Today, Mayor John Tory announced the City of Toronto is extending its partnership with Ritual to launch Open For Business – a collaboration with Ritual and DoorDash to help local businesses across Toronto increase their commission-free online sales.
Ritual ONE is typically accessed by restaurants, bars and food services, such as cafes, bakeries, butchers and grocers. However, this program is available to any Toronto business that wants to access commission-free pickup and delivery.
During the first phase of the partnership with Ritual, announced this past spring, 1,211 Toronto businesses signed up for the Ritual ONE platform. With COVID-19 remaining a threat to Toronto’s economy and communities, this program will continue to help local businesses keep their doors open while helping to keep their employees and customers safer through commission-free online ordering.
Through this partnership extension, Ritual will provide its commission-free digital ordering platform Ritual ONE to Toronto businesses at no cost through the end of this year. This includes waiving set-up ($99) and monthly subscription fees ($49/month).
All local businesses that enroll in Ritual ONE will receive delivery capabilities powered by DoorDash Drive, its fulfillment platform that powers direct delivery for any business. Toronto businesses will receive two weeks of free delivery from October 26 to November 8. All flat fee delivery fees will be waived for customers and local businesses to encourage customers to order directly from local businesses.
Additionally, any business that completes one delivery order on Ritual ONE powered by DoorDash Drive by December 31 will receive Ritual ONE free through 2021.
Toronto businesses can learn more about Open For Business and enroll at ritual.co/toronto.
Additional details on how customers can access and participate in the free delivery promotion will be available in advance of the October 26 start date.
Businesses enrolled in the City’s ShopHERE program will also be eligible. Toronto independent businesses and artists can sign up for their free online ShopHERE store at digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere.
These initiatives are a part of the Mayor’s Economic Support and Recovery Task Force’s economic support and recovery plan for Toronto’s businesses.
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services and social supports. Check toronto.ca/covid-19 for answers to commonly asked questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
Quotes:
“We are working to forge partnerships such as this to help Toronto businesses recover and rebuild from this pandemic stronger than before. I want to thank Ritual – a Toronto tech success story – for developing Ritual ONE and partnering with us to help our local businesses, especially the restaurant and food services sector, as we face the second wave of COVID-19.”
– Mayor John Tory
“It is now more critical than ever before for businesses to connect with their customers online. Through the City’s Digital Main Street platform, the ShopHERE program and now our extended partnership with Ritual ONE, more Toronto businesses from every part of the city will be able to do so.”
– Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson, Scarborough Centre (Ward 21), Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee
“It’s important to Ritual to help Toronto businesses stay up and running while keeping everyone safe during this time,” said Ritual CEO, Ray Reddy. Ritual ONE with delivery capabilities powered by DoorDash Drive provides all our favorite restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops the opportunity to easily offer contactless takeout and/or delivery. We believe local businesses are what make our communities thrive, and we are here to support them as we work with Mayor Tory, the City of Toronto, and DoorDash to help kick-start the Toronto economy again.”
– Ray Reddy, Co-founder and CEO of Ritual
“We’re proud to partner with Ritual and the City of Toronto in pursuit of our shared commitment to support local economies,” said Casey North, VP of DoorDash Drive. “Now more than ever local businesses are looking for ways to reach customers online and keep their doors open, and we hope Open for Business will empower Toronto businesses to grow their same-stores sales.”
– Casey North, VP of DoorDash Drive
Ritual connects businesses with customers to offer a simple, safe, time-saving tool to order and pay for themselves and their workplace teams. Ritual works with thousands of restaurants around the world, serving customers in more than 50 cities across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Ritual was founded in 2014, with headquarters in Toronto. Ritual was recently named one of LinkedIn’s Top Start-Ups for 2019 and was also named one of Strategy Magazine’s Brands of the Year for 2019.
DoorDash is a technology company that connects people with the best in their cities. We do this by empowering local businesses and in turn, generate new ways for people to earn, work and live. We started by facilitating door-to-door delivery, but we see this as just the beginning of connecting people with possibility — easier evenings, happier days, bigger savings accounts, wider nets and stronger communities.
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.