New DoorDash Integration via Square for Restaurants Is a Step Backward for Retailers

[JTPets]

I run a pet supply store using Square with over 2,700 SKUs and hundreds of categories and subcategories, organized by brand, product format, pet type, and seasonal themes.

We’ve been using DoorDash for local delivery, and until now, it worked. Items synced from our Square catalog into DoorDash without needing to duplicate everything. It wasn’t perfect—but it was functional.

Now, with the new integration forced through Square for Restaurants, that all breaks. I’m required to use the menu editor to rebuild my catalog—but it’s clearly designed for restaurants, not retailers.

What’s broken:

• I have to manually recreate every single subcategory, again and again and again, just to reflect the structure I already built inside Square.

• There is no sync or import from my Square Online or Retail catalog into the DoorDash menu editor to mirror the work I've already done.

• The system expects restaurant-style menus (appetizers, mains), not a structured catalog tree with 20+ nested levels of SKUs.

Here’s what I don’t understand:

If my Square catalog and billing system already knows my full category structure, why can’t that be the default menu?
Why are retail users forced to start from scratch?

This is not an upgrade—it’s a regression. The system was working. Now it creates hours of redundant work and doesn’t scale for retail.

What needs to change:

1. Retailers need to be recognized in this rollout—we use DoorDash too.

2. A sync tool must be offered to bring in existing item categories from Square Online or POS with mirroring capability.

3. The menu editor needs retail-aware logic—this isn’t a one-page takeout menu, it’s a full digital catalog.

If this isn’t addressed, I may have no choice but to walk away from DoorDash integration—or start evaluating other platforms that can support retail operations at scale.

[JTPets]

My Catalog Structure:
JT Pets – Natural Pet Food & Supplies
│
├─ Themed Items (0)
│ ├─ Themed – Celebration (6)
│ ├─ Themed – Christmas (32)
│ ├─ Themed – Halloween / Fall (5)
│ └─ Themed – Pride Month (5)
│
├─ Shop By Brand (0)
│ ├─ Canadian Brands* (0)
│ ├─ JT Pets (22)
│ ├─ 1st Choice Nutrition (1)
│ ├─ Angel (7)
│ ├─ Animora (4)
│ ├─ Armstrong (11)
│ ├─ Barnsdale Farms (3)
│ ├─ Benko (6)
│ ├─ Benny Bullys (15)
│ ├─ BeOneBreed (9)
│ ├─ Big Country Raw (38)
│ ├─ Bionic (5)
│ ├─ Bluestem (6)
│ ├─ Bold By Nature (2)
│ ├─ Bosco & Roxy’s (1)
│ ├─ Bud’Z (7)
│ ├─ Burgham (2)
│ ├─ Great Jacks (11)
│ ├─ Canadian Naturals (4)
│ ├─ Cancor (2)
│ ├─ Carino Pets (1)
│ ├─ Carna4 (10)
│ ├─ Catit (12)
│ ├─ Chilly Dog (2)
│ ├─ Crosswind Farm (3)
│ ├─ Crumps (9)
│ ├─ Cuddles (0)
│ ├─ Define Planet (3)
│ ├─ Dog Bites Pet Treats (4)
│ ├─ Enviro Fresh (8)
│ ├─ Eurocan (0)
│ ├─ Exotic Feeders Inc & Jurassic Reptile Products (8)
│ ├─ EZ Antler Chews (1)
│ ├─ Fluval (4)
│ ├─ FouFouBrands (8)
│ ├─ Gabo (1)
│ ├─ GF Pet (7)
│ ├─ Gourmet Pet Treats (11)
│ ├─ Granville (12)
│ ├─ Happy Days (6)
│ ├─ Healthybud (14)
│ ├─ Healthy Paws (8)
│ ├─ Hero (27)
│ ├─ Iron Will Raw (30)
│ ├─ Intersand Odour Buster (4)
│ ├─ K9 Praventa (4)
│ ├─ Kettle Craft (14)
│ ├─ Lazy Kitty (3)
│ ├─ Lifetime (9)
│ ├─ Litter Locker (2)
│ ├─ Livstrong (1)
│ ├─ Martin Mills Inc (6)
│ ├─ Messy Mutts (7)
│ ├─ Mojo Pet (3)
│ ├─ MyFamily (183)
│ ├─ Natures Hug (1)
│ ├─ Naturpet (Dr Maggie) (1)
│ ├─ Naturvet (3)
│ ├─ North Hound Life (25)
│ ├─ Northern (8)
│ ├─ Nutram (15)
│ ├─ Nutrience (8)
│ ├─ Omega Paw (2)
│ ├─ Open Farm (21)
│ ├─ Open Range (12)
│ ├─ Oven Baked Tradition (21)
│ ├─ Petcurean (43)
│ ├─ PetKind (20)
│ ├─ PureBites (23)
│ ├─ Simply Pets (1)
│ ├─ Rollover (9)
│ ├─ SuperCan (2)
│ ├─ This & That (47)
│ ├─ THRE3 RULE (2)
│ ├─ Tilted Barn Pet Co. (6)
│ ├─ Tri-Acta (3)
│ ├─ Valens (1)
│ ├─ VitaLife (2)
│ ├─ Waggers (8)
│ ├─ Zeal (1)
│ ├─ Zoo Med (3)
│ ├─ Zoo-Max (4)
│ ├─ Raw Performance (5)
│ ├─ Penny Willow Biscuits (5)
│ ├─ Acana (12)
│ ├─ Orijen (8)
│ └─ Boreal (7)
│
├─ Other Brands (0)
│ ├─ Advantage (7)
│ ├─ Almo Nature (21)
│ ├─ Alcott (15)
│ ├─ Arm & Hammer (3)
│ ├─ Bamboo Groom (8)
│ ├─ Baxter & Bella (1)
│ ├─ Benebone (1)
│ ├─ Bio-Groom (1)
│ ├─ Blue Buffalo (24)
│ ├─ Boredom Buster (5)
│ ├─ BoxieCat (1)
│ ├─ Brown’s (5)
│ ├─ Burt’s Bees (2)
│ ├─ Caitec (5)
│ ├─ Cardinal Laboratories (1)
│ ├─ Carefresh (2)
│ ├─ Carpenter Pet (0)
│ ├─ Cat Dancer (2)
│ ├─ Champions Choice (1)
│ ├─ Charlee Bear (6)
│ ├─ ChuckIt! (6)
│ ├─ Coastal (29)
│ ├─ CocoTherapy (1)
│ ├─ Company of Animals (3)
│ ├─ Cosmic Pet (29)
│ ├─ Croci (3)
│ ├─ Diamond (4)
│ ├─ Dog Rocks (1)
│ ├─ Dr Elsey’s (3)
│ ├─ Earth Animal (5)
│ ├─ Earthbath (1)
│ ├─ Earth Rated (6)
│ ├─ Easy Clean (1)
│ ├─ Emerald Pet (5)
│ ├─ Etta Says (3)
│ ├─ Exeter Farms (1)
│ ├─ Farmina (10)
│ ├─ Feline Fresh (2)
│ ├─ Flexi (4)
│ ├─ Fluker’s (3)
│ ├─ Fromm (14)
│ ├─ Fruitables (9)
│ ├─ Furminator (3)
│ ├─ Get Naked (NPIC) (1)
│ ├─ Gnawsome (0)
│ ├─ Go Cat (9)
│ ├─ Goo-eez (1)
│ ├─ Grannicks (1)
│ ├─ Greenies (6)
│ ├─ Hamilton (2)
│ ├─ Hill’s Science Diet (21)
│ ├─ HuggleHounds (Allure Pet Products) (1)
│ ├─ Huxley & Kent (19)
│ ├─ Icelandic+ (2)
│ ├─ Inaba (17)
│ ├─ Jay’s Tasty Adventures (2)
│ ├─ JW (8)
│ ├─ K9 Advantix (4)
│ ├─ K9 Natural (6)
│ ├─ Kaytee (4)
│ ├─ Komodo (0)
│ ├─ Kong (37)
│ ├─ Kurgo (4)
│ ├─ Lafeber (2)
│ ├─ Mammoth (3)
│ ├─ Lupine (1)
│ ├─ Mars inc (5)
│ ├─ Marshall (4)
│ ├─ Merrick (1)
│ ├─ Milk Bone (1)
│ ├─ Miracle Care (1)
│ ├─ Midwest (2)
│ ├─ Multipet (7)
│ ├─ Natural Balance (7)
│ ├─ Naturally Fresh (4)
│ ├─ Nite Ize (4)
│ ├─ Nok Out (2)
│ ├─ Northwest Naturals (16)
│ ├─ NutriSource (1)
│ ├─ Nourish (1)
│ ├─ Nulo (2)
│ ├─ Nummy Tum-Tum (1)
│ ├─ Nutrivet (2)
│ ├─ Nylabone (2)
│ ├─ Orange a Peel (0)
│ ├─ Outward Hound (13)
│ ├─ Oxbow (17)
│ ├─ Pawz (7)
│ ├─ Pestell Group (1)
│ ├─ PetAg (2)
│ ├─ Pet Greens (7)
│ ├─ Petmate (9)
│ ├─ Pet Naturals Of Vermont (3)
│ ├─ Petrageous Designs (5)
│ ├─ Petsafe (13)
│ ├─ Petstages (3)
│ ├─ Pioneer Pet (2)
│ ├─ Plato (18)
│ ├─ PoochieBells (1)
│ └─ Proden Plaque Off (1)
│
├─ Shop By Pet (0)
│ ├─ Bird (46)
│ ├─ Cat (0)
│ │ ├─ Cat Flea & Tick (20)
│ │ ├─ Cat Collars, Leashes & Tie-Outs (33)
│ │ ├─ Cat Food – Wet (148)
│ │ ├─ Cat Food – Dry (80)
│ │ ├─ Cat Food – Raw (21)
│ │ ├─ Cat Food – Raw Whole Prey (10)
│ │ ├─ Cat Furniture & Scratchers (19)
│ │ ├─ Cat Health & Supplements (101)
│ │ ├─ Cat Litter (27)
│ │ ├─ Cat Oral Care (11)
│ │ ├─ Cat Litter Pans & Accessories (19)
│ │ ├─ Cat Stain & Odour (15)
│ │ └─ Cat Toys (123)
│ ├─ Dog (0)
│ │ ├─ Dog Beds & Crate Mats (6)
│ │ ├─ Dog Clothing & Apparel (24)
│ │ ├─ Dog Collars, Leashes & Tie outs (60)
│ │ ├─ Dog Crates & Carriers (5)
│ │ ├─ Dog Flea & Tick (30)
│ │ ├─ Dog Food – Dehydrated & Toppers (30)
│ │ ├─ Dog Food – Dry (135)
│ │ ├─ Dog Food – Wet (68)
│ │ ├─ Dog Food – Raw Complete Meals (44)
│ │ ├─ Dog Food – Raw Basics (13)
│ │ ├─ Dog Food – Raw Bones & Treats (24)
│ │ ├─ Dog Food – Raw Whole Prey (10)
│ │ ├─ Dog Health & Supplements (113)
│ │ ├─ Dog Oral Care (13)
│ │ ├─ Dog Stain & Odour Control (20)
│ │ ├─ Dog Toys (119)
│ │ ├─ Dog Training Aids (22)
│ │ ├─ Dog Treats – Frozen Treats & Bones (18)
│ │ ├─ Dog Treats – Food Toppers (26)
│ │ ├─ Dog Treats – Dental Chews (75)
│ │ ├─ Dog Treats – Dehydrated (182)
│ │ ├─ Dog Treats – Cookies (53)
│ │ ├─ Dog Treats – Antlers & Bones (28)
│ │ ├─ Dog Treats – Soft Chews (76)
│ │ └─ Dog Waste Bags & Pee Pads (13)
│ ├─ Fish Food & Supplies (16)
│ ├─ Reptile Food & Supplies (24)
│ ├─ Small Animal (0)
│ │ ├─ Small Animal Bedding (8)
│ │ ├─ Small Animal Food (15)
│ │ ├─ Small Animal Treats (30)
│ │ └─ Small Animal Habitat Accessories (11)
│ └─ Equine (1)
│
├─ Engraved ID Tags (0)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Basic Aluminum (25)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Brass & Chromed Brass (6)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Bronx Tags (17)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Enameled Charms (23)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Flags (5)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Food Charms (15)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Glam & Glitter Tags (11)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Hushtags (10)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Keyrings & Lights (6)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Pets (57)
│ ├─ ID Tags – Sports (12)
│ └─ ID Tags – Wild Animals (2)
│
├─ Feeding Bowls & Accessories (51)
│
├─ Gift Items (8)
│
└─ Grooming (55)

[JTPets]

@anyab @averie @brianstanish @Hadley @issara @JessicaVersaw @KCfromProduct @lucasisazaSQ @schonzeit @tereselu @tonymilne @victorial @Summer2024 @isabelle

[KayTeaStudio]

I was thinking this similar thing when I was adding the Square integration for UberEats. I sell boba tea to go and didn't have a Square Restaurant Menu setup

I would have like a pre-made menu that just has all my pre-existing categories sync'd which would have saved me time (luckily I have a very small menu which only took me 30 minutes to setup)

Though I am happy with the new integration (so much better because previously the categories and items didn’t sync/keep the sort order) 

[MayaP]

Thanks for sharing your experience @KayTeaStudio. Even with a small menu, it makes sense that having your existing categories sync automatically would save time. I am glad to hear the new integration is working better overall, especially with item syncing and sort order. Feedback like this helps us keep improving.

[MayaP]

Hey @JTPets, I appreciate you sharing your detailed feedback. You should not have to do extra work to use the integration. I did escalate this and was advised that the team does plan to roll out more menu options in the next quarter or two to make this easier.

I know it is not ideal, but I truly appreciate your patience while our team works on improving this. If you need anything else, please let me know.

[JTPets]

I would like to highlight that specifically i have been told to avoid restaurants for my account as their is a conflict with other square features i use. This essentially breaks my integration under the current rollout requirements @MayaP 

[MayaP]

Thank you for following up and for highlighting this. I completely understand your concern and will pass this along to our team to ensure they are aware of this. I appreciate your patience. 

@JTPets 

[HectorSed]

Hi, just to clarify, square for restaurants is needed for this new DoorDash integration?

I have a juice bar and have used the square register this whole time with doordash. The original before square for restaurants was a thing. It has been working fine but it now says i have until Nov 10th the re-integrate or integration will be deactivated. I don't have a square for restaurants account. Do I need to open one the continue integration with doordash and, if so, can I continue using square register? Or I have to completely make the switch? I'm trying to go through the process of integration but I'm stuck on the Menues section. It says i dont have any menu groups and when i click edit, it directs me to Square for Restaurants. Please help.

[JTPets]

You will need to activate square for restaurants free and can continue to use existing hardware. My account cannot support restaurants apparently. 

[HectorSed]

Hmm.... thank you for your response. I appriciate it. Sorry it doesnt work for your account. Will you have to keep it separate then? (ex. the tablet that doordash gives you when you sign up)

[JTPets]

No, I will have to pay $60/mth to a 3rd party to connect my orders to square