News Category: Community Impact

The Grubhub Community Fund and Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund Provide $750,000 in Grants to Restaurants Nationwide

The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund and Grubhub are pleased to announce $750,000 in grants have been distributed to 117 restaurants across the nation. A portion of grant funds were dedicated to supporting new businesses around the nation as well as restaurants in Chicago and New York City. The program will award $135,000 to Chicago-area restaurants and $125,000 to New York City restaurants. An additional $290,000 will be distributed in other cities across the country to new businesses open for three years or less.

Small business restaurants play an essential role in the social tapestry of local communities by offering unique culinary experiences, fostering connections, and contributing to the economic vitality of our cities and towns. The Restaurant Strong Fund and Grubhub recognize the challenges faced by these establishments and remain dedicated to supporting their journey towards renewal and success. To date, the program has provided almost $17M in grants to restaurants across the nation.

The 117 restaurants selected to receive grants from the Restaurant Strong Fund will be provided with much-needed resources for their small business. These funds will assist in updating technology, updating equipment, marketing and public relations services, staff training programs, staff incentivized wages, maintenance/updating of current infrastructure, and construction or addition of outdoor seating. These restaurants all are small businesses, having only a single location, and are currently operating in the United States.

The 117 small business restaurants receiving grants from the Restaurant Strong Fund are:

$10,000 Grant Recipients

  • Amarit Thai and Sushi Chicago, IL 
  • Aroy Thai Restaurant Chicago, IL 
  • Arslans Gyros San Diego, CA 
  • Bourbon’s Kitchen and Cocktails Framingham, MA
  • Blue Adobe Grille Mesa, AZ
  • China Chef Bistro Phoenix, AZ
  • Classics flowers and Confections Cypress, CA
  • Eighty Eight Eggs Chicago, IL
  • Enso Sushi & Bar Chicago, IL
  • Fat Doughnut Brooklyn, NY
  • Figure Eight New York, NY
  • FishScale Washington DC
  • Granny’s Country Café Visalia, CA
  • Gruit by Abe’s Brooklyn, NY
  • Harvest Café Staten Island, NY
  • It’s All Good: Southern Kitchen Burlington, NC
  • Kickin’ Hot Chicken Chino, CA
  • Kokonut Grill Richmond, VA
  • Krackin Cajun Seafood House Joplin, MO
  • Little Crepe Café Cambridge, MA
  • Lobster Joint Brooklyn, NY
  • Milktopia San Francisco, CA
  • Okonomi Asian Grill Fairfax, VA
  • Parlor Kitchen Orlando, FL
  • Pharaohs Mediterranean Sandwiches   San Francisco, CA
  • Red Pig Asian Kitchen Chicago, IL
  • Sage Alley Brewery & Grille Coopersburg, PA
  • Sweet Pit BBQ & Seafood Hampton, GA
  • Sweetly, Shealy Camilla, GA
  • Tango Mango Inc Newton, MA
  • Thai Café Downers Grove, IL
  • The Grove Beverage Café Petoskey, MI
  • Warren HQ Philadelphia, PA

$5,000 Grant Recipients

  • 1308 Chicago Chicago, ILK
  • Amir’s Falafel Studio City, CA
  • Antonio’s Deli 2 LLC Philadelphia, PA
  • Baba’s Original New York System Providence, RI
  • Bailey Seafood Buffalo, NY
  • Bella LuLus Corp Jamaica, NY
  • Bellancino’s Pizza & Grinders Findlay, OH
  • Blue Fez Inc Salem, MA
  • Bo’s Schnitzelbunker Village of Pewaukee, WI
  • Brauhaus Schmitz Philadelphia, PA
  • BuenoMalo Andover, MA
  • C’s Waffles Titusville, FL
  • Café Gigu East Boston, MA
  • Caribbean Soul Kitchen Los Angeles, CA
  • Channel Islands Juice Company Ventura, CA
  • Charlies Creole Kitchen Dallas, TX
  • CheSa’s Bistro & Bar Chicago, IL
  • Dao Thai Restaurant Chicago, IL
  • Domy Pizza Bronx, NY
  • Echigo Home Cook San Francisco, CA
  • El Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant New York, NY
  • Feng Cha Las Vegas, NV
  • Fryers Roadside Silver Spring, MD
  • Georgia Soulfood Chicago, IL
  • Greenwich Pita and Grill Mason, OH
  • Hue Chicago Chicago, IL
  • Ivy Kitchen Detroit, MI
  • Johnny’s Taphouse and Grill Tarpon Springs, FL
  • Juicy Tails Fayetteville, AR
  • KOY Boston, MA
  • Kusanya Café Chicago, IL
  • La Guadalupe Restaurant Corp New York, NY
  • Lan Hand-Pulled Noodles Seattle, WA
  • Le Sud Chicago, IL
  • Lindsey’s Hospitality House and BBQ North Little Rock, AR
  • Loyola Pizza Los Angeles, CA
  • Luna Pizza Longwood, FL
  • Mad Bulldogs Hot Chicken Los Angeles, CA
  • Marbabellos Pizza Philadelphia, PA
  • Marcela Cocina Mexicana Brooklyn, NY
  • Margon Restaurant New York, NY
  • Master Shin Korean Plate San Jose, CA
  • Mexicali Sushi Bar East Boston, MA
  • Mr Chi Boba & Tea Las Vegas, NV
  • New Berlin Brewing Company North Canton, OH
  • Nkasso Food Allentown, PA
  • Izakaya Noname Long Island City, NY
  • Nu Crepes Elmhurst, IL
  • Oscar’s Kitchen Corp Bronx, NY
  • Paleo Treats Inc San Diego, CA
  • Pate Palo Bar and Grill New York, NY
  • Pega Grill Miami, FL
  • Pho Hana Diamond Bar, CA
  • Pippilocca/Il Passatore Asotria, NY
  • Pizzeria Rustico Boston, MA
  • Poke Bowl Tropical Atlantic City, NJ
  • Pub 6T5 New Bedford, MA
  • Queeni Kabobs Rancho Cucamonga, CA
  • Real Thai Cuisine Cranberry Twp, PA
  • Ristorante Ideale San Francisco, CA
  • Royal Thai Chicago, IL
  • Seven Bar and Restaurant Chicago, IL
  • Shawarma Grill Portland, OR
  • Shawarma Shack Chesapeake, VA
  • Southern Belle Atlanta, GA
  • Spring Asian Cuisine Spring TX
  • Star of Siam Chicago, IL
  • Straycat Kitchen Pasadena, CA
  • Sugar Wood New York, NY
  • Sushi Coast Webster, TX
  • SUteiShi Japanese Restaurant New York, NY
  • Tandy’s Pub & Grille Concord, NH
  • Tealicious Lincoln Park Chicago, IL
  • The Black Whale Bronx, NY
  • The Cupcake Parlor Clarksboro, NJ
  • The Jersey Spot Pizza and Pasta Kissimmee, FL
  • The Soul Spot Restaurant Brooklyn, NY
  • Tiparos Thai Cuisine & Sushi Bar Chicago, IL
  • Urban Vegan Chicago, IL
  • UThai Rego Park, NY
  • Vinateria New York, NY
  • What’s the Dill Detroit, MI
  • Winnie’s Manayunk Philadelphia, PA
  • Zhivago Restaurant  Skokie, IL

For more information about The Restaurant Strong Fund and its commitment to supporting the restaurant industry, please visit www.restaurantstrong.org

About The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund

The Greg Hill Foundation responds to the immediate needs of families that have been touched by tragedy. Since its inception in 2010, the foundation has provided over $28 million in grants to families and individuals in need. The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund was established in March of 2020. The fund was created to help aid the Hospitality Industry as restaurants closed and employees were left out of work due to Covid-19. The Restaurant Strong Fund provides various grant opportunities available to Restaurant Employees and Restaurant Owners.

About Grubhub

Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 365,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

The Grubhub Community Fund Full Plate Program to Provide up to $1 Million in Microgrants to Chicago Nonprofits – Now Accepting Applications

One in five Chicago area households experience food insecurity – the lack of consistent access to adequate, nutritious food. To help ensure our neighbors have regular access to food and meal services, Grubhub is introducing our Full Plate Program, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund*. This new microgrant program will support nonprofit organizations who provide food and meal services as a core part of their mission in our hometown with up to $10,000 each in grant support. All told, Grubhub’s goal is to recommend a total of up to $1 million in grants through the Grubhub Community Fund. The program will be administered in partnership with Greater Chicago Food Depository and Nourishing Hope.

Interested Chicago-based nonprofit organizations can apply now through 5 p.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. Applications will be evaluated based on need, impact, and demonstration of fiscal responsibility. Organizations approved for funding will be announced in December 2023.

Grubhub is committed to supporting local, community-centered programs that provide access to nutritious foods and beverages to individuals and families in need, and we are grateful to Greater Chicago Food Depository and Nourishing Hope for helping make this possible. For additional application details, please visit https://grubhub.smapply.io/. 

*The Grubhub Community Fund is a donor advised fund at a national sponsoring organization. The Grubhub Community Fund is made possible through donations from our customers through our Donate the Change feature. Grubhub matches contributions on eligible orders from our Grubhub+ members.

Grubhub x The Hatchery Chicago® Private Kitchen Pitch Competition – Now Accepting Applications

Since we first opened our doors in Chicago 19 years ago, Grubhub has been committed to positively impacting communities in the city that gave us our start. As a part of our new $300,000 partnership with The Hatchery Chicago®, a leading non-profit incubator dedicated to fostering successful food and beverage businesses on the West Side of Chicago, Grubhub is sponsoring a pitch competition to help local entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses. 

Panoramic view of The Hatchery facility | Photographer: James Steinkamp Photography

Interested Chicago-based food and beverage entrepreneurs can apply now through 5:00 pm CT on Monday, Oct. 23. Once the application period closes, five finalists will be selected to pitch their business plans on how they will grow their restaurant concept – and of course, share samples of their delicious food – to a panel of judges during The Hatchery’s annual fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 1. Our first place winner will be awarded rent-free access to the private Grubhub Kitchen at The Hatchery for an entire year, plus additional wrap-around support from The Hatchery and Grubhub.

With this partnership and the pitch competition, we are thrilled to continue supporting independent restaurants and creating opportunities in the hospitality industry in our hometown. For additional competition details, please visit The Hatchery’s website.

Grubhub Marks Hunger Action Month with New Chicago Initiatives and Expands Existing Programs

At the start of this year, Grubhub outlined three areas of focus for its philanthropic giving model, including an emphasis on helping to close the hunger gap. During Hunger Action Month this September, we are making an impact with new partnerships and efforts in Chicago, New York and in other key cities.

According to this year’s August Consumer Food Insights Report, the U.S. continues to confront food insecurity, with 14 percent of the population considered food insecure. In addition to our year-long programs and partnerships that help bridge the hunger gap, this month we are rolling out several new efforts. These include a new Grubhub microgrant program that will support Chicago nonprofits, a partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository (Food Depository) that will significantly increase meal distribution in areas of the city with high levels of food insecurity, serving as the official Hunger Action Month sponsor of Food Bank for NYC’s (FBNYC) activities and hosting a series of Serving the City (STC) events. 

Here’s how Grubhub is showing up in communities across the country.

In our hometown of Chicago we’re introducing two new initiatives.

  • New $1 million microgrant program to support local nonprofits tackling food insecurity. Grubhub is introducing a microgrant program, with operational support from the Food Depository and Nourishing Hope, benefiting Chicago-based nonprofits. The program, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund*, will direct up to $1 million in grant funding to organizations providing access to food and meal services. We’ll open up the application period for interested nonprofits in early October.
  • More nutritious, made-from-scratch meals distributed through the Food Depository’s expanded prepared meal programs. We are partnering with the Food Depository to aid in the expansion of their prepared meals program. These meals support Chicago families, older adults, people with disabilities and individuals with medically tailored diets. In early 2024, the Food Depository will open an expanded facility with eventual plans to prepare, source and distribute up to 10,000 meals per day. The partnership will also support the Food Depository’s work with food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters as they meet elevated demand for food assistance. 

“Hunger Action Month is all about raising awareness and taking action to alleviate food insecurity for our neighbors. Currently, one in five households in the Chicago Metro area faces food insecurity. We are incredibly grateful for valued partners like Grubhub whose support will allow us to continue ramping up our daily production of healthy, made-from-scratch meals as we plan to open our new prepared meals kitchen in 2024,” said Jill Zimmerman, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “We’re also excited by the microgrant program and Grubhub’s commitment to support a strong and resilient network of food access programs across Chicago and neighboring communities.”

We’re bringing the STC program to Boston and sponsoring FBNYC’s Hunger Action Month campaign.

  • Expanding our STC program in Chicago, New York and Boston. Since launching the program in 2022, we’ve held nearly 70 STC events across the country and distributed nearly 35,000 meals to communities. Now, we will expand the program to Boston, distributing meals to public schools in the area.
  • Partnering with FBNYC as the official Hunger Action Month sponsor in New York City. $100,000 in matching funds, made possible by the Grubhub Community Fund, will support FBNYC’s Hunger Action Month awareness effort. The donation match campaign aims to bring attention to FBNYC’s mission to end hunger by organizing food, information and support for community survival and dignity. 
Grubhub’s Serving the City purchases and provides meals in communities across New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia, with a Boston expansion coming soon.

Raising awareness about hunger in America and inspiring everyone to take action and help close the hunger gap expands far beyond Hunger Action Month.  

  • Advocating for systemic change with policymakers in Washington. While our direct programs and partnerships are primarily at the city level, our team also advocates for policies and programs at the federal level to help achieve national impact. This past year, the Grubhub Government Relations team has continued efforts to advance the implementation of the Food Donation Improvement Act and specific policy recommendations to address food insecurity within the Farm Bill.
  • Extending and deepening our work with food-focused GCF partners. For several years, we have partnered with organizations like MEANS Database, Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, Tacombi Foundation, Union League Boys and Girls Club in Chicago to support various food rescue and hunger relief programs that directly support communities across the country. In 2022, we partnered to distribute over 500,00 meals and rescued over 2.8 million pounds of food through partnerships funded by the Grubhub Community Fund, and we are on track to grow our impact helping more individuals and families get access to the food and additional program services.

“Grubhub is focused on partnering with local and national organizations to build out and support meaningful programs directly impacting individuals, families and communities, ” said Brianna Morris, Grubhub’s Sr. Manager of Community Impact. “Through the Grubhub Community Fund and other efforts, we are growing our impact in our hometown of Chicago, expanding our existing partnerships, and creating access to essential needs and opportunities within the communities we serve. ”

Hunger Action Month is a time to build awareness, but this work continues throughout the year in communities all across the country. As we deepen and expand our partnerships, we’ll continue to look at how we can achieve the greatest impact across all of our impact focus areas, including how we support independent restaurants and create opportunities for individuals working in the hospitality industry. 

*The Grubhub Community Fund is a donor advised fund at a national sponsoring organization. The Grubhub Community Fund is made possible through donations from our customers through our Donate the Change feature. Grubhub matches contributions on eligible orders from our Grubhub+ members.

Grubhub Partners with The Hatchery Chicago® to Help Entrepreneurs Open Their Doors on Chicago’s West Side

Grubhub was born and bred in Chicago. We opened our doors in the Windy City in 2004 on the belief that we could support and enable local restaurants to grow through innovation. Nineteen years later, Grubhub has helped more than 14,000 local restaurants serve more than one million diners spanning neighborhoods across Chicago.

One way we say thank you to the community that gave us our start is by giving back. That’s why we are kicking off a new $300,000 partnership with The Hatchery Chicago®, a leading non-profit incubator dedicated to fostering successful food and beverage businesses on the West Side of Chicago.

Panoramic view of The Hatchery facility | Photographer: James Steinkamp Photography

Grubhub’s partnership with The Hatchery Chicago includes:

  • Sponsoring a pitch competition and awarding the winner with 1-year fully paid access to the private Grubhub Kitchen at The Hatchery.
  • Developing new educational materials to guide The Hatchery Chicago’s entrepreneurs interested in utilizing third-party delivery to grow their businesses.
  • Providing philanthropic support through the Grubhub Community Fund*  to The Hatchery Chicago’s Sprouts Incubation program.

“Our partnership with The Hatchery Chicago is especially exciting because their mission to help local entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses is exactly what we do at Grubhub every day with our own restaurant partners,” said Liz Bosone, Grubhub’s Vice President of Restaurant Success. “Not only are we offering financial support, but teams across Grubhub are working with The Hatchery Chicago to offer deeper, meaningful engagement that can help put their entrepreneurs on a path to sustained growth and success.”

Earlier this year, we outlined three focus areas for our philanthropy and community impact work. This partnership directly aligns with two: supporting independent restaurants to positively impact communities and creating opportunities in the hospitality industry.

Nikkita Randle of Twisted Eggroll during competition pitch | Photographer: Lucy Kronzer

“Since opening our doors on the West Side of Chicago in 2019, The Hatchery Chicago has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs get their starts in our kitchens and learn the necessary skills to launch and grow viable businesses,” said Natalie Shmulik, The Hatchery’s Chief Strategy & Incubation Officer. “On top of our existing services, our partnership with Grubhub allows us to look at new ways to support our community of entrepreneurs, including helping them successfully leverage online marketing and delivery resources to increase efficiencies and generate revenue.”

The Hatchery Chicago is our newest community impact partnership in Chicago. Through the Grubhub Community Fund, we also partner with local organizations like Nourishing Hope and Union League Boys & Girls Club, and national organizations like the Restaurant Strong Fund to administer restaurant grant programs in Chicago and across the country. To date, the Grubhub Community Fund has enabled more than 400 grants totaling more than $4 million to independent restaurants and awarded nearly $660,000 to nonprofit organizations in Chicago. 

We’re proud of the impact we’ve had in our hometown and of this new collaboration. And, we are excited to bring it to life! In the coming months, Grubhub and The Hatchery will announce details for the first pitch competition to win access to the private Grubhub Kitchen and additional joint events. We have a lot of work ahead, and we’re excited about what’s to come.

*The Grubhub Community Fund is a donor advised fund at a national sponsoring organization. The Grubhub Community Fund is made possible through donations from our customers through our Donate The Change feature. Grubhub matches contributions on eligible orders from our Grubhub+ members.

The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund & Grubhub Distribute $1.25 Million From The Restaurant Strong Grant

BOSTON, MA – The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund and the Grubhub Community Fund are pleased to announce $1.45 million in grant opportunities have been distributed to over 130 restaurants across four cities.

On Friday, June 16th, The Restaurant Strong Fund announced the recipients of the 2023 Restaurant Strong Grant. This grant provided restaurants the flexibility to utilize the funds in a manner that best suited their individual needs. Please see enclosed list of all restaurant recipients.

Grants ranged from $5,000 to $25,000 were awarded depending on need and growth opportunity showcased in the application. The program aimed to alleviate financial burdens and assist these establishments in adapting to the changing landscape of the restaurant industry. Recipients were able to allocate the grant towards providing opportunities that impact revenue growth and giving areas including, but not limited to: updating technology/equipment necessary to enhance day-to-day operations, marketing & public relations services, staff training programs, incentivized wages, or maintenance/updating of current infrastructure.

The Campaign will be limited to restaurants that have only one location with 50 employees or less within Boston, Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia. A portion of grant funds were dedicated to supporting diverse, women owned, minority owned, and LGBTQIA+ owned businesses.

The Restaurant Strong Fund remains committed to making a positive impact in the communities it operates in, and the successful completion of the 2023 Restaurant Strong Grant is a testament to that commitment. By supporting local restaurants in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, The Restaurant Strong Fund aims to contribute to their growth, helping to restore the vibrancy and resilience of these remarkable cities.

ACCEPTED RESTAURANTS

Boston

$25,000
Blunch, MDAB LLC DBA, Mo’rockin Fusion, Reunion BBQ, Tawakal Halal Café

$10,000
Caffe Dello Sport, Cafe Iterum LLC, Casarecce Restaurant, Sufra Mediterranean Food, Sunset Cantina

$5,000
Basile – Fine Italian Kitchen, Brassica Kitchen and Cafe, Bukowski Tavern, Chickadee, Crispy Dough Pizzeria, LA Hacienda Restaurant, Paddy O’s of Boston, Samurai Express Japanese Restaurant, Seabiscuit, Villa Mexico Cafe

Chicago

$25,000
Boulevard Bistro, Bubble & Brew, Decadent Dessert Bar & Bistro, Dear Margaret, Dirty Tiffs Cafe, Imani’s Original Bean Pies, New Orleans Seafood Inc, Smack Dab Chicago, Tasty World Restaurant, Toro Sushi

$10,000
Baba Pita, Bocadillo Market, Drew’s on Halsted, E Ramen, Herb, Irenes, Kizin Creole restaurant, Krung Thep Thai Cuisine, Kubo, MFK., Standard Bar and Grill, Tacotlan, Twilight Kitchen, Uncle Ben’s Grill, Wild Blossom Meadery

$5,000
8A5E LLC, Ambers Food Cafe, Elevate Coffee, Evelyn’s Food Love, H&C POUR HOUSE, Indgo MRKTO, John’s Place, La Flor de Acapulco, La Michoacana Del Panda Inc, Luke’s Italian Beef, Mable’s Table, Mei’s, Mom’s Place – A Chicago Gathering Spot, Pho Loan, Port and Park Bistro, Side Practice Coffee LLC, The Cafeteria, The Comedy Clubhouse, The Jibarito Stop, Yummy Buffet

New York

$25,000
Abe’s Corner, Blu Room Bar & Lounge, Casita of Brooklyn, Concrete, Filly Luv, Miss American Pie, Ricas Pupusas & Mas, Royale, The Ryerson, Tiramisu Restaurant

$10,000
Benemon, Blueline Fry Plantain, Coffee Bay Restaurant, Come on Thai, Saigon Spice, Everything Grilled, J’s On The Bay, Kin Khao Thai, L and Z Bakery Inc, Nneji, Shogun Japan, The Daily Press Coffee House and Bar, The Halal Spot, Winemak’her Bar, Xe May Sandwich Shop

$5,000
7 Elephants, Aji Sushi House, Circo’s Pasty Shop, DokoDemo, Ethel & Annie Mae’s Soulfood Kitchen, GLACE, Italian Touch Pizza and Pasta (Staten Island), Karazishi Botan, Kombit Restaurant, L’arte della Pizza Brooklyn, Little Chef Little Cafe, Ouaga Sports Bar, Orange Caribbean and Grill Restaurant, Ortomare Ristorante Pizzeria, Palenque Colombian Food, Sze’s Garden Inc, Thailicious, The Bad Bagel, Therapy Wine Bar 2.0, Whisk & Whiskey

Philadelphia

$25,000
Ani’s Pizza Pasta and Wings, Crust Vegan Bakery, Daaiyah’s Delicious, Mawn, New Hong Kong Bakery Inc

$10,000
At Ramen MNYK, Cicala at The Divine Lorraine, Glory Beer Bar & Kitchen, In & Out Grill, New Wave Cafe, Newman’s Grill, Pizza Dot Com in Germantown, The Trestle Inn

$5,000
Antonio’s Deli, Cake Life Bake Shop, Cairo Kitchen on the Go, Farina Pasta and Noodle, Golden Crust Pizza lll, Sulimay’s Restaurant, Strangelove’s, Southwark, The Igloo

Grubhub and JOCO Officially Open Hub for Delivery Workers in NYC

In April, Grubhub announced a series of new initiatives that aim to support delivery workers while making e-bike usage safer and more sustainable in New York City – with one key  initiative being a formal partnership with delivery e-bike rental platform, JOCO. This week, we officially unveiled a new, centrally-located co-branded hub – JOCO Concierge Sponsored by Grubhub – to kick off our pilot program and provide NYC delivery workers a place to recharge both their e-bikes and themselves. 

While many New Yorkers plan to slow things down as summer approaches, we know delivery workers will be working as hard as ever. We recognize the work our delivery partners do is absolutely critical to helping Grubhub serve our diners. They help us ensure hungry diners across the city get the food they want, when they want it, how they want it – every time. Providing a place where our NYC delivery workers can take care of themselves and their equipment is an important step in continuing to invest in our partners and everything they do for Grubhub and our diners.  

Mayor Eric Adams helps open JOCO Concierge sponsored by Grubhub in Soho. (Yuan Images for Grubhub)

Starting today,  Grubhub bikers with active JOCO credits can make a pitstop at the facility located at 259 Bowery in Soho during the peak hours of 12:00-8:00 pm to take advantage of a host of amenities. From battery swapping and bike rentals to complimentary delivery gear and essential amenities like restroom facilities and phone charging stations, the new Grubhub x JOCO hub is a one-stop shop for all delivery rider needs, providing riders with a safe and seamless experience on the job. With the launch of the JOCO Concierge sponsored by Grubhub, we aim to empower delivery workers in one convenient hub. 

JOCO Concierge sponsored by Grubhub (Yuan Images for Grubhub)

“When it comes to our delivery partners, of course safety is absolutely key, and that’s why this hub from Grubhub and JOCO combines elements like safe battery exchange with amenities that help riders rest and recharge,” said Amy Perlik Healy, vice president of Government Relations at Grubhub. “This is an evolving effort for us, and Grubhub is continually working with important partners like JOCO as well as city leaders to explore new ways to support delivery workers and communities across New York City.”

JOCO Concierge sponsored by Grubhub (Yuan Images for Grubhub)

And, starting next week, Grubhub will offer monthly credits to our top tier bikers that deliver in Manhattan, giving them free access to more than a thousand safety-certified JOCO e-bikes. Grubhub riders will also have access to more than 55 additional JOCO hubs for continuous safe e-bike storage, battery exchange, and delivery rider gear. Currently spread across Manhattan and Queens with plans to add new locations soon, the hubs will serve as the only rest stops available to NYC’s more than 60,000 delivery workers.

“We’re thrilled to work with Grubhub and bring the JOCO Concierge sponsored by Grubhub to life,” said Jonathan Cohen, co-founder of JOCO. “Through this hub and our initial phase of the program, we’ll be able to provide Grubhub delivery workers with access to safer, more sustainable e-bikes while giving them the unique opportunity to take advantage of a state-of-the-art facility with gear and amenities. We’re excited to launch this alongside our other hubs around New York and look forward to expanding across all boroughs to continue to provide for delivery workers throughout all of New York.”

Grubhub’s partnership with JOCO is just one piece of our broader E-Bike Lifecycle safety program. In addition, a $100,000 grant from the Grubhub Community Fund is helping to support the FDNY Foundation’s fire safety campaign which includes educational resources on the safe handling of lithium ion batteries. The safety of our drivers is important to us, and we continue to work with NYC leaders, the FDNY, and our industry partners to collectively inform delivery workers and the broader public about safe e-bike use. 

 

Grubhub’s ‘Serving the City’ Program Expands to Company’s Hometown of Chicago to Provide Meals to Communities in Need and Help Close the Hunger Gap

This expansion builds on Grubhub’s larger community impact commitments to kick off the new year

CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 2023 — On Tuesday, February 21st, Grubhub officially launched the expansion of its ‘Serving the City’ program to Chicago, the company’s hometown. The program kicked off with its first event at three senior centers in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, a historically under-resourced community on the city’s west side, in partnership with 24th Ward Alderwoman Monique Scott and local restaurants, Soulé and The Soulfood Lounge. 

With the Serving the City initiative, Grubhub partners with local aldermen to purchase 500 hot, prepackaged, culturally appropriate meals directly from local restaurants for onsite meal distribution events at housing authorities, senior centers, veterans’ residences, and other community-based organizations. The program further allows Grubhub the opportunity to act on its commitment to support local restaurants and give back to communities that need it most.  

“The impact of this project is important to me because it addresses the food insecurities we have with our seniors, and having the opportunity to feed them during a time when they possibly can’t do it for themselves. I’m so excited to let them taste delicious food from fine dining restaurants that exist within their community. Many of them are on a fixed income and might not take advantage of dining outside of their own kitchen,” said Alderwoman Monique Scott.

Soulé, one of the first sit-down restaurants in North Lawndale in decades, partners with Grubhub’s Serving the City program

Following this kickoff event, the program will continue to run throughout the year with the goal of partnering with restaurants and delivering meals to communities in need across Chicago’s 50 wards in partnership with local aldermen.

“I came from a family that inspired my love of cooking and taught me the importance of community. When I opened my restaurant, Soulé, I knew I wanted to make a difference through food. In partnering with Grubhub’s Serving the City, I’ve been able to give back and drive change in my community through what I love to do most,” said Bridgette Flaggs, owner of Soulé in North Lawndale. Soulé is one of the first sit-down restaurants that has opened in North Lawndale in the last decades – a neighborhood historically considered a food desert. 

Last year, Serving the City launched in New York City to help address food insecurity and support local, independent restaurants. The program aims to address the lasting effects of the pandemic and the increased cost of food with inflation that has impacted communities and restaurants in cities nationwide. Since July 2022, this initiative has served more than 17,500 meals to food insecure families in partnership with 40 restaurants, with the goal of serving more than 25,000 meals to communities in New York City alone. 

“It’s exciting for Grubhub to kick off our Serving the City program right here in Chicago. After the impactful year we had serving meals to communities in New York City, we knew we could make a real difference in our hometown and give back to the city we call home. We’re looking forward to expanding across Chicago to help as many people and restaurants as we can,” said Dave Tovar, Grubhub SVP of Communications and Government Relations.

According to Northwestern University economists, one in five households in the Chicago metro area experiences food insecurity, including one in four families with children. As Grubhub expands the program to address the needs of its home city, it’s continuing to prioritize alleviating food insecurity in communities in need. Beyond Chicago and New York City, Grubhub also plans to expand their program nationwide as part of a larger commitment to help close the hunger gap. Grubhub‘s other focus areas for the year ahead include supporting independent restaurants and creating opportunities for people in the hospitality industry. 

Chicago Alderwoman Monique Scott partners with Grubhub’s Serving the City program

For more information about Grubhub’s Serving the City and other community impact programs, visit https://about.grubhub.com/community/programs/.

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About Grubhub

Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 320,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

Grubhub Celebrates $22 Million to Communities Nationwide in 2022

Proud to drive meaningful change through partnerships with more than 34 nonprofit organizations and continue expanding impact in 2023

By Dave Tovar
SVP Communications & Government Relations

Last year marked an important evolution in Grubhub’s philanthropic efforts. As the food service industry reset post-pandemic, we had the opportunity to rethink how we support the people and communities where we operate. We followed through with the philanthropic commitments made in 2021, and we added new partners, resulting in more than $22 million going to support more than 350 communities across the country. 

Our new vision includes three focus areas: supporting independent restaurants, working to close the hunger gap, and creating more opportunities for people in the hospitality industry. In 2022, 87 percent of our philanthropic resources supported this work. We are continuing to evolve as we enter 2023, partnering and supporting collective action on issues that face our industry and the communities in which we operate. Taking key learnings from existing partnerships, we continue to prioritize impact and identify new ways that we can not only direct philanthropic support, but also leverage our business to drive meaningful change. 

Grubhub's National Impact 2022

As we start a new year, I want to highlight some of the impactful work happening in communities across the country, including:

  • Supporting 34 national and regional nonprofit organizations* facilitating work in our three focus areas through the Grubhub Community Fund. These partners make up a network of more than 400 organizations providing access to essential needs like food, access to capital, and access to opportunities to drive mobility and impact.  
  • Addressing the growing hunger gap caused by food insecurity and distributing 527,902 meals and 2.8 million pounds of food through 14 nonprofit partnerships funded by the Grubhub Community Fund. Even better, more than 70% of the food distributed came from food recovery programs which means it would have otherwise gone to waste.
  • Providing an additional 17,500 meals purchased from local independent restaurants to serve families and individuals living in housing authorities, senior centers, and veterans’ residences in 35 districts across the five boroughs of New York City through our Serving the City program.
  • Granting 20 drivers with $10,000 each to make a positive impact on their community. 
  • Amplifying the impact of our employees and matching 432 employee donations to local nonprofits across the country.
  • Aiding in rapid response through the Grubhub Community Fund, which provided $1,250,000 in Ukraine support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and World Central Kitchen and providing $100,000 in support to Bronxworks, Inc. to help 120 families re-establish housing following the devastating Bronx fire. We also provided $25,000 in aid to Feedmore Western New York as they worked to provide support to the communities devastated by the mass shooting in Buffalo, NY. 

More than ever, we are focused on what it means to make a difference and drive impact as we execute against our new vision. The stories of the individuals, families and communities impacted by our efforts continue to inspire us, and I would like to share some special stories with you.

Supporting Independent Restaurants 

Creating access to capital and business development opportunities for local, family-owned businesses is at the core of our goals for independent restaurant-focused philanthropic support. In addition to our continued relationship with the Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund, we also partnered with diverse business organizations to drive programs and opportunities for AAPI-, Black-, Hispanic- and LBGTQ+- owned restaurants. These efforts, supported by the Grubhub Community Fund, have helped local independent establishments close gaps in payroll, replace broken equipment and update kitchens, and market their spaces. This also includes providing winterization grants which enabled 70 restaurants in New York, Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia to adapt to the colder months and expand outdoor areas. For example:

  • Elena Barcenes of Rincón Salvadoreño is the proud owner of New York City’s first Salvadorean Restaurant serving the community since 1980. Elena’s restaurant is family-owned and operated, and they were hit hard in recent years. She used the Grubhub grant to keep her staff employed during the lean months and shared, “I have fought my hardest to keep my doors open. I am a minority woman fighting to contribute to society by offering jobs and serving our Jamaica Community”. 
  • Zachary Lucchese-Soto of Bluebird Café in Chicago is using the Winterization funds to keep his patio open during the frigid weather. The patio is the restaurant’s lifeblood and accounts for 50% of their overall seating and by keeping it open year-round, his business can thrive no matter the weather conditions.

Already in the works in 2023, we are supporting 130 new winterization grants and continuing our partnerships with our diverse business partners, prioritizing equitable access to opportunity across the programs we support. 

Working to Close the Hunger Gap

Since the launch of Donate the Change in 2018, allowing diners to round up their total to the nearest dollar at checkout and donate to charitable causes, we have worked to identify partnerships and initiatives focused on closing the hunger gap across the country. In 2022, we successfully expanded our efforts by not only supporting the direct distribution of ready-to-eat meals and groceries to individuals and families in need, but also narrowed in on identifying new opportunities to drive impact. Collectively this resulted  in more than 545,000 meals, 2.8 million pounds of food, and geographic expansion of the food recovery programs we support. Our newest endeavor leverages our ordering platform to provide those experiencing food insecurity access to meals through our partnership with Bento.

We’ve also embarked on new ways to support collective action. In June 2022, we launched our Serving the City program in New York City. Through this program, Grubhub works in tandem with local restaurants and New York City Council members to address food insecurity, positioning us to understand specific needs in the community and then partner with local restaurants to purchase and provide culturally-appropriate meals where they are most needed. In 2022, we purchased 17,500 meals which were provided to individuals and families living within housing authorities, senior centers, and veterans’ residences in 35 districts across the five boroughs of New York City.

  • Councilwoman Julie Menin, Chair of the City Council Small Business Committee, and Grubhub purchased 500 meals from family-owned restaurant Mansion Diner and distributed them to area residents at The Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center. Councilwoman Menin noted that “This is an excellent partnership between community leaders, small businesses and an online food ordering company. By partnering with our local restaurants, Grubhub is truly committing dedicated resources to combating hunger in New York City.”
  • Councilwoman Linda Lee joined Grubhub to deliver 250 meals to seniors at Commonpoint Queens in Little Neck and homebound seniors at Deepdale CARES NORC. Following the visit, Danielle Ellman, CEO of Commonpoint shared, “With more than one in 10 seniors facing food insecurity, programs like these are literally saving lives by getting healthy meals to our most vulnerable. Thank you to Grubhub and Council member Lee for their support in helping older adults age with dignity.”

Creating More Opportunities for People in the Hospitality Industry

Supporting those working within the hospitality industry, especially our delivery partners, remains a focus for Grubhub. In 2022, we kicked off a second year of grants to directly support our delivery partners looking to drive meaningful change in their communities. The recipients of our Driver Grant Program continue to do amazing work in their communities. For example, our New York City driver, Galliano, used his $10,000 grant to support youth in his community by providing them with school supplies and nutritious before-and-after-school snacks to help keep students engaged in learning. Chicago based driver, Symone, is also using the grant to support two local nonprofit organizations, Nourishing Hope and the Telpochcalli Community Education Project. Symone is an active member of the Telphochalli Community education fund, which mobilizes youth for social justice work by building individual capacity and mutual responsibility through culturally relevant and community-directed education. She’s also using a portion of the grant to continue her own schooling.

Additionally, the Grubhub Community Fund supported several new partnerships focused on job training, job placement and work that champions removing barriers to opportunity within the hospitality industry via collective action. To date, we have partnered with The Hospitality Project, Momentum Advisory Collective, and Women in Hospitality United. As our newest focus area, we know there is more work to be done and we look forward to identifying new opportunities where we can expand our impact. 

Looking Ahead

As we look ahead to 2023, we’re focused on creating more impact in the communities we serve, in ways Grubhub is uniquely positioned to do. We believe in supporting independent restaurants to positively impact communities, using technology and our network to help close the widening hunger gap, and creating opportunities in the hospitality industry.

*See here for a full list of the 34 Grubhub Community Fund partners awarded a grant in 2022:

  • ACE Foundation
  • Bronxworks Inc.
  • East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center (The Refugee Center)
  • Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
  • Feed the Soul Foundation
  • Feedmore Western New York
  • Food Bank for NYC
  • Greater Boston Food Bank
  • Greg Hill Foundation – Restaurant Strong Fund
  • Heartland Human Care Services, Inc.
  • Hospitality Project Inc 
  • JCFS Chicago (HIAS)
  • Junior League of Kansas City Mo Inc.
  • Madison Square Boys and Girls Club
  • MEANS Database
  • Momentum Advisory Collective (Cafe Momentum)
  • NGLCC Foundation
  • Nourish PHX
  • Nourishing Hope
  • Piatt Family Foundation
  • Plant Powered Metro New York
  • Queens Center for Progress
  • Rescuing Leftover Cuisine
  • Star House Foundation
  • Tacombi Foundation
  • UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency)
  • Union League Boys and Girls Club of Chicago
  • US Black Chambers CEDC
  • Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens
  • Women in Hospitality United
  • World Central Kitchen
  • World Relief Chicago
  • World Relief Quad Cities
  • Youth Guidance

The Grubhub Community Fund is a donor advised fund at a national sponsoring organization. The Grubhub Community Fund is made possible through donations from our customers through our Donate the Change feature. Grubhub matches contributions on eligible orders from our Grubhub+ members.

$1.5 Million in New Grants Will Support LGBTQ+-Owned and Allied Restaurants

National LGBT Chamber of Commerce Teams Up with Grubhub For Another Year of Grants to Aid in Growth and Development

Washington, DC — America’s LGBTQ+-owned restaurants and bars serving food will once again find a vital lifeline this year stemming from the ongoing partnership formed by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBTQ+ community and certifying body for LGBTQ+-owned businesses nationwide, and Grubhub, a leading U.S. food-ordering and delivery marketplace.

Today the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce opened applications for the NGLCC Community Impact Grant Program, a program made possible by a grant from the Grubhub Community Fund. The grants are expected to range from $10,000 to $25,000 and funds can be used for things like updating security and security protocols, updating/purchasing new equipment, community involvement, marketing and PR services, updating digital/e-commerce presence, purchasing product, staff training programs, employee pay and/or staff incentivized wages, COVID-19 recovery, and maintenance/updating of current infrastructure.

“We often say at NGLCC that if you can buy it, an LGBTQ+-owned business can supply it,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & President Justin Nelson. “That is especially true of the LGBTQ+-owned restaurants and establishments across America who kept our communities and first responders fed throughout the pandemic and have been so active in the recovery. We’re proud to again partner with Grubhub, with the support from the Grubhub Community Fund, in offering grants to support businesses throughout the nation this round with an even wider scope of opportunities for grant utilization to help them succeed.”

“NGLCC has been an incredible partner to Grubhub, and it was a no-brainer to renew this program which has supported so many LGBTQ+-owned businesses across the country,” said Dave Tovar, Grubhub’s senior vice president of Communications and Government Relations. “We’ve heard so many stories of how independent restaurants have used these grants to do amazing things for their business and in their communities, and I’m excited to see what new and exciting things come out of the next group of grant recipients.”

Once again, under the innovative grant program, the NGLCC has set a goal to allocate 30 percent of the funds to businesses owned by people of color and transgender and gender expansive (TGX) individuals. Between now and March 2023, NGLCC will roll the grant program out regionally, with applications for East Coast establishments launching on January 24, 2023 through February 14, 2023. Applications for the Central US will open in February 2023, and those for the West Coast will roll out in March 2023. Restaurants wishing to learn more about applying for grants should visit nglcc.org/ghgrant.

The NGLCC’s network of more than fifty Affiliate Chambers across America will once again help amplify this grant opportunity to support local restaurants. Those local chambers will again benefit from this initiative’s Affiliate Chamber Fund. In addition to supporting local efforts to share the grant opportunity, this fund has and will continue to enable any establishment that receives a grant that is not currently a member of an NGLCC local affiliate chamber to have one year of membership paid.

For more information on the Community Impact Grant Program regarding restaurant eligibility requirements, timelines, how to apply, and more, please visit www.nglcc.org/ghgrant.

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About NGLCC

The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses, known as Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) suppliers.
www.nglcc.org @nglcc

About Grubhub

Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 365,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.