Here is the short history of delivery service around the world, which culminates in the US.
The business of delivering tiffin boxes in Mumbai started in 1890. It’s called Dhabbawallah, when the Parsi and British communities living in Mumbai needed the convenience of a tiffin delivery service.
A year earlier, in. 1889 a pair of Italian royals are widely considered to be the first pizza delivery customers. King Umberto and Queen Margherita recived a pizza from an ambition pizza shop as his way to popularize this new food item. It was one delivery, and build some interest in pizza delivery.
What followed in the US would be chinese food delivery, TV dinners, and the first guarantee of a timed delivery, with Domino's Pizza. More recently meal kits and meal delivery service expanded peoples food horizons with lesser known cuisines.
While this episode may seem out of place among all the first hand interviews with owners, chefs and industry folks, it really is not. Over and over Martha Lucius works with clients on their particular brand, knowing the history and the stories behind a niche proves to be a way to translate your business for your customers. Delivery services may not be new, but each owner can acknowledge it's impact on profitability. Do what's good for the health of the business and your teams.