Adding Grubhub Connect to a Multi-Provider Delivery Strategy
How enterprise restaurant brands use Grubhub Connect in Cartwheel as backup for in-house drivers or as one of 50+ providers, with a capped price per delivery.
Since April 2026, Grubhub Connect is available as a national delivery provider in Cartwheel. Enterprise operators can use it as backup for their in-house drivers or as one option among more than 50 delivery providers, configured in the same dashboard and capped at a maximum price per delivery.
What Grubhub Connect is
Grubhub Connect is Grubhub’s service for delivering orders on behalf of restaurant brands, whichever channel the order came through. In a Cartwheel setup, the guest orders on the restaurant’s own website or app, and a Grubhub Connect courier fulfills the delivery.
The brand keeps the order, the guest relationship and the experience. Grubhub Connect provides the delivery capacity.
Why depending on one provider is a risk
A brand that relies on a single delivery provider absorbs every change in that provider’s pricing, coverage and courier supply. On a peak night, a shortage at one provider becomes late orders at every store.
“At the enterprise level, the operators who win on delivery are the ones who never have to depend on any one provider.”
Alex Vasilkin, Co-founder and CEO, Cartwheel
Two ways to configure Grubhub Connect
| Setup | How Grubhub Connect is used | Fits brands that |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid backup | Takes orders when in-house drivers are unavailable or at capacity | Run their own fleet and need dependable overflow |
| Multi-provider orchestration | Competes with other providers for each order | Rely on third-party delivery and want choice on price and coverage |
Both setups run from the same Cartwheel dashboard as every other provider, so adding Grubhub Connect does not create a new workflow for store teams.
How pricing works
Merchants set the maximum price they will pay per delivery. During off-peak hours, Grubhub Connect pricing falls below that cap, which lowers cost without anyone adjusting rates by hand.
How Cartwheel chooses a driver
For each order, Cartwheel routes to an in-house or third-party driver based on order value, distance and availability. Grubhub Connect becomes one more option the rules can select.
What the guest sees
The guest stays in the restaurant’s branded experience from order to arrival, with the brand’s colors, logo and messaging, whichever provider delivers.
“Grubhub Connect is built for operators who need reliable delivery at scale.”
Stephanie Grammel, Director, Integrations and Solutions, Grubhub
Frequently asked questions
Is Grubhub Connect the same as listing a restaurant on Grubhub?
No. Grubhub Connect delivers orders placed through the restaurant’s own channels. In Cartwheel, it works as a delivery provider.
Can Grubhub Connect act as backup for in-house drivers?
Yes. Operators can configure Grubhub Connect to take orders when in-house drivers are unavailable or at capacity.
Can operators cap what they pay per delivery?
Yes. Merchants set a maximum price per delivery, and off-peak pricing falls below that cap.
To add Grubhub Connect to your delivery setup, book a demo with Cartwheel.