week's minisode, Peter catches up with Bites founder Bala Subramaniam on their breakthrough as the first AI native food marketplace integrated into ChatGPT. Discover how restaurants are bypassing traditional delivery apps to offer conversational ordering that keeps control of margins and customer data in-house. Links mentioned in this episode: Bala Subramaniam on LinkedIn Bites Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews

Sunny Chhina is the CEO and co-founder of The Fat Pizza, a rapidly expanding franchise operation opening one store per week across the UK. Starting in his family's Perfect Pizza business at age 12, Sunny has built a tech-forward delivery empire that combines traditional hospitality values with cutting-edge AI and automation. As chairman of the Pizza and Pasta Association, he shares insights on scaling through franchising, the future of delivery, and how family businesses can embrace innovation while maintaining their core essence. In this episode, we discuss: Growing from family pizza shop roots to tech-forward franchise empireUsing AI and automation to optimise delivery operations and menu personalisation  Franchising vs equity models and maintaining control while scaling rapidlyThe critical importance of volume and own-driver fleets in delivery successBalancing traditional hospitality values with modern technology innovation Links mentioned in this episode: Sunny Chhina on LinkedIn Fat Pizza  Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews

In this episode of Delivery Prophets: Tech Smart, JP Then, founder of Slerp, joins us to reveal how restaurants are quietly taking back control – one direct order at a time. From inventing the sourdough doughnut at Crosstown to building tech that lets even small operators access delivery networks once reserved for the giants, JP shows how ‘unbundling’ from the marketplaces is reshaping the game for everyone, not just the big brands. In this episode, we discuss: Unbundling delivery platforms and expanding restaurant optionsRise of direct ordering channels and customer data ownershipTechnical and operational challenges of delivery integrationDelivery’s shift from resistance to an essential revenue streamIncreasing role of AI and digital efficiency in operationsFuture trends: innovation in transport and ongoing digital growth Links mentioned in this episode: Connect with JP on LinkedIn Slerp Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews

In our second episode of Delivery Prophets: Tech Smart, we’re joined by Bala Subramaniam is the Founder of Bites, the AI-first restaurant marketplace built for POS providers and restaurants to reach diners directly across AI search. Drawing on his experience at Instacart and Amazon, Bala exposes how aggregator apps took control during the chaos of COVID, driving up costs for both restaurants and families. But change is on the horizon – Bala reveals how AI, decentralisation, and empowered POS systems could give restaurants back their customers and their profits. In this episode, we discuss: Post-pandemic power shifting from restaurants to aggregatorsHow delivery tech is rapidly evolving and reshaping restaurant operationsCurrent app models remain costly, inefficient and outdatedAI poised to democratise ordering and streamline deliveryDecentralised, POS-connected networks replacing traditional aggregators Links mentioned in this episode: Bala Subramaniam on LinkedIn Bites Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews

Jeremy Hibbert-Garibaldi is the founder and CEO of Collectiv Food, a company focused on decarbonisation and automating supply chains for restaurants. Together, we explore the meaning of “value” in delivery – whether through the convenience offered to consumers or the efficiency streamlined for restaurants – and the profound differences between food delivery platforms and wholesale distributors. In this episode, we discuss: Redefining value in food delivery servicesComparing restaurant delivery vs wholesale distribution modelsConvenience as a key driver for operators and consumersTechnology and automation reshaping food supply chainsSustainability and decarbonisation in delivery logistics Links mentioned in this episode: Jeremy Hibbert-Garibaldi on LinkedIn Collectiv Food Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews

In this minisode of The Delivery Prophets, Peter Backman chats with Charles Brafman, founder of &Dine – the fast-growing marketplace redefining how London’s businesses eat. From office lunches to high-end events, &Dine is connecting companies with independent food vendors, giving street-food chefs and small operators a powerful new route to scale. Charles lifts the lid on what makes the UK catering market so different from the US, how indie food brands can thrive in the B2B space, and why the next big opportunity might just be corporate dining. Tune into the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3C7MbCYxHm1ap5JI8jMzic

Welcome to the first ever Delivery Prophets: Tech Smart, brought to you by TheDelivery.World in partnership with S4D. In this conversation, host Peter Backman sits down with Benjamin Kool, CEO and founder of S4D, to examine the fast-changing world of food delivery technology. Together, they explore the pressures and opportunities facing restaurants as the global delivery market continues to surge, from navigating first-party versus third-party logistics to leveraging data as a driver of growth and competitive edge. Benjamin shares how S4D was founded to give restaurants back control of the customer journey, and why seamless omnichannel experiences are critical to staying ahead. If you’re looking to understand where food delivery tech is headed, and how to position your business for what’s next, this episode is for you. In this episode, we discuss: Shifting from third-party to first-party deliveryOmnichannel delivery’s hidden challenges and real payoffsWhy the right tech partners unlock operational innovationAI in restaurants: early adoption, lasting impactWhy delivery markets aren’t the same everywhereProfitability vs. control: the delivery model trade-off Links mentioned in this episode: S4D Connect with Benjamin Kool on LinkedIn Restaurant & Takeaway Expo/ Hospitality Tech Expo Attend Benjamin Kool’s Talk @ Restaurant & Takeaway Expo / Hospitality Tech Expo 2025 Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews

Gavin Smith from Pizza Pilgrims returns to the show to share how Pizza Pilgrims has navigated the ups and downs of the past year, from tackling rising costs and competitive pressures to the strategic move of appointing a dedicated delivery manager to drive growth on platforms like Deliveroo. The trio explore the challenges and opportunities in maintaining a great brand experience, both in-restaurant and through delivery, and get candid about topics like price parity, packaging innovations, and future trends like catering. In this episode, we discuss: Importance of clarity, communication, and win-win outcomes in deliveryHow Pizza Pilgrims drives delivery growth through dedicated leadershipLeveraging data, tech, and ad spend to enhance delivery performanceManaging delivery ratios and the impact on restaurant team welfarePackaging innovations to solve cold pizza issuesMaturing delivery market: competition, exclusivity, and future collaborations Links mentioned in this episode: Gavin Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hospitalitygav/  Pizza Pilgrims: https://www.pizzapilgrims.co.uk/  Adapting to Demands: Pizza Pilgrims' Approach to Delivery with Gavin Smith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWLniOoZv1A  Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews

What happens when scaling fast becomes more of a risk than an opportunity? And what do VCs really expect when they back the next big thing in delivery? In this week’s minisode, Dan Warne, founder of Sessions, takes us inside the high-stakes world of delivery startups fueled by venture capital. Dan unpacks why rapid growth isn’t always the answer, and how obsession with scale, spurred by easy funding, can outpace what consumers actually want. Tune into the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2N8IqufZnDfD8oAoXfxWXW?si=Z8aFSo4aR5-0peJFesu7LQ

Peter Backman and Tim Alderson speak with Cornelia Raportaru, CEO of Stuart, the logistics company powering deliveries for some of the biggest names in restaurants, grocery, and retail. From the growing importance of direct customer relationships to who really owns the data, and why that matters, they explore the deeper shifts shaping the future of food delivery. You’ll hear real insight into white-label delivery, cross-market challenges in places like the UK, France, and Poland, and the strategies businesses need to stay profitable, agile, and close to their customers. In this episode, we discuss: Data ownership challenges for restaurants using food delivery marketplacesHow direct delivery gives restaurants more control over customer relationshipsDifferences between restaurant, grocery, and retail delivery operationsEvolving customer expectations around convenience, speed, and delivery timingThe impact of market consolidation on restaurant flexibility and choicesPartnerships and ecosystem collaboration as the future of food delivery Links mentioned in this episode: Cornelia Raportaru on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corneliaraportaru/ Stuart: https://stuart.com/  Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews.

Host Peter Backman is joined by co-host Tim Alderson and hospitality entrepreneur Paul Hopper, founder of HOP Vietnamese. They dive into the latest news, including DoorDash’s potential acquisition of Deliveroo, and what these shifts mean for restaurants and operators. Paul shares his journey, from brand expansion and running dark kitchens to using data for decision-making. He also opens up about the challenges of launching Hop Vietnamese in cities like Manchester and the importance of building a strong local presence. In this episode, we discuss: DoorDash's potential acquisition of Deliveroo and its impact on the market.Challenges and realities of operating dark kitchens for small brandsDeciding between single vs. multichannel delivery platform strategies.Growing a restaurant brand in new markets like Manchester.Shifts in consumer behaviour and the future of super apps in delivery Links mentioned in this episode: HOP Vietnamese: https://www.hopvietnamese.com/   Paul Hopper on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-hopper-b72a777a/  Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews

When COVID lockdowns forced Pizza Pilgrims to shut their doors overnight, the team made a bold decision: no layoffs, no cutting corners, just creativity. In this week’s minisode, Gavin Smith from Pizza Pilgrims shares the inspiring story of how a forgotten side project, Pizza in the Post, became a lifeline for the business and a source of connection for thousands stuck at home. From chest freezers to 15,000 orders a week, the pivot was powered by passion, community, and a startup spirit that never quit. Tune into the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4UZns06aUMp61f9HWjowN4?si=b59e88f36ce14434

Charles Brafman is the co-founder of &Dine, a corporate catering platform born in lockdown and now powering connections between London’s businesses and its most passionate independent food vendors. We explore what it really takes to scale a delivery platform today, the evolving business models reshaping the industry, and why staying close to both customer and vendor needs is non-negotiable. In this episode, we discuss: Evolving delivery models for a shifting marketConnecting independents with corporate catering demandEnsuring quality at scale for group ordersHelping local vendors reach corporate clientsPrioritising service, presentation, and vendor relationships Links mentioned in this episode: &Dine: https://www.anddine.co.uk/  &Dine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anddinecooking  Charles Brafman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-brafman-86921861/  Like the show? We’d be hugely grateful if you could help us spread the word by taking 1 minute to leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. Full instructions at https://www.thedelivery.world/ratingsandreviews

Welcome to our first minisode from the Delivery Prophets, where we hand-pick a 5-minute actionable clip from our favourite interviews. This week, Matt Price from Uber Eats discusses how delivery helps restaurants reach new customers and increase orders. But success isn’t just about signing up – it’s about strategy. From menu optimisation to pricing and operations, we explore what it takes to make delivery truly profitable. Tune into the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4UZns06aUMp61f9HWjowN4?si=b59e88f36ce14434