Rakuten Launches Takeout Platform for Local Restaurants

To support local restaurants struggling to maintain their business and reach diners as they shelter in place, Rakuten Americas has launched Rakuten Takeout, a free platform for local restaurants to offer takeout options to Rakuten members.

Rakuten Takeout is free of charge for restaurants until November 2020. It is currently available to restaurants in San Mateo, Calif. Rakuten Takeout will expand to the wider San Francisco Bay Area and roll out nationally later this year.

For a limited time, members using Rakuten Takeout to place takeout orders will earn 20% Cash Back on every order from their favorite local restaurants.

Rakuten Takeout, powered by Rakuten Ready is designed for restaurants that need a quick, simple way to streamline takeout order processing and increased demand. The platform enables restaurants to easily build a custom website where Rakuten members can place orders and pay online.

"COVID-19 really changed our business overnight, and it's getting harder to rely on word-of-mouth to drive orders and visits. With Rakuten Takeout, we were able to set up online ordering quickly and easily – and the fact that it is free is so helpful in these hard times," said Jeff Kim, owner of Totoro Ramen. "The San Mateo community is going to get through this and we are grateful for their continued support of Totoro Ramen."