Associated GETS delivers food and drink from restaurants, takeaways and shops in the Bishop's Stortford area
Getting your favourite cuisine from local restaurants, takeaways and shops delivered to your door is now easier than ever thanks to Associated GETS.
Bishop's Stortford-based Associated Taxis pivoted during lockdown by founding its takeaway service to help outlets deliver food and drink further, faster and at a lower cost.
Associated GETS delivers orders to customers up to 10 miles from the restaurant – it currently has 34 vendors signed up – which is double the distance of its closest competitor, meaning businesses can double their target audience at half the price.
It also offers a 24/7 delivery service, meaning outlets can serve their customers the whole time they are open.
"We were absolutely gobsmacked to hear restaurants were paying delivery companies 30-35% of each order to deliver only within a three- to five-mile radius and only at set times," said Associated GETS founder and CEO Jack Doherty.
"This was very limiting and was at a huge cost to our local economy, which is having money syphoned out to global elites at an alarming rate. Keeping as much of the money in the pockets of its rightful owners – local restaurants and local drivers – is important.
"Whilst global competitors' business models are a great success in cities, we believe with our expertise in Bishop's Stortford and surrounding areas that we can build a better model that is fit for our town."
One Stortford establishment delighted to have signed up with Associated GETS is Smoke BBQ Kitchen in Hockerill Street.
The restaurant, which is run by Charles Erleigh and his wife Sofia, specialises in authentic kiln-dried, smoked and barbecued food inspired by South African braai.
Customers can enjoy its delicious dishes like the hugely popular Smoke Feast – an American sharing platter, cooked low and slow, including Texas-style beef brisket, St Louis meaty pork ribs, Alabama chicken and boerewors served with garlic bread, corn on the cob, slaw, fries, dips and house pickles – both in the 40-cover restaurant and at home by ordering from www.smokebbqkitchen.co.uk or using the Associated GETS app.
"While we're a restaurant, through Associated GETS our takeaway service has been a great success," said Charles, who hails from Cape Town. He opened Smoke BBQ Kitchen in October 2019 having previously managed Down Hall Country House in Hatfield Heath and Theobalds Park hotel in Cheshunt as well as having worked for the Radisson Blu group.
"We've catered for things like private functions, birthdays and celebrations during lockdown when people couldn't come to the restaurant. It was important we still looked after our customers so they could have good food at home and get their barbecue fix.
"We've had a huge amount of support from the local community and I think it's really impressive how Associated has also pivoted as a business during the lockdown."
The Associated GETS takeaway delivery and taxi ride-hailing app is available for customers to download. It is a separate product to Associated Taxis' award-winning passenger app, being created to connect more people to local services.
The business has more than 70 taxis for quicker response times, over 20 drivers who deliver further than competitors and the low percentage it takes from restaurants means there are lots of food outlets you won't find on other ordering sites.
"We know that recruiting delivery drivers can be stressful for restaurants," said Jack. "They don't want to employ delivery drivers in quiet times and employing delivery drivers for the hour-and-a-half that they're busy just isn't viable or economic.
"By joining Associated GETS, restaurants get access to delivery drivers on demand without any headache of recruiting while keeping their customers happy and their profits maximised."
Download the Associated GETS app from app stores now and visit Associated-gets.com for more information.
