This 2-part project focuses on food delivery cooperatives as alternatives to the existent food delivery platform model.

• The report notes the various problems with the current platform system, including tendency to monopoly, poor working conditions and exacerbated inequality.

• An alternative path is tracked, via a proposal for a food delivery cooperative, that retains the various benefits of the platform model but integrates more equal outcomes.

• New urban infrastructure is proposed, from rider service stations, rest and meeting zones, and dedicated dispatch zones.

• We’ve also produced a ‘How to’ guide for setting up a food delivery cooperative, in collaboration with CoopCycle and Cooperatives UK.

Authors:

Phil Jones

James Muldoon

Julian Siravo

Will Stronge, Director of Research at Autonomy, said:

“Delivery firms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo have hugely benefited from the Covid pandemic but the benefits have not been passed on to their workers.

The Government should be supporting the real alternatives to the exploitative delivery economy that is emerging today.

Moving fast food delivery services over to a platform cooperative model would give workers and stakeholders a meaningful say in how the organisation operates, as well as a fair share of wealth and benefits.”

This project was supported by the Not-Equal network.

The guide was produced in collaboration with Cooperatives UK and CoopCycle.