A restaurant owner accused “greedy” Deliveroo of “slowly killing” small restaurants, after he closed a popular burger outlet in Stoke Newington last week.
Stokey Bears opened on Stoke Newington High Street in 2014 but, last week, founder Tom Reaney pulled the plug, citing rising costs and the growth of delivery companies like Deliveroo.
“It’s killed us,” Reaney said. “By the end Deliveroo comprised 65% of our business, and it becomes impossible to cover costs after they take their cut. These companies are robbing people.”
A spokesperson for Deliveroo said: “Deliveroo has a proven track record of being good for businesses. Restaurants who partner with Deliveroo see their revenue increase by up to 30%. We help restraunts grow and expand by bringing them additional orders from delivery.”
Reaney wonders that with hindsight, Stokey Bears would have enjoyed a spike in customers if it had switched off Deliveroo. “People still want great burgers,” he said. “If they couldn’t get it on delivery they would get off their arses and walk down the road.”
Although Stokey Bears is no more, Reaney’s company – Burger Bear – still has two London branches: Magic Roundabout, on Old Street, and a pop-up in Peckham. Most of his energies, however, are going into a new outlet in Bristol, where he moved two years ago. He expects a “mass exodus” of London-based foodies will soon join him in seeking greener pastures outside the capital.
