Ritual, a Toronto-based mobile ordering startup, has launched a tool in the U.S. — Ritual One — to allow small, independent restaurants in Chicago provide contactless orders through their own websites. 

"Chicago is a special city to Ritual, as it was our first expansion city outside of Toronto," Ray Reddy, co-founder and CEO of Ritual, said in a post on the company website. "Its important to Ritual that we help Chicago businesses get up and running while keeping Chicagoans safe at this time."

The company is allowing customers to order the tool, which normally costs $49 per restaurant location, per month, to order the tool for free if they order by July 10. 

Chicago restaurant Mezza Grill is a longtime Ritual One customer and plans to incorporate the new tool into its business. 

"Ritual has been a strong partner throughout the pandemic and has worked with us in many ways to increase revenues during these difficult times," Samer Joudeh, co-owner of the restaurant, said in the release. "Ritual One supports our businesses by helping us maximize commission-free sales from our new branded website."