Restaurant body tries to help businesses’ get money from delivery service

The B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association is collecting information about Tutti, a food delivery service which local restaurateurs say owes them money, with the idea of helping out small businesses.

Ian Tostenson, association chief executive, said food outlets affected should contact the organization. The idea is to see if they can act as one voice to recover funds, as opposed to small businesses trying to do it individually.

Once losses are identified, the association plans to speak with a lawyer to see what can be done, Tostenson said Friday. Businesses should send an email to info@bcrfa.com.

Efforts to contact Tuttie have been unsuccessful, Tostenson said.

He said he has heard of restaurants owed between $4,000 and $6,000. J & J Wonton Noodle House has filed a claim in B.C. Supreme Court saying it is owed $220,000.

The association in the past recommended Tutti because it was seen as a local alternative with a good pricing model, he said.

Tutti started in 2017 in Victoria, offering a lower percentage cost than larger delivery services.

Customers would order food through Tutti, which collected the money. The model was for it to keep its percentage, which could be 10 per cent, and give the remainder to the restaurant.

But restaurants say the money stopped coming in several months ago.

Tutti’s website is online, indicating it is operating. It says it serves Victoria, Nanaimo, Vancouver, Squamish, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack, Kamloops and Kelowna. Tutti is part of Kavl Technology Ltd. Its chief executive Kaisa Aierken, who has a Vancouver address, could not be reached.

Local restaurants saying they are owed money include Cold Comfort Ice Cream Shop, Fol Epi bakeries and Agrius restaurant, Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub and Guesthouses and Spinnakers Spirit Merchants, and Soupa Cafe.