Ever wished you lived in Flavortown, USA? What if Flavortown was inside your kitchen all along?
Food delivery apps saw record-breaking sales amid the pandemic, and Goldbelly was no exception. The NYC-based platform plans to announce a $100m financing round led by Spectrum Equity later this week, per the New York Times.
Goldbelly differs from apps like Postmates and Uber Eats…
… in that the delivery radius is the entire United States.
Craving a duck pie from NYC’s Momofuku or Guy Fieri’s BBQ Trash Can Nachos? Have them shipped frozen straight to your door and whip them up in your kitchen.
With travel and dining off the table due to the pandemic, Goldbelly saw huge growth:
- Co-founder Joe Ariel says sales have more than quadrupled over the past year
- Goldbelly jumped from 40 employees to 130
- Over 400 of the 850 restaurants currently on Goldbelly joined since the start of the pandemic
Goldbelly plans to use its new funds to add staff, recruit new restaurants, and offer online cooking courses with celeb chefs.
It’s not yet clear if that growth will continue…
… or if diners will return to their local faves. If there’s a downside for the consumer, it’s that ordering cross-country can be pricey.
For example: If you go to Ms. Chi in Culver City, California, you can get 8 chicken Jiaozis for $11, or ~$1.38 per dumpling (it’s ~$3.45 each on Goldbelly). If you live near, you’d likely choose dine-in or takeout.
But when you’re talking absolute faves and Michelin stars from 1k miles away, a premium is likely worth it. And that’s what Goldbelly’s banking on.
Pro tip: A dozen Guy Fieri Caliente Margs are $69. Nice.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Goldbelly was based in the Bay Area. The company is now headquartered in New York.
