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Food Delivery Is a Window Into Our Busy, Overworked Lives
$40 Burger King and other realities of the gig economy
In late 2018, as part of a photo series on the future of work, I became a driver for Doordash.
The experience gave me a unique glimpse into America’s foodways and the realities of the gig economy. It was simultaneously illuminating, concerning — and at times surprisingly fulfilling. With Covid-19 highlighting gig workers’ crucial role in today’s world — and their willingness to put their lives on the line to keep people fed — it’s more important than ever to understand what it’s really like to work these jobs.
Doordash originally launched in 2013 as a graduate of Silicon Valley’s fabled Y Combinator startup accelerator. As of early 2020, the company had grown into the largest food delivery service in the United States. Covid-19 has helped accelerate its growth even further. Doordash now controls 44% of America’s food delivery market.
Doordash and its rivals are rapidly remaking the restaurant industry. The company works with 90% of top food brands offering delivery and aims to reach 90% of Americans in 2020. Doordash’s market value has grown to $16 billion, up from $12 billion before the pandemic struck.
