Menulog: Bombshell as food delivery service announces it will cease all operations in Australia

Food delivery service Menulog has announced it will shut down all operations in Australia later this month, putting 120 people out of a job.

Owners Just Eat Takeaway.com dropped the bombshell news in a statement on its website on Wednesday morning, saying the “difficult” decision had been made after “careful consideration”.

“While Menulog has a proud 20 year history, it has been navigating challenging circumstances. This strategic decision reflects our focus on accelerating growth and investments in other markets and to deliver the best experience for customers, partners and couriers.

“Altogether, this will impact approximately 120 employees. All impacted employees will be fully supported with generous redundancy packages above legal requirements and outplacement support.

Menulog will no longer accept orders from midnight, Wednesday 26 November 2025.

Managing director Morten Belling said it was a “tough day”.

“I would like to reassure everyone this decision was not taken lightly,” he said.

“Our priority now is to support our customers, couriers and partners. This is why we are providing everyone a two-week transition period, in which customers can redeem unused vouchers and credits. Additionally, eligible couriers will be entitled to a 4-week voluntary payment.”

The Transport Workers Union said the news would be a shock for the thousands of food delivery drivers that relied on Menulog for an income and it would work to ensure they received pay for their work and fair exit payments.

“In the gig economy, workers are still languishing with below-minimum wage rates, no sick leave or superannuation, and deadly pressure to rush to make a living and avoid being deactivated, national secretary Michael Kaine said.

“Menulog wanted to do the right thing by its workforce but years of regulatory neglect by Coalition governments has meant that change has come too late.

“We are paying the price for Coalition governments’ inaction now, not just with jobs that are exploitative and dangerous, but with less options for customers in an unsustainable industry engaged in a race to the bottom.

“We urgently need standards in the gig economy to stop the relentless downward spiral.

“New laws introduced by the Albanese government will significantly level the playing field – but DoorDash, Uber Eats, Hungry Panda and Easi now need to come to the table to ensure we get standards in place as soon as possible.”

Menulog’s closure marks the departure of the only food-delivery service that began in Australia, and comes after the withdrawal of Deliveroo in November 2022 that also impacted 120 jobs.

The closures come despite growth in the market, with Statista reporting more than 8.3 million Australians used food-delivery services in 2024 and predictions from Mordor Intelligence that the food service market would grow by 11.45 per cent annually.

— with AAP