With the total transactional value of food ordering and delivery providers in Australia expected to hit $2.4bn by 2026, the fast food and restaurant industry is in a period of strong sector evolution.

In order for Australian businesses to succeed, it is now a requirement that owners and operators have a firm grip on the rapidly evolving digital marketplace, and as a result, Australia’s peak restaurant body has answered the call.

The Restaurant and Catering Industry Association of Australia (R&CA) on Tuesday published the nation’s first independent resource to help restaurants, cafes and other food retailers navigate the online food ordering and delivery industry.

The guide provides small business and franchise restaurant owners with key industry facts, and essential information relating to the implementation and integration of new market initiatives into the business plan.

Juliana Payne, R&CA CEO said that in discussions with small business owners, industry disruptors such as UberEats and Menulog had been identified as primary concerns.

“Online delivery is one of the biggest topics of conversation both within our member network and the food and beverage industry generally,” Payne said.

“We’ve worked closely with key stakeholders, including restaurants, customers and our corporate partners to create a consolidated resource that we believe will be incredibly useful for the restaurant and catering industry.”

The R&CA worked alongside major online delivery platforms Menulog, Deliveroo and UberEats to develop the guide, which also features advice on how best to utilise an online listing, a comparison of online delivery providers and a comprehensive overview of dark kitchens.

The rising trend for gig-economy platforms has most prevalently effected the restaurant and fast-food sector, with the number of Australian businesses using online delivery services more than doubling to 31.2 per cent in 2018, up from 15.4 per cent in 2017, according to the 2018 R&CA benchmarking report.

“The industry’s rapid growth coupled with the increasing media attention it receives, means that it is vital now more than ever to provide restaurants with all the information they need to capitalise on and weigh up the opportunity that online delivery can bring,” Payne said.

Navigating the online food delivery industry: A guide for food and beverage retailers is available to download on the R&CA website.

Fancy a food retailing franchise for yourself? Take a look at all available opportunities here.