Food delivery apps were meant to help. Instead, they hijacked the margins.
For years, local businesses have played by someone else’s rules. They signed up for delivery platforms with the promise of convenience, visibility, and extra revenue. What they got instead were bloated commission fees, unreliable drivers, bad reviews they didn’t earn, and profit margins that barely held together.
The gig economy didn’t just fail drivers — it failed the very businesses it claimed to empower. But a quiet rebellion is underway. And it’s called Rydra.
The Cost of Playing Along
“The one thing that destroyed most people's business is the delivery apps. Either Uber, Menulog, or Deliveroo… they ruined everything.”
— Business owner, SBS News
That’s not just frustration. That’s reality. According to multiple small business owners interviewed by SBS, the biggest threat to their brand reputation isn’t their own team — it’s the people supposedly delivering for them. Drivers picking up orders 20 minutes late. Deliveries arriving cold. Customers leaving one-star reviews for things completely out of the restaurant’s control. And all the while, the platforms collect their 30%+ cut, no matter what.
“We lost over $7,000 just having the apps on. Food doesn't have much profit anymore… with Uber’s share, you're making no money.”
This isn’t just anecdotal. A Voxware survey found that 16% of customers will not repurchase after a single incorrect delivery, and 14% drop off after just one late delivery. In other words, even one unreliable driver can fracture long-term customer loyalty. That’s not just frustrating — it’s fatal for small businesses already running on tight margins.
Rydra Flips the Model
At Rydra, we’re not interested in tweaking a broken model. We’re replacing it.
Our contract-first platform lets businesses hire delivery drivers directly — for hours, days, or regular shifts — cutting out randomness, chaos, and waste. No more mystery drivers. No more gambling on hot food arriving cold. Just qualified, rated professionals who know your kitchen, your prep time, your priorities.
Want to hire the same driver every Friday night from 6–10 pm? Done.
Need a courier for urgent pickups each morning? You set the terms.
Want loyalty and accountability, not roulette? Welcome to Rydra.
Real Numbers. Real Results.
Let’s look at the economics. According to PayScale, full-time delivery drivers in Australia earn $24.64/hr. But when you hire through a gig platform, the platform charges 30–35% in commission — whether or not the job is done right.
With Rydra, businesses save over 10% on commissions compared to leading apps. And because drivers earn better margins, they stay loyal. Our structure allows:
Businesses to reduce payroll costs by up to 30% with on-demand contracts
Drivers to earn up to 60% more per hour when working for consistent employers
Businesses to cut service failures by working with trusted professionals
More margin. More quality. More control.
Smarter Drivers = Better Kitchens
When a driver knows your setup, your pickup timing, your customers, your packaging — everything improves. Food is prepared in sync with arrival. Couriers stop interrupting the flow. You deliver meals and goods with precision, not stress.
That’s the Rydra difference.
By building real relationships, not random gigs, we unlock speed, reliability, and mutual respect — the missing ingredients in modern delivery.
One Platform. Six Services. Full Control.
Rydra isn’t just for food. It’s for everything that moves. From rideshare to groceries to parcels and retail, our six service verticals cover the full spectrum of local logistics:
RydraEats – Restaurant food delivery
RydraMarket – Grocery and daily essentials
RydraDrop – Retail and hardware runs
RydraDash – Same-day courier for parcels
RydraRide – Rideshare transport
RydraContracts – Long-term driver partnerships
One app. One system. One place to manage every delivery, every driver, every shift.
Whether you’re a busy kitchen, a florist, a bookstore, a pharmacy, or a bar, Rydra gives you the tools to run faster, cheaper, and smarter — without handing your customer experience to a black-box algorithm.
Our Ethos: Volume That Destroys Broken Systems
At Rydra, we don’t believe in passive disruption.
Our ethos is clear:
Produce so much volume, so fast, that it becomes impossible for broken systems to survive us.
We’re not competing with the old model. We’re burying it.
With better tech, better incentives, and a belief that delivery doesn’t have to be dehumanised — we’re returning logistics to the people who power it.
Be the First to Switch
Rydra launches first in Canberra, with expansion coming fast. Early adopters will have the chance to:
Hire top-rated drivers
Pay less in fees
Build local loyalty
And finally take back control of their margins and their customer experience
If you’ve felt trapped in the gig system — now’s your moment to break free.
This isn’t just logistics.
It’s the infrastructure of movement, rebuilt.