National food delivery service expands in region

National restaurant delivery service Bite Squad is expanding to the Sarasota-Bradenton region.

The Minneapolis-based company merged with Sarasota's Ashley's Food Delivery and Doorstep Delivery and is “transitioning those existing local fleets to bring restaurant food to Sarasota and Bradenton residents quickly and efficiently,” according to a statement.

“The area has a vibrant dining scene with a lot of culinary diversity,” Bite Squad co-founder and CEO Kian Salehi adds in the statement. “We're excited to bring that to our customers at their homes and businesses.”

Bite Squad Bite Squad will deliver from more than 80 restaurant partners throughout Sarasota and Bradenton, including Gecko's Grill & Pub, Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi Grill, Valentino Pizzeria Trattoria and Flavors of India, among others. The new service area will begin Aug. 29, and will add nearly 110,000 more households and businesses to the company's market, the release adds.

“Thousands of customers who have used Ashley's Food Delivery and Doorstep Delivery will now get the same great service, but with the added benefit of Bite Squad's advancing technology,” says Salehi in the release. “It's a perfect growth opportunity for us, and will also ensure that our customers' food arrives in the best possible condition.”

Bite Squad hires delivery drivers as paid employees — not contractors. Founded in 2012 Bite Squad now operates in more than 30 cities nationwide.