Grubhub, a top-three third-party food delivery platform by U.S. market share, is cozying up with first-party channels through a partnership with direct ordering, retention and commission-free delivery platform Sauce.
The partnership adds Miami-based Sauce as a tech partner powering customer-facing ordering and data tools available to Grubhub merchants, while the platform’s nationwide delivery network connects merchants with couriers to execute deliveries.
Wonder-owned Grubhub expanded the use of its fleet to execute direct orders through Olo Dispatch in January 2025.
“We’re excited to partner with Sauce to bring together direct ordering technology and delivery capabilities in a seamless experience for restaurants,” Rachel Winkelman, Grubhub’s vice president of enterprise partnerships, said in an October 14 press release. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to helping restaurants support their business and better serve their customers.”
The collaboration provides eligible restaurants with ownership of customer data and relationships for digital orders through Sauce, which also offers a branded online ordering platform, direct-ordering websites designed for mobile guests, search engine optimization and artificial intelligence-powered customer engagement tools.
“Restaurants deserve online order and delivery technology that grows their business, strengthens connections with their customers and delivers a best-in-class ordering experience,” Li-ran Navon, CEO and co-founder of Sauce, said in a press release. “We’re excited to partner with Grubhub to give restaurant operators a powerful direct ordering solution backed by one of the most trusted delivery networks in the industry. Together, we’re making it easier for restaurants to support direct sales while building lasting customer loyalty.”
Leveraging their fleets to meet first-party demand is a practice held by all three leading U.S. third-party food delivery platforms. Uber Direct from Uber Eats works with Cartwheel, Sauce, Square and Paytronix, among other integration partners. Through DoorDash Drive, DoorDash’s courier network services direct-ordering demand through Toast, Olo, Lunchbox and others.
