Question 1

How are the search results ranked?

Accepted Answer

How are the search results ranked?

The order of partners on our platform is subject to a wide variety of factors that interact in a dynamic way. We aim to show our customers the businesses that they are likely to order from, in a way which is fair for businesses connected to our platform, whilst optimising for a great ordering experience.

The default order we list our businesses in is what we refer to as the ‘Best Match’, which uses a point-based system. The parameters as described below all provide a certain number of points towards each business’s total points score. The search results are then shown in descending order, where the business with the most points will be shown first. As the parameters interact in a dynamic way, neighbours could see different results, and there could also be differences in the search results at different times of the day.

In addition, our customers can use filters to make their selection more specific, for example by only displaying certain cuisine types. Customers can also use the sorting options that are available, which will allow customers to sort their results on selected criteria, such as delivery fees. Filters and sorting options affect the order and types of businesses displayed to a specific customer based on how well those businesses meet the applicable filtering, sorting, or searching criteria of that customer. We aim to always display the most relevant businesses for our customers, as after all, tastes differ!

The following main parameters influence how our ‘Best Match’ list is sorted:

Organic

Distance - The most important ranking parameter is distance, which is based on the provided delivery address and the business’s location. We prioritise businesses that are closest to the customer’s delivery address to ensure waiting times are short and that couriers only need to travel a few kilometres for delivery. At the same time, where there are several businesses operating in the same area, distance becomes less important in determining the order of the search results displayed. In this situation all of these businesses will likely have the same or a similar number of points based on the Distance parameter, so the other parameters create the distinction. When selecting ‘Pick-up’ instead of ‘Delivery’, we sort all businesses based on distance.

Logistic Efficiency - We may temporarily move businesses down the list if we know that their orders are unlikely to be delivered to customers within a reasonable timeframe. This could be due to capacity issues at the business or our delivery services, or during severe weather conditions. In addition, both we or the relevant business can decide to temporarily "close" a business on the platform if it is too busy. This means the business will temporarily disappear from the search results. For chain businesses with multiple locations that deliver to a customer's location we show the closest open location first and move the other locations further down the list. We do this to ensure we can offer customers a wide variety of options to choose from.

New Businesses - New businesses temporarily receive an improved position in the search results. To help these businesses get started, they receive a higher position for a short period of time because they have fewer reviews. We indicate new businesses with the ‘New’ label.

Ratings - The rating of a business influences their position in the search results. The rating is indicated next to a business’s profile on our platform and is measured out of 5 stars, with 5 stars being the highest rating. The rating is a measurement of our customers’ average reviews on their orders and deliveries. The content or characteristics of a business’s offering will not on its own have an effect on the business’s position on the platform, but could impact its quality score due to better reviews.

Most Popular - We determine the popularity of a business by the number of recent orders processed by a business compared to other businesses in that area. Popular businesses tend to employ more delivery staff and therefore can typically cover a larger delivery area and fulfil more orders. Based on their popularity, these businesses receive more points than businesses that do not have this kind of capacity.

Other - Apart from the main ranking parameters as explained above, there are other parameters or circumstances which influence the sorting. For example, customers have the possibility to save businesses as a ‘Favourite’, which causes such businesses to appear higher up in the search list for that specific customer. Additionally and from time to time, we may run tests or experiments to monitor and improve our service, and these may have an impact on the search results.

Sponsoring

Sponsorship services - In addition to the points provided to businesses based on the organic ranking parameters, we offer sponsorship services to our businesses in return for payment or other commercial benefits. Where enabled, this sponsorship service applies additional points to improve a business’s position in the search results. The effect that these sponsorship services have greatly depends on how each business uses the service. For example, where there are many restaurants operating in the same area, restaurants could use the service to improve their positions to stand out. However, businesses are limited in the extent they can improve their position in the search results as the number of additional points that can be applied is restricted. We want to ensure that even when businesses are using our sponsored services, the other ranking parameters will maintain their influence on a business’s position in the search results. Partners using the sponsorship service can be recognised via the “sponsored” label displayed on their listing.

Question 2

How does Just Eat highlight and rank businesses and items on its apps and websites, and in my search results?

Accepted Answer

We use several different criteria when we’re deciding which restaurants, shops and businesses we will highlight, as well as the items they sell.

We do this to make it easier for you to find the places and items you’ve enjoyed ordering from in the past, as well as to show you new businesses and items we think you might like.

For example, we do this by using data from your order history which we might gather from your account or cookie data (where you’ve accepted the applicable cookies). We also have businesses and items you might like based on data from the businesses on Just Eat, as well as our own research. We also offer businesses the chance to pay to promote themselves or their products on Just Eat.

On the homescreen of our apps and website, we’ll often shine the spotlight on certain businesses. We do this to make it easier for you to find the businesses and items we think you’ll be interested in, whether it’s re-ordering an old favourite or discovering something new. We do this based on:

What kind of food or items they sell
The time of day
The popularity of different cuisines or kinds of shops in your region
Your order history
The business’s customer rating and performance
The business’s delivery area and times
Strategic partnerships between us and businesses

When ranking your search results, we order the restaurants and shops in such a way as to make it easier for you to find the places you’ve enjoyed ordering from in the past, as well as enabling you to discover new places at the same time. We take the following criteria into consideration:

Whether the business has paid Just Eat to be promoted and receive a higher ranking
Your order history, such as the cuisines and items you’ve ordered before, as well as the businesses you’ve ordered from
The time of day
The business’s opening hours
If the business is new to Just Eat
How busy the business might be

You can read more about how we display and organise businesses on our apps and websites in the search results.

We’ll also shine the spotlight on certain dishes or items in a restaurant or shop’s menu. We try to make these dishes or items relevant to you, based on your order history, but sometimes we are paid to promote brands and their products. We use the following criteria to choose what we highlight:

Item popularity
Whether there’s an image of the item
What type of item it is
The item’s price
The time of day

When we show you additional items when you reach the checkout, those items are selected by:

How similar they are to the items you’re ordering, or how well they complement them
Any paid promotions that a brand might have agreed with Just Eat to showcase their items

Question 3

What is the status of restaurants and stores listed on Just Eat?

Accepted Answer

Just Eat provides an online ordering and delivery platform that lists more than 15.000 professional third party restaurants and stores across Switzerland, where consumers can place their orders. We ask restaurants and stores listing on our platform to provide us with their company information, and this enables us to make a declaration that they are a professional trader (and not a consumer) to the best of our knowledge. If you are in Switzerland, you will find this declaration within the "info" section of each restaurant's or store's page.

Via the platform, Just Eat acts as a technical intermediary allowing restaurants and stores to provide products (such as meals) for delivery and/or takeaway. The contract for the supply and purchase of the products is between consumers and the restaurant or store from which an order is placed. In some cases, Just Eat is also responsible for the delivery.

Question 4

Why do some places have 'Sponsored' under their names?

Accepted Answer

Typically, we determine a restaurant's or a store's ranking by its distance from the customer, quality of reviews and popularity. The higher the restaurant or store scores in these three areas, the better its ranking order will be.

However, restaurants and stores can pay to appear higher in the business list. When a restaurant or store does so, we indicate this with the word `Sponsored'. Distance, reviews and popularity still affect the position of a sponsored restaurant or store.

General

How are the search results ranked?

Related articles

How does Just Eat highlight and rank businesses and items on its apps and websites, and in my search results?

What is the status of restaurants and stores listed on Just Eat?

Why do some places have 'Sponsored' under their names?

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