How Mario’s Pizza Bar achieved a 189% uplift in sales with Uber Eats Promotions

Running a restaurant isn’t just about serving great food—it’s about making sure customers can find you and place an order. For Mario’s Pizza Bar, a small family-run Italian restaurant in Sydney, Uber Eats promotions have been a game-changer, boosting visibility, attracting new customers, and driving consistent sales growth.

During the 12 months prior to February 2025, Mario’s Pizza Bar saw a 189% increase in revenue, generating an additional $190,000 in sales. Mario’s Pizza Bar believes that this increase resulted from leveraging Uber Eats’ marketing tools. Promotions not only helped them stand out in a competitive market but also became essential for customer acquisition and retention. 

Read below to find out how they did it!

Mario’s Pizza Bar is a family-owned Italian restaurant in Sydney, known for its fresh, handmade pizza, pasta, and desserts. Opened in 2020 by Michele Zanellato and his family, the restaurant quickly became a neighbourhood favourite. However, like many businesses, they faced major challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing them to pivot towards delivery-focused operations.

Today, 65-70% of their total sales come from Uber Eats, making it a key driver of their success. 

When Mario’s Pizza Bar first shifted to delivery during the pandemic, they faced several key challenges. They had to compete with larger, more established restaurants on food delivery apps, work to attract new customers who hadn’t yet discovered their menu, and find a way to maintain steady sales and visibility in a crowded marketplace. 

Despite having great food and excellent reviews on Uber Eats, Mario’s Pizza Bar needed an  extra boost to increase their visibility and bring in more consistent orders.

To drive sales and attract more customers, Mario’s Pizza Bar started using Uber Eats promotions and ads. After experimenting with different types of offers, they found that the ‘Buy one, get 1 free’ promotion was the most effective in driving sales. Promotions have several key advantages, including: 

“Customers are looking for a promotion where they can buy and save,” says Michele. “If you have a promotion, you’re selling. Without it, it’s much harder.”

Setting up and managing promotions on Uber Eats is quick and easy through Uber Eats Manager. Michele shares, “It’s super easy. You just set it up and let it run.” 

At Mario’s Pizza Bar, the team began by identifying customer preferences, taking note of which menu items were most popular. They then ran targeted promotions, such as ‘Buy one, get 1 free’ offers, to attract new and returning customers. Throughout the process, they monitored results closely and adjusted their strategies based on performance data. 

Uber Support is also available to help guide you through the setup and performance results to ensure you’re getting the most out of the platform’s tools.

By consistently running promotions, Mario’s Pizza Bar was able to grow orders and increase customer loyalty.

The impact of Uber Eats promotions was immediate and long-lasting.

Michele recalls: “One day, I forgot to renew a promotion, and within two days, orders dropped significantly.” This reinforced the power of consistent promotions in driving sales.

For restaurants looking to boost orders, attract new customers, and grow their business, Uber Eats promotions offer a simple, effective solution. Here are some key ways restaurants can take a similar approach to Mario’s Pizza Bar:

Whether you’re running a pizzeria, sushi bar, or fine-dining restaurant, Uber Eats promotions can help you attract more customers and increase revenue.

Start your first promotion today and see the results for yourself!

* This information relates to sales occurring through Uber Eats only