Meal delivery apps before and during the COVID-19: coverage in a Brazilian metropolis

The establishments present in meal delivery apps (MDA) and the coverage of these services are little known, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

To analyze the establishments registered in two MDA in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 2019 and 2021.

The sample consisted of the best rated establishments within the MDA in 18 neighborhoods in 2019 (n=357) and 2021 (n=308). Establishments were classified according to the predominance of meals present on their menus. The coverage of the establishments was calculated by dividing the number of neighborhoods served by each establishment and the number of neighborhoods. The Health Vulnerability Index (HVI) was used as a proxy of the social vulnerability of neighborhoods.

Fast-food restaurants were the most frequent establishment in the MDA in both periods and the percentage of neighborhoods served by these services was higher in 2021 (17.50%) than in 2019 (13.54%), although their participation in the sample was lower in 2019 (44.26% vs. 30.84%). The coverage of MDA establishments in the neighborhoods differed according to HVI.

Coverage and participation of the establishments present in MDA in Belo Horizonte were different in both study periods, particularly in high socially vulnerable neighborhoods.