Food delivery platform Menulog has announced it will cease operations in Australia, ending two decades of service to the local market. The decision, confirmed on Wednesday by its Amsterdam-based parent company Just Eat Takeaway.com, comes amid what the company described as “challenging circumstances” in Australia.
The announcement was made in a company statement on Wednesday 12 November. Menulog will stop taking orders at 11.59pm AEDT on Wednesday 26 November, bringing its Australian operations to a close. The platform will keep trading until that date.
“While Menulog has a proud 20-year history, it has been navigating challenging circumstances,” the company said.
“This strategic decision reflects our focus on accelerating growth and investments in other markets, and delivering the best experience for customers, partners, and couriers.”
Impact on Employees and Partners
The closure will affect approximately 120 Australian employees. Menulog said affected staff will be supported through the transition, with redundancy packages above the legal minimum and outplacement help to find new work.
Industry and Worker Reactions
Transport Workers’ Union national secretary Michael Kaine said the closure would come as a shock to the thousands of food delivery riders who have relied on Menulog for regular income. He said the union would remain involved through the shutdown period and would work to ensure those riders received pay for their work and fair exit payments over the coming weeks.
“We will be working to ensure those workers receive pay for their work and fair exit payments over the coming weeks,” Mr Kaine said.
Mr Kaine also raised broader problems in Australia’s gig economy, pointing to pay below the minimum wage and the lack of sick leave and superannuation for delivery riders.
“In the gig economy, workers are still languishing with below-minimum wage rates, no sick leave or superannuation, and deadly pressure to rush to make a living and avoid being deactivated,” he said.
A Legacy in Australian Food Delivery
Founded in Sydney in 2006, Menulog was one of Australia’s pioneering food delivery platforms, connecting local restaurants with customers long before the rise of global competitors. The brand became a familiar name in cities and suburbs across the country, helping change how Australians order takeaway meals. The company acknowledged that history in its statement, describing a proud 20-year run.
Despite that legacy, increasing competition, changing market dynamics and the high operational costs of delivery logistics have made profitability difficult for many players in the sector.
Looking Ahead
While Menulog’s departure marks the end of an era in local food delivery, Just Eat Takeaway.com said it remains focused on strengthening operations in other key international markets, and that the closure was limited to its Australian business.
The company said it was committed to delivering quality experiences for customers, partners and couriers globally, and to treating Australian employees and riders fairly through the transition.
Sources: Just Eat Takeaway.com newsroom, “Just Eat Takeaway.com ceases operations in Australia” (newsroom.justeattakeaway.com/en-WW/257572-just-eat-takeaway-com-ceases-operations-in-australia/); The Guardian, “Menulog closing in Australia, affecting thousands of delivery drivers and 120 employees” (theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/12/menulog-closing-in-australia); The Age, “Food delivery service Menulog to shut down after two decades” (theage.com.au/technology/food-delivery-service-menulog-to-shut-down-after-two-decades-20251112-p5net9.html).
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
