Uber Eats South Africa Marks 10 Years, Shares Top Orders

In Short

• Uber Eats marked 10 years in South Africa and published a snapshot of what people ordered most.
• The company said fried chicken with pap was the platform’s most-ordered meal over the past decade.
• Uber Eats also pointed to merchant growth and a public sector partnership it says delivered over R1 billion in economic value.

What Happened

Uber Eats in South Africa is using its 10-year milestone to share ordering trends from the last decade. According to a report published on October 3, the platform’s top-ordered meal over that period was fried chicken with pap.

The update also highlighted continued supply growth on the marketplace. Uber Eats said thousands of new merchants joined the platform during the year. For delivery apps, “merchants” typically means restaurants, takeaway shops, and other food sellers that list menus on the app.

Uber Eats also referenced a partnership with the Gauteng Department of Economic Development. The company said the partnership generated more than R1 billion in economic value. “Economic value” is a broad measure, it can include sales through the app, income earned by merchants, and earnings by delivery couriers, rather than profit.

Why It Matters

For restaurant delivery and online food ordering in South Africa, decade-long data helps show what demand looks like beyond short-term trends. Fried chicken with pap ranking first also signals how local staples still dominate even as app-based ordering grows.

The merchant numbers matter because delivery platforms depend on selection and coverage to stay competitive. More merchants can mean better choice for customers, and more routes and jobs for couriers.

Finally, Uber Eats leaning on a Gauteng government partnership suggests delivery marketplaces are positioning themselves as SME channels, not just consumer apps. If public sector partners accept these platforms as routes to market for small food businesses, it could shape how cities support township and informal economy merchants through digital commerce programs.