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McDonald’s names Uber as preferred partner, edging DoorDash
Uber seeks ways to add customers as competition with DoorDash heats up
McDonald’s will continue to be available as a restaurant option on both Uber’s and DoorDash’s apps. (Jake Dockins/Bloomberg)
Key Takeaways:
- McDonald’s named Uber its preferred delivery partner for app orders in 14 countries, giving Uber precedence over DoorDash.
- The deal strengthens Uber Direct and gives Uber access to McDonald’s 45 million-plus U.S. loyalty members as delivery competition intensifies.
- McDonald’s and Uber plan joint perks, while McDonald’s restaurants will remain available through both Uber’s and DoorDash’s apps.
McDonald’s Corp. will prioritize Uber Technologies Inc. over DoorDash Inc. to fulfill orders placed on the fast-food chain’s app in 14 countries, ratcheting up a rivalry between the delivery services.
Uber will be “the preferred delivery partner” for orders placed through the McDonald’s app in markets including the U.S., U.K., Australia, Belgium, Canada, France and Germany, the companies said in a statement on Nov. 8. McDonald’s has previously dispatched orders using either Uber or DoorDash. The new agreement gives Uber precedence in the specified locales.
The move bolsters Uber Direct, the ridehail company’s white-label delivery service that lets merchants deliver via Uber through their own channels. It also gives Uber access to a massive pool of customers: McDonald’s has more than 45 million loyalty members in the U.S. through its app.
Uber is looking for ways to add more customers as competition with DoorDash heats up. In late October, DoorDash announced plans to acquire grocery delivery service Instacart. Last week, Uber and Amazon.com Inc. countered with a new delivery partnership for Prime subscribers — sparking the biggest decline in DoorDash shares in a year.
As part of the multiyear partnership, Uber and McDonald’s will offer joint perks across their services. McDonald’s rewards members in some markets, for example, will be able to redeem points for discounts on Uber rides for a limited time. Future benefits may include earning McDonald’s rewards from orders placed through the Uber platform.
McDonald’s will continue to be available as a restaurant option on both Uber’s and DoorDash’s apps.
We first partnered with @McDonalds in the U.S. in 2017. Today they’re on @UberEats in 30 countries, and we’re now expanding across delivery and rewards in 14 markets. Grateful to our partners there.
— dara khosrowshahi (@dkhos) November 9, 2026
The burger chain is looking for faster growth, especially following three quarters of same-store sales weakness in the US. McDonald’s is recalibrating its value strategy while working to convince franchisees to sign on to a new strategic plan that includes restaurant redesigns and streamlined kitchens so staff can prepare food more efficiently.
Uber Freight ranks No. 16 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest logistics companies in North America.
