Ordering out just got easier for a handful of Muskoka, Ont., towns. In the last month, Uber Eats has expanded its service to include Bracebridge, Huntsville, and Gravenhurst.
The company rolled out its delivery service in Bracebridge and Huntsville on February 28, followed by Gravenhurst on March 13. Residents in the three towns can now have food delivered to their front doors from local restaurants, as well as groceries, alcohol, and pet supplies.
“As cities and towns across Canada grapple with challenging macroeconomic trends, Uber Eats offers local restaurants a new way to connect with hungry customers and local delivery people to make delivery fast and easy. Our expansion into Bracebridge, Huntsville, and Gravenhurst also means that we’re creating flexible earning opportunities for people from all walks of life who choose to deliver on the platform,” the company said in a statement.
Uber Eats is available in more than 300 cities and towns across Canada. Along with its expansion into Muskoka, the company launched service in other Ontario locations including Port Hope, Petawawa, Kindcardine, Carleton Place, Hawkesbury, Penetanguishene, Smiths Falls, Kingsville, Kenora, Renfrew, Fort Frances, Arnprior, Hanover, Goderich, Ingersoll, Listowel, Wallaceburg, Dryden, Aylmer, Braeside, Appleton, and L’Original.
At twice the size of its next largest competitor, Uber Eats is the most successful delivery program in Canada. Between 2019 and 2023, its number of bookings increased six-fold. In a survey conducted by the company, Uber Eats found that 44 per cent of Canadians use delivery apps, with most of those individuals having used Uber Eats at least once. The main reason for using the apps was convenience, with 71 per cent of respondents saying that food delivery apps are easier to use than other forms of takeout.
Cottagers in the three Muskoka towns will also be able to use the service as long as they’re connected by road. The company confirmed in an email that drivers will not deliver orders by boat, meaning islanders and remote cottages will have to pick up their own food.
Uber Eats enforces strict rules around its drivers and their delivery vehicles, requiring drivers to pass a road safety quiz and provide proof of their license. The company also provides commercial auto insurance to cover drivers while out on delivery.
As part of its expansion into Muskoka, Uber Eats is offering $0 delivery fees in the three towns for a limited time. Users can search for different stores and restaurants on the Uber Eats app or the website.
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