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Skip (delivery service)

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Skip
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryOnline food ordering
Founded2012
FoundersJosh Simair
Jeff Adamson
Dan Simair
Chris Simair
Andrew Chau
HeadquartersWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Area served
Canada
Key people
Paul Burns (CEO)
Geoff Ryan (CPO)
RevenueIncrease Can$581.9 million (2020)[1] Increase Can$312 million (2018)[2]
Number of employees
2,000
Parent
Websiteskipthedishes.com

Skip, previously SkipTheDishes, is a Canadian online food delivery service headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba and a division of Dutch-based Just Eat Takeaway.com.[3] Users can order food from restaurants online using its iOS or Android app or through a web browser. Users also can provide feedback by reviewing restaurants after receiving an order. Skip was founded in 2012 in Saskatoon, and purchased by UK-based Just Eat in 2016, later becoming Just Eat Takeaway.com after a merger in 2020, in which Skip adopted Takeaway.com orange branding and logo.

History

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Skip was founded as SkipTheDishes in 2012 by brothers Josh and Chris Simair, with the idea of creating a more efficient online food ordering and delivery network. Josh had previously worked as an investment banker in London and recognized the opportunity to improve the food delivery process. The company was initially launched in Saskatoon and later moved to Winnipeg, where the head office was established.[4] SkipTheDishes was created in Saskatoon in 2012 by brothers Chris and Josh Simair and a group of young professionals who quit traditional employment to pursue their dreams.[5]

The co-founders bootstrapped the company and secured seed capital from angel investors, followed by additional funding from private investors and four venture capital firms. Three more co-founders, including another brother and two university friends, joined between 2012 and 2014 to help grow the business.[6] When Skip was acquired four years later by the United Kingdom-based Just Eat, co-founders Chris Simair and Andrew Chau left.[7]

Acquisition and growth

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As the company scaled between 2013 and 2016, the co-founders launched SkipTheDishes in many Canadian cities, initially focusing on mid-market cities, including Burnaby, East Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Prince Albert, Grande Prairie, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Kitchener/Waterloo, and Ottawa; as well as US cities, including Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Omaha, and St. Louis.[8]

In December 2016, SkipTheDishes was acquired by Just Eat for $200 million. SkipTheDishes remained a subsidiary and separate brand from Just Eat, with its headquarters remaining in Winnipeg.[9] As of September 2018, Just Eat Canada redirects to SkipTheDishes.[10]

Over the course of 2017, SkipTheDishes was recognised for its growth on a number of occasions.[11] The company's founder was chosen as one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40.[12] Just Eat's CEO, Peter Plumb, reported significant increases in the company's Q3-2017 revenue, due to "strong growth in order numbers and the inclusion of SkipTheDishes business."[13]

To diversify its business, in 2017, SkipTheDishes announced that it was experimenting with alcohol delivery in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with plans to expand nationwide.[14]

In March 2019, SkipTheDishes pulled out of the United States market. Their business and drivers were transferred to Grubhub.[15] In early 2020, Just Eat merged with Netherlands-based competitor Takeaway.com, forming Just Eat Takeaway,[16] shortly thereafter announcing a deal to its American competitor Grubhub (who previously acquired SkipTheDishes' American operations).[17] In July 2020, in line with Just Eat's other markets, SkipTheDishes adopted Takeaway.com's branding and orange colour scheme, though keeping the SkipTheDishes name.[18]

Expansion and rebranding

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In late 2021, SkipTheDishes began testing a new offering called Skip Express Lane, a service that delivers household goods and groceries directly to customers. The service is located in Winnipeg and in London, Ontario.[19]

In 2024, SkipTheDishes' CEO, Paul Burns, announced on LinkedIn the layoff of 800 employees, including 700 Canada-based employees at Just Eat Takeaway.com, SkipTheDishes' parent company, during restructuring efforts.[20] In October 2024, SkipTheDishes announced it was shortening its name to Skip, during a brand re-fresh to reflect on its expanded offerings beyond food delivery, including groceries, convenience items, and retail goods.[21]

Marketing

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In October 2018, SkipTheDishes ran ads featuring actor Jon Hamm, presenting him with the moniker of "honorary Canadian."[22] In 2024, Hamm returned to star in a new ad campaign to help Skip update its messaging and showcase its expanded offerings.[23]

Since 2019, SkipTheDishes has run a series of French-language ads, notably in Quebec, featuring comedian Patrick Groulx.[24][25] His ads since October 2020 and early 2021 have focused on promoting "les Récompenses SKIP" or Skip's loyalty points program.[26][27][28]

In February 2020, SkipTheDishes entered into a multiyear marketing relationship with the Toronto Defiant, an esports team in the Overwatch League.[29]

In summer 2021, ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games, SkipTheDishes was named the "Official Food Delivery App" of the Canadian Olympic Committee.[30]

Criticism

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Like many companies involved in the sharing economy, SkipTheDishes has received criticism for its business practices.[31] In March 2017, the company received negative publicity for its responses to a job candidate's question about compensation and benefits. As a follow-up to the incident, Emily Norgang of the Canadian Labour Congress stated that "the most innovative aspect isn't the technology itself, but actually the expansion of this exploitative business model."[32] As of October 2021, SkipTheDishes has the lowest rating of F from the Better Business Bureau due to volume of unresolved complaints.[33]

References

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  1. ^ "Full Year 2020 Results : Revenue increases 54% to €2.4 billion, adjusted EBITDA1 of €256 million" (PDF). S3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Just-Eat". Just Eat. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  3. ^ "Just Eat Takeaway.com | Jobs in Canada". Just Eat Takeaway.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "SkipTheDishes Launches AI-Powered Grocery Shopping Tool to Help Canadians Take Inflation Out of Their Cart | LBBOnline". www.lbbonline.com.
  5. ^ Bostock, Amy (December 3, 2018). "Technology Company of the Year: SkipTheDishes". Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  6. ^ "Brains behind SkipTheDishes launch subscription furniture service in Winnipeg, Saskatoon". The Globe and Mail. April 14, 2019.
  7. ^ Star, Brennan Doherty Special to the (February 18, 2023). "SkipTheDishes CEO Howard Migdal on making 100 million deliveries a year, courier perks, and his Krispy Kreme habit". Toronto Star. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  8. ^ "Canadian Delivery Platform SkipTheDishes Expands into Groceries". www.pymnts.com. January 5, 2022.
  9. ^ Silcoff, Sean (December 15, 2016). "Winnipeg startup SkipTheDishes gobbled up by Britain's Just Eat". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  10. ^ SkipTheDishes [@JUSTEATca] (September 4, 2018). "Hello Steve, We're joining with Skip the Dishes to provide you with even a better food ordering experience. You can order with them if you have not already. :)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Global Virtual Restaurant and Ghost Kitchens Market Size and Forecast | Uber Eats, Taker, VizEat, GRUBHUB, Skip The Dishes, FLIPDISH, DoorDash, CLOUD KITCHENS, Deputy, Rebel Foods". EUAC.
  12. ^ Cash, Martin (June 28, 2017). "Skip the Dishes co-founder named one of Canada's top young business innovators". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  13. ^ Wood, Zoe (November 23, 2017). "Just Eat poised to enter FTSE 100 after value soars past Sainsbury's". The Guardian. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  14. ^ Greenslade, Brittany (August 22, 2017). "Skip the Dishes testing out alcohol delivery in Winnipeg". Global News. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  15. ^ "Winnipeg-based delivery company Skip the Dishes backing out of U.S. market". CJOB. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  16. ^ "Takeaway issues shares after UK competition watchdog gives Just Eat buy approval". Platform Executive. April 23, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  17. ^ "Europe's Just Eat Takeaway to buy Grubhub for $7.3 billion". Reuters. June 11, 2020. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via uk.reuters.com.
  18. ^ Lombardo, Christopher (July 27, 2020). "Check it out: SkipTheDishes rebrands". Strategy. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  19. ^ "SkipTheDishes launches new offering for groceries". September 2021.
  20. ^ Deschamps, Tara (August 20, 2024). "SkipTheDishes and Just Eat cut 800 jobs in Canada amid restructure". thecanadianpressnews.ca. Canadian Press Enterprises Inc. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  21. ^ Qureshi, Usman (October 21, 2024). "Skip Celebrates 'Skip to the Good Part' Rebranding with Free Meal Vouchers • iPhone in Canada Blog". www.iphoneincanada.ca. iphoneincanada.ca. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  22. ^ "CNW - "Canadian" Jon Hamm Loves Hockey and SkipTheDishes". Newswire.ca.
  23. ^ Islur, Shamita. "Jon Hamm wants you to skip the inconveniences in SkipTheDishes' new ad". www.socialsamosa.com. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  24. ^ "Patrick Groulx pratique la lutte dans une nouvelle publicité de Skip". Grenier.qc.ca. December 3, 2019.
  25. ^ "SKIP Tour de force". Youtube.com. Announcer: Skip, Agency: Arrivals + Departure et TMO; Directeur artistique: David Lamarche; Conception-rédaction: Kristina Landry; Producer: Jérôme Couture: Agency Producer: Annick d’Auteuil; Production house: Cinélande; Director: Jean-François Asselin; DOP: Steve Danyluk; Postproduction: Post430; Sound: Lamajeure; Médias: True Media; Relations publiques: Proof Inc. December 3, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  26. ^ "Une campagne pour l'amour de la bouffe d'ici". Grenier.qc.ca. October 23, 2020.
  27. ^ "SKIP TV 15s REWARDS 2020 10 22". Youtube.com. Agency: A+D, The Montréal Office; Production house: Cinélande; Sound: Audio Z. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  28. ^ "SKIP TV 30s NEW 2020 10 22". Youtube.com. Agency: A+D, The Montréal Office; Production house: Cinélande; Sound: Audio Z. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  29. ^ Massaad, Jay (February 6, 2020). "Toronto Defiant plates up multi-year deal with SkipTheDishes". esportsinsider.com.
  30. ^ SkipTheDishes. "SkipTheDishes named the Official Food Delivery App of the Canadian Olympic Committee ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games". Newswire.ca. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  31. ^ "Just Eat snaps up Hungryhouse and Canada's SkipTheDishes for £260m". www.ft.com. Financial Times.
  32. ^ Sparks, Riley (March 14, 2017). "Skip the Dishes apologizes for ducking questions on pay and benefits". National Observer. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  33. ^ "SkipTheDishes Restaurant Services Inc". Bbb.org. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
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