Overview

Grubhub is a United States-based digital food-ordering and delivery platform that connects diners with restaurants through websites and mobile applications. Its consumer proposition combines restaurant discovery, menu browsing, online ordering, delivery and pickup, while its restaurant-facing services include order management, delivery logistics, digital marketing, payment-related tools and customer-engagement technology. The company is headquartered in Chicago and serves markets throughout the United States. The business began in 2004 when Matt Maloney and Mike Evans sought to replace paper restaurant menus with a searchable online ordering service. Its early growth was supported by venture financing and expansion into major urban markets, including Chicago, San Francisco and New York. A significant strategic step came through the combination with Seamless, a New York-originated online ordering business with a strong corporate and metropolitan customer base. The transaction, announced in 2013 and completed that year, created a larger platform operating under the Grubhub and Seamless brands. Grubhub expanded both organically and through acquisitions. It added restaurant-listing, ordering, delivery, campus-dining and diner-engagement capabilities through businesses including Dotmenu, AllMenus, Campusfood, MenuPages, DiningIn, Restaurants on the Run, Delivered Dish, LAbite, OrderUp, Eat24, LevelUp and Tapingo. The company also developed its own delivery network for restaurants that did not have delivery staff, increasing its role from a marketplace and ordering intermediary to a logistics provider. Grubhub Seamless became a public company in 2014, listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GRUB. During the second half of the 2010s, the company competed with DoorDash, Uber Eats, Postmates and other U.S. delivery platforms. Its services included restaurant delivery, pickup, corporate and group ordering, campus dining and subscription-based delivery benefits. In 2020 it introduced Grubhub+, a membership program offering eligible subscribers delivery benefits from participating restaurants. In June 2020, Just Eat Takeaway announced an agreement to acquire Grubhub in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $7.3 billion at announcement. The transaction closed in June 2021, after which Grubhub became part of the Dutch-listed Just Eat Takeaway group and remained headquartered in Chicago. The company subsequently operated alongside the group's other brands and entered a partnership with Amazon that made Grubhub+ available to qualifying Prime members. In 2025, Just Eat Takeaway announced the sale of Grubhub to Wonder Group for a reported transaction value of $650 million. Grubhub therefore continued as a U.S.-focused operating brand under new ownership rather than as a separately listed public company. Its business remains exposed to competition, restaurant commission economics, delivery labor regulation, consumer demand, and scrutiny over marketplace practices. The brand is positioned as a broad, mainstream digital ordering service serving consumers, independent restaurants, chains, corporate customers and institutional or campus dining programs.

History

Grubhub originated in Chicago in 2004, when Mike Evans and Matt Maloney developed an online alternative to paper restaurant menus. The founders refined the concept through the University of Chicago Booth School of Business's New Venture Challenge, winning the competition in 2006. Venture financing beginning in 2007 supported expansion into additional metropolitan markets, including San Francisco and New York. The company pursued scale through a combination of marketplace growth, delivery infrastructure and acquisitions. In 2011 it acquired Dotmenu, whose assets included AllMenus and Campusfood, while the Seamless business acquired MenuPages. Seamless itself had originated as SeamlessWeb, a corporate food-ordering service founded by Jason Finger in 1999. It later added consumer ordering, changed its name to Seamless, and returned to private ownership with investment from Spectrum Equity. Grubhub and Seamless announced their merger in 2013. The combined business retained both consumer brands and created a stronger national platform. Grubhub went public in April 2014 on the New York Stock Exchange. During this period it expanded into restaurant delivery, allowing businesses without their own drivers to use Grubhub's delivery network. By the latter part of the decade, the company had developed a broad portfolio of marketplace and logistics assets. Acquisitions included DiningIn and Restaurants on the Run in 2015, Delivered Dish in late 2015, LAbite in 2016, OrderUp market assets in 2017, Eat24 in 2017, LevelUp in 2018 and Tapingo in 2018. Eat24 was later retired as a separate consumer brand. LevelUp technology contributed to restaurant-facing and direct-ordering products, while Tapingo's campus functionality was incorporated into Grubhub's campus offering. Grubhub also assumed SkipTheDishes' U.S. operations after that company left the American market in 2019. The platform's expansion was accompanied by criticism and litigation. Issues raised publicly included the classification of delivery workers, the listing of restaurants without explicit permission, domain registrations using restaurant names, call-tracking and referral numbers, restaurant commission rates, and contractual provisions affecting menu prices. In a 2018 Lawson case, a judge rejected one driver's misclassification claim, while other litigation continued or raised different allegations. In 2020, restaurants and consumers brought antitrust claims against several large delivery platforms, including Grubhub. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grubhub promoted contact-free delivery and pickup options as restaurant demand shifted toward takeout and delivery. In 2020 it launched Grubhub+, a subscription program offering delivery benefits from participating restaurants. The same year, Just Eat Takeaway announced its agreement to acquire Grubhub. The transaction closed in June 2021, ending Grubhub's status as an independently listed public company and making it part of Just Eat Takeaway. Grubhub's logo was adjusted to reflect the group's ownership. After the acquisition, the company continued operating in the United States. A partnership with Amazon expanded access to Grubhub+ for Prime members, and Amazon later announced that the benefit would remain included with Prime. Grubhub also explored technology partnerships, including a 2021 arrangement involving Yandex delivery robots for certain college environments. In 2025, Just Eat Takeaway announced the sale of Grubhub to Wonder Group. The brand's present identity is therefore that of an active U.S.-focused ordering and delivery platform owned by Wonder Group, with capabilities spanning consumer ordering, delivery, pickup, restaurants, corporate customers and campus dining.

2025
Sale to Wonder Group
[1]Grubhuben.wikipedia.org
Just Eat Takeaway announces the sale of Grubhub to Wonder Group.
2021
Just Eat Takeaway acquisition closes
[1]Grubhuben.wikipedia.org
Grubhub becomes a subsidiary of Just Eat Takeaway.
2020
Grubhub+ launches
[1]Grubhuben.wikipedia.org
Grubhub introduces a paid subscription offering delivery benefits from participating restaurants.
2018
LevelUp and Tapingo acquisitions
[1]Grubhuben.wikipedia.org
The company adds restaurant engagement, payment and campus-ordering capabilities.
2017
Eat24 acquisition
[1]Grubhuben.wikipedia.org
Grubhub acquires Eat24 from Yelp and later retires the Eat24 consumer brand.
2014
Initial public offering
[1]Grubhuben.wikipedia.org
Grubhub lists on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GRUB.
2013
Grubhub and Seamless combine
[1]Grubhuben.wikipedia.org
The merger creates a larger U.S. online food-ordering company operating both Grubhub and Seamless brands.
2011
Dotmenu acquisition
[1]Grubhuben.wikipedia.org
Grubhub acquires Dotmenu, adding AllMenus and Campusfood to its portfolio.
2006
New Venture Challenge recognition
[1]Grubhuben.wikipedia.org
The founders win first place in the University of Chicago Booth School of Business's Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge.
2004
Grubhub is founded
[1]Grubhuben.wikipedia.org
Matt Maloney and Mike Evans establish Grubhub in Chicago as an online alternative to paper restaurant menus.

Products and positioning

A mainstream U.S. restaurant-ordering marketplace and delivery platform serving diners and restaurants, with additional corporate, campus, logistics and subscription offerings.

Online food ordering · 2004
Grubhub marketplace
The core website and mobile marketplace lets diners search for restaurants, review menus, place orders and choose delivery or pickup. The service aggregates participating restaurants and supports digital payment and order-status communication.
Food delivery · 2014
Grubhub delivery
Grubhub provides delivery logistics for restaurants that do not operate their own delivery fleets, coordinating orders and couriers across participating U.S. markets. Delivery became an important extension of the original restaurant-ordering marketplace.
Subscription service · 2020
Grubhub+
Grubhub+ is a paid membership program offering delivery-related benefits at eligible participating restaurants. Its distribution was expanded through the Amazon Prime partnership.
Institutional and campus ordering · 2019
Campus Dining
Campus Dining incorporates capabilities associated with Tapingo and supports food ordering in college and university environments. It connects campus users with participating dining locations and institutional food-service operations.
Restaurant technology
Grubhub for Restaurants
The restaurant-facing product suite provides ordering, delivery coordination, marketplace exposure, customer engagement and related operational tools. Technology from LevelUp contributed to the development of restaurant-facing and direct-ordering capabilities.
Online food ordering · 1999
Seamless
Seamless is a Grubhub-owned ordering brand with roots in New York and corporate catering. It remains associated with online and mobile restaurant ordering in the United States, particularly in metropolitan markets.

Controversies

2021
Chicago sues DoorDash and Grubhub over alleged customer deception
In 2021, the City of Chicago filed lawsuits against DoorDash and Grubhub, alleging that the platforms deceived customers and used unfair business practices. The companies called the lawsuits baseless. Grubhub also said it would defend its practices in court. The event concerns the City of Chicago's allegations against the two delivery platforms and the companies' responses; no further outcomes or details are included in the available account.
Source
2021
Massachusetts attorney general sues Grubhub over restaurant fees
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey sued Grubhub Holdings Inc., alleging that it charged Massachusetts restaurants fees above the state’s 15% cap during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The lawsuit seeks refunds and civil penalties; the allegations are not stated as a court finding.
Source
2021
Zay Toon sues Grubhub over commissions on telephone calls
Zay Toon Inc., which owns a Las Vegas restaurant, filed a lawsuit accusing Grubhub of charging restaurants commissions on calls lasting more than 45 seconds whether or not an order was placed. The complaint seeks relief for the plaintiff and a proposed class of restaurants.
Source
2020
Antitrust and pricing allegations
Restaurants and consumers sued Grubhub and other delivery platforms, alleging that contractual restrictions and market power caused restaurants to maintain comparable prices across dine-in and delivery channels while absorbing substantial platform fees.
Source
2020
Restaurant listing litigation
Restaurants brought class-action claims alleging that Grubhub listed businesses without permission or continued listing them after permission had been withheld, potentially diverting orders and generating commissions.
Source
2020
Yum Brands sues Grubhub over distribution agreement
Yum Brands filed a lawsuit against Grubhub, alleging that the online food-ordering platform violated a distribution agreement between the two companies. Grubhub denied the allegations and stated that it was willing to work with Yum to resolve the contract dispute. The dispute centers on the distribution agreement governing the companies' relationship, with Yum claiming breach and Grubhub rejecting the claim while expressing openness to cooperation.
Source
2020
Customer files TCPA suit against GrubHub over alleged unsolicited texts
Maria Thrasher filed a complaint against GrubHub alleging that the company sent her text messages without her consent, in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. According to the filing, Thrasher claimed she had not ordered from GrubHub and had not provided her phone number to the company. She sought statutory and treble damages in the suit.
Source
2020
Lakeview hit-and-run victim sues Grubhub
Bijan Choya Early filed suit against Grubhub and Aamir Mohammed, alleging negligence because Mohammed was able to access the platform and work as a driver. Grubhub said Mohammed was not actually its driver and had fraudulently used another contracted driver's account.
Source
2020
Great NH Restaurants sues DoorDash and Grubhub over alleged trademark infringement
Great NH Restaurants filed suit against DoorDash and Grubhub, alleging unauthorized use of its restaurants’ logos and menus on their websites and apps. It seeks a permanent injunction and damages.
Source
2019
Restaurant domain and referral-number allegations
Public reporting alleged that Grubhub registered restaurant-related web domains and used referral telephone numbers in ways that could redirect traffic or create commission exposure. Grubhub disputed the allegations and maintained that relevant contractual terms authorized the practices.
Source

Marketing campaigns

2022Amazon Prime Grubhub+ partnership
United States
Grubhub and Amazon promoted access to Grubhub+ for eligible Prime members, linking the delivery subscription with Amazon's broader membership ecosystem.
Outcome. Expanded distribution of Grubhub+ and strengthened the platform's consumer acquisition channel.
Source
2020Contact-free delivery and pickup messaging
United States
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grubhub promoted contact-free delivery and restaurant pickup as alternatives designed to reduce physical interaction and accommodate changing consumer behavior.
Outcome. Expanded awareness of delivery and pickup options during the pandemic.
Source
2020Grubhub+ launch campaign
United States
Grubhub introduced a monthly membership proposition centered on delivery benefits from participating restaurants.
Outcome. Established a subscription layer for the platform.
Source
2020Delivery Dance
United States
An animated television advertisement showed customers dancing after placing food orders. The commercial generated extensive online parody and discussion, although its exaggerated style also attracted criticism.
Outcome. High online visibility and meme circulation, accompanied by unfavorable creative commentary.
Source

Brand decisions

2025
Sale to Wonder GroupM&A
Background
Just Eat Takeaway reviewed strategic options for Grubhub after owning the U.S.-focused platform.
Action taken
Just Eat Takeaway announced the sale of Grubhub to Wonder Group.
Aftermath
Grubhub moved to new ownership and continued as an active U.S. operating brand.
Reported transaction value. $650 million (2025 announcement and completion)
Source
2020
Launch Grubhub+Product launch
Background
Food-delivery platforms were seeking recurring revenue and stronger customer retention.
Action taken
Grubhub introduced a monthly subscription offering delivery benefits at participating restaurants.
Aftermath
The service became a central consumer-membership product and was later distributed through Amazon Prime.
Source
2020
Agree to be acquired by Just Eat TakeawayM&A
Background
Grubhub was competing in a consolidating global food-delivery market and had also received acquisition interest from Uber.
Action taken
Grubhub accepted an all-stock acquisition proposal from Just Eat Takeaway.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in June 2021, and Grubhub became a subsidiary rather than an independent public company.
Announced transaction value. $7.3 billion (June 2020 announcement)
- Uber — Uber had approached Grubhub about a takeover before Grubhub selected Just Eat Takeaway.
Source
2017
Acquire Eat24M&A
Background
Eat24 was a competing restaurant-ordering service owned by Yelp.
Action taken
Grubhub agreed to acquire Eat24 and completed the transaction later in 2017.
Aftermath
Eat24's capabilities and restaurant relationships were absorbed into Grubhub, and the separate consumer brand was later shut down.
Reported transaction value. $287.5 million (2017 announcement)
Source
2014
Build an in-house delivery networkStrategy
Background
Many restaurants available through the marketplace did not have their own delivery operations.
Action taken
Grubhub began offering delivery services for participating restaurants and expanded the capability across additional U.S. markets.
Aftermath
The company became both a restaurant-ordering marketplace and a logistics provider.
Source

Recent events

2022-01-12
ItsaCheckmate expands integration with Grubhub[10]ItsaCheckmate 扩大与 Grubhub 的整合合作qsrweb.com
Reported: 2022-01-12
ItsaCheckmate expanded its partnership with Grubhub by adding Grubhub to its digital ordering platforms, allowing restaurant staff to manage Grubhub menus and orders in one place.
2021-12-07
WWE, White Castle and Grubhub team up on themed meals[11]WWE、White Castle与Grubhub合作推出主题餐点411mania.com
Reported: 2021-12-07
WWE teamed up with White Castle and Grubhub to offer special WWE-themed meals for delivery.
2021-11-17
Grubhub and Yandex announce robot delivery at the University of Arizona[12]Grubhub 与 Yandex 宣布在亚利桑那大学推出机器人配送prnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-11-17
Grubhub and Yandex announced robot delivery at the University of Arizona, where students can order food from on-campus dining locations through the Grubhub app and have it delivered by Yandex rovers.
2021-08-27
Chicago sues DoorDash and Grubhub over alleged customer deception[5]Chicago sues DoorDash and Grubhub over alleged customer deceptionnbcphiladelphia.com
Reported: 2021-08-27
The City of Chicago filed lawsuits against DoorDash and Grubhub, alleging that the platforms deceived customers and used unfair business practices. The companies called the lawsuits baseless; Grubhub also said it would defend its practices in court.
2021-07-29
Massachusetts attorney general sues Grubhub over restaurant fees[6]Massachusetts attorney general sues Grubhub over restaurant feespatch.com
Reported: 2021-07-29
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey sued Grubhub Holdings Inc., alleging that it charged Massachusetts restaurants fees above the state’s 15% cap during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The lawsuit seeks refunds and civil penalties; the allegations are not stated as a court finding.
2021-07-06
Yandex Self-Driving Group and GrubHub partner on campus robotic delivery[13]Yandex自动驾驶部门与GrubHub合作提供校园机器人配送techcrunch.com
Reported: 2021-07-06
Yandex Self-Driving Group announced a multi-year partnership with GrubHub to provide robotic delivery across American college campuses. The service had already been integrated into the GrubHub app; the partners said the rollout would begin with dozens of robots in the fall.
2021-05-12
Grubhub announces Grubhub Direct[14]Grubhub宣布推出Grubhub Directprnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-05-12
Grubhub announced Grubhub Direct, a platform that lets independent restaurants offer commission-free online ordering through customized websites and access diner data.
2021-03-24
Zay Toon sues Grubhub over commissions on telephone calls[7]Zay Toon sues Grubhub over commissions on telephone callslawstreetmedia.com
Reported: 2021-03-24
Zay Toon Inc., which owns a Las Vegas restaurant, filed a lawsuit accusing Grubhub of charging restaurants commissions on calls lasting more than 45 seconds whether or not an order was placed. The complaint seeks relief for the plaintiff and a proposed class of restaurants.
2021-03-19
Apple partners with Los Angeles restaurants for free-pizza promotion[15]Apple 与洛杉矶餐厅合作推出免费披萨促销macrumors.com
Reported: 2021-03-20
Apple partnered with Los Angeles restaurants Gjelina and Milo & Olive to offer free pizza through Grubhub in celebration of the second-season finale of its show “Servant.” The offer was available through Sunday or while supplies lasted.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
2021-03-01
Grubhub expands RestaurantHER partnerships with World Central Kitchen and Women Business Collaborative[16]Grubhub 扩大 RestaurantHER 与 World Central Kitchen 及 Women Business Collaborative 的合作prnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-03-01
Grubhub announced expanded RestaurantHER efforts for women in the culinary industry, including support for World Central Kitchen’s Restaurants for the People program and a partnership with Women Business Collaborative to raise awareness and encourage support for women-owned restaurants.

Showing the 10 most recent.

Related entries

Seamless

Blue Apron