eCommerce for owner-operated restaurants : an exploratory study

This paper reports the findings of an exploratory study of eCommerce adoption by owner-operated restaurants in Melbourne. The study included interviews with 22 owner/managers of small restaurants and 4 restaurant industry association representatives. We discuss the eCommerce applications that are currently being used in the Melbourne restaurant industry and the attitudes and experiences of owner-operators related to eCommerce. We explore the reasons for the slow uptake of eCommerce in the restaurant industry and the competitive structure of the industry in which owner-managed restaurants operate.