A step-by-step guide to optimising your restaurant listings on Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats — from photos and descriptions to menu structure and ranking tips.
If you're running a restaurant, takeaway, or delivery kitchen in the UK, your listing on Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats is your shopfront. Most customers never visit your website or walk past your door — they scroll through a feed of restaurants on their phone and decide where to order in seconds.
Deliveroo reports that listings with professional photography see a 25% increase in orders. Just Eat found that 42% of customers try a new restaurant based on the food photos alone. Your listing isn't just an admin task — it's your most important marketing asset.
This guide walks through everything you can control on your delivery platform listings to get more visibility, more clicks, and more orders.
Photos are the single biggest factor in whether someone clicks on your listing or scrolls past. Customers make split-second decisions based on thumbnails, so your images need to do the heavy lifting.
| Platform | Recommended Size | Aspect Ratio | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deliveroo | 1200x1200px / 1200x675px | 1:1 / 16:9 | Square for menu items, landscape for hero banners |
| Just Eat | 1200x900px | 4:3 | Consistent 4:3 across all menu listings |
| Uber Eats | 1200x960px | 5:4 | Slightly taller format; avoid text overlays in images |
Each platform crops and displays images differently, so a single photo won't look perfect everywhere. The easiest solution is to export your images at the correct dimensions for each platform. Tools like SnackSnap include one-click export presets for Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, so you upload once and get the right sizes automatically.
For a deeper dive into shooting better food photos, see our food photography tips for restaurants.
After photos, your menu descriptions are the next thing customers read. A good description doesn't just list ingredients — it makes the dish sound appetising and helps the customer imagine eating it.
A strong menu description follows a simple pattern: key ingredient + cooking method + flavour or texture + finishing detail. Keep it to 1-2 sentences. You don't need a paragraph — just enough to make the dish sound irresistible.
The difference? Specificity. "Crispy buttermilk chicken thigh" tells you much more than "chicken." "Toasted brioche bun" sounds more appealing than "bun." "House slaw" suggests something made fresh, not a sad leaf of lettuce.
How you organise your menu on delivery apps directly affects what people order and how much they spend. A messy, overwhelming menu loses customers. A well-structured menu guides them toward your best dishes.
Every delivery platform uses an algorithm to decide which restaurants appear first in search results and category feeds. While the exact formulas are proprietary, several factors are known to influence your ranking:
| Factor | Why It Matters | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Order volume | Platforms promote restaurants that are already selling well | Run promotions to boost initial orders when launching or re-listing |
| Conversion rate | How many people who view your listing actually order | Better photos and descriptions improve click-to-order rates |
| Rating and reviews | Higher-rated restaurants get more visibility | Respond to reviews, fix recurring complaints, deliver consistent quality |
| Preparation speed | Faster prep times mean happier customers and riders | Set realistic prep times and consistently hit them. Don't over-promise. |
| Menu completeness | Listings with photos, descriptions, and modifiers rank higher | Add photos to every item, write descriptions, include dietary labels |
| Availability | Restaurants that are online and accepting orders get more impressions | Stay online during all your operating hours. Avoid going offline during peak times. |
The most impactful thing most restaurants can do is add professional photos to every menu item. It improves your conversion rate (more viewers become buyers), which signals to the algorithm that your listing is popular, which improves your ranking — creating a positive feedback loop.
Even well-run kitchens make these errors on their delivery listings. A quick audit can reveal easy wins:
Review your listings at least once a month. Check that all items are current, prices are correct, photos are up to date, and seasonal items are added or removed. When you add new dishes, photograph them and update the listing the same day — fresh additions signal to the algorithm that your restaurant is active.
Ideally, yes — because each platform uses different aspect ratios. A square photo that looks great on Deliveroo will be cropped awkwardly on Just Eat's 4:3 format. The simplest approach is to use a tool like SnackSnap that exports at the correct dimensions for each platform automatically.
In most UK locations, being on Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats maximises your reach. Each platform has a different customer base — Just Eat dominates outside London, Deliveroo is strong in cities, and Uber Eats sits in between. If you can only manage two, check which platforms are most popular in your postcode and start there.
It varies by platform and promotion type. Deliveroo Marketer and Uber Eats promotions typically involve funding a discount (you absorb the cost of the offer). Just Eat Sponsored Listings are pay-per-click, similar to Google Ads. Start with a small budget — £20-£50 per week — and track whether the extra orders justify the spend. Many restaurants find that the uplift in order volume more than covers the promotion cost.
Optimising your delivery app listings doesn't require technical skills or a big budget. The biggest wins come from getting the basics right:
Professional menu photos are the foundation of a strong listing. If you're still using phone snaps with kitchen backgrounds, SnackSnap can transform them into professional, platform-ready images in under 60 seconds — starting with 10 free credits, no payment required. See what your menu could look like in our examples gallery.
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Learn how UK restaurants are using AI menu photography to increase delivery orders by up to 40%. This comprehensive guide covers everything from platform requirements to optimisation strategies for Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats.
Learn how to optimise your food photography for Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats. Our comprehensive guide covers platform-specific requirements, photo best practices, and strategies to increase your delivery orders.
Master food photography for Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat with this complete guide. Learn platform-specific requirements, photo dimensions, and proven tips to increase orders.