Lunchbox and OPA! Partner to Launch Commission-Free Marketplace to Rival Third-Party Apps

Enterprise restaurant technology platform Lunchbox has announced a strategic partnership with OPA!, a "restaurant-first" marketplace, to introduce a new digital ordering model designed to bypass the high-fee structures of traditional third-party delivery aggregators.

The collaboration aims to restore margin control and data ownership to restaurant operators. Through this integration, brands utilising Lunchbox’s infrastructure can now list on OPA!’s commission-free marketplace while maintaining the economics and guest experience of a direct channel.

Disputing the Aggregator Model: API and Data Ownership

Unlike standard third-party platforms that often require menu price inflation to offset commissions, orders placed via OPA! are ingested directly into Lunchbox's API. This technical architecture allows restaurants to offer consistent pricing while ensuring that all transaction data—from purchase behaviour to contact information—flows back to the operator rather than being siloed by the marketplace.

Loyalty Synchronisation

A key differentiator of the partnership is the seamless integration of loyalty programs. Points earned through OPA! orders are instantly reflected in the restaurant's existing Lunchbox-powered loyalty program, ensuring a unified guest experience across channels.

Operational Launch

Island Fin Poké has been confirmed as the first Lunchbox-powered brand to go live on the OPA! marketplace. The deployment allows the brand to offer guests a lower-cost ordering alternative compared to major delivery apps, while preserving its own profit margins.

Charran Harrichand, Chief Product Officer at OPA!, emphasised the simplicity of the integration:

"Most restaurants already have the tech - OPA! simply connects it. Together with Lunchbox, we're helping restaurants grow through first-party marketplaces instead of third-party delivery apps."

The partnership addresses a growing friction point in the hospitality industry: the erosion of margins due to rising marketplace fees. By combining Lunchbox’s enterprise scale (supporting over 5,000 locations including Firehouse Subs and Clean Juice) with OPA!’s commission-free discovery layer, the companies are positioning themselves as a "value-restoration" solution for the digital ordering ecosystem.