Restaurants that want to sell directly to customers without building their own delivery fleet now have a new option through a partnership between Sauce, a first-party ordering, delivery and retention platform, and Grubhub, a leading U.S. food-ordering and delivery marketplace. The arrangement makes Sauce a direct ordering and delivery partner available to Grubhub merchants, pairing Sauce's high-converting ordering platform with Grubhub's nationwide fulfillment network.
The significance lies in the control it returns to restaurant operators. Under the partnership, Sauce powers the customer-facing ordering experience and data tools, while Grubhub connects merchants with drivers for last-mile delivery. That means restaurants can support direct sales while retaining ownership of customer relationships, brand identity and marketing data—assets that are often lost when orders flow primarily through third-party marketplaces.
The deal arrives as restaurants increasingly look for ways to build stronger direct channels without sacrificing reliable delivery operations. Through the joint offering, eligible restaurants gain access to Sauce's branded online ordering platform, direct ordering websites optimized for mobile and SEO, integrated loyalty, marketing and AI-powered customer engagement tools, ownership of customer data and relationships, seamless delivery fulfillment powered by Grubhub's logistics network, and exclusive promotional opportunities and onboarding incentives.
"Restaurants deserve online order and delivery technology that grows their business, strengthens connections with their customers, and delivers a best-in-class ordering experience," said Li-ran Navon, CEO and Co-Founder of Sauce. "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."
Grubhub framed the partnership as an extension of its merchant support. "This partnership reflects our shared commitment to helping restaurants support their business and better serve their customers," said Rachel Winkelman, Vice President, Enterprise Partnerships at Grubhub. "By combining Sauce's direct ordering technology with Grubhub's nationwide delivery network, we're providing merchants with an end-to-end solution that helps drive sales, streamline operations, and deliver a great customer experience."
The implications extend beyond convenience. By letting restaurants own the ordering relationship while outsourcing fulfillment, the partnership could help independent restaurants and chains reduce dependence on marketplace commissions and build repeat customers through loyalty and marketing tools. For Grubhub, it adds a direct-ordering channel to its merchant offerings. Sauce operates throughout the U.S. from New York and Florida, as well as other major markets. Grubhub, part of Wonder, features over 415,000 merchants in more than 4,000 U.S. cities. Additional details are available at www.getsauce.com, and the original release can be viewed through www.newmediawire.com.
