YouLend and Just Eat surpass €150m in embedded finance for European restaurants

YouLend and Just Eat Takeaway.com have provided more than €150m in financing to restaurants and takeaways across seven European markets, marking a new milestone for embedded SME finance.

The partnership has supported more than 13,500 financings since launch, covering merchants in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Poland.

The programme was first launched in the UK in 2022, following the Covid-19 lockdown period, to help hospitality businesses access capital through the Just Eat platform. It has since expanded across Europe as restaurants have dealt with inflation, energy costs and pressure on margins.

The milestone is relevant because embedded finance is becoming a more important route for SME working capital. Instead of applying through traditional bank channels, eligible merchants can access funding through a platform they already use to manage orders and customer demand.

YouLend said returning merchants have generated more financing activity than first-time borrowers, suggesting that platform-based funding is becoming part of routine business planning rather than only a crisis tool.

That repeat usage is important. Restaurants and takeaways often need short-term funding for equipment, staffing, refurbishment, inventory or expansion. Traditional lending can be slow or difficult for smaller businesses with limited credit histories, while embedded finance can use platform data to support faster decisioning.

Leonard Strigel, General Manager Europe at YouLend, said a financing relationship that lasts for years can become part of a merchant’s growth strategy.

Bart van der Veldt, Director Strategy & Planning Commercial at Just Eat Takeaway.com, said the repeat usage shows that embedded finance has become infrastructure rather than just crisis support.

The partnership also shows how marketplaces and platforms are moving deeper into SME finance. By integrating funding into existing merchant relationships, platforms can support business resilience while increasing the value of their own ecosystems.