Dark Grocery Expands, May Stick After COVID
Dark kitchens and virtual restaurants continue to expand across the country, but as the pendulum of food spending swings back toward grocery, a similar model is expanding rapidly there as well. While a dark grocery store sounds like nightmare fuel out of a zombie...
Starbucks Closing 400 Stores, Going All In on Off-Premises
Coffee juggernaut Starbucks is closing up to 400 of its North American stores over the next 18 months, while simultaneously accelerating plans to open around 300 new locations focused on carryout and pickup. Embedded within its latest 8-K filing with the Securities...
Swipeby Positions Automated Curbside Pickup as Virtual Drive-Thru
Curbside pickup can resemble a modern game of telephone or a cell phone commercial with both parties essentially saying, “I’m here, can you see me?” Like many brands springing up to assist restaurants with this now-crucial ordering channel, Swipeby is looking to take...
Pret a Manger Says Delivery Too Important to Ignore
Pret a Manger, the London-based convenience chain known for its upscale sandwiches and coffee, with a big presence along the U.S. East Coast and Chicago, is moving deeper into delivery due to high customer demand as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. After recently...
UPDATED: Uber Walks Away as Grubhub, Just Eat Takeaway.com Announce Deal
Uber’s rumored deal to acquire Grubhub is officially off the table, with news coming late Wednesday afternoon that Just Eat Takeaway.com has agreed to combine with Grubhub in an all-stock, $7.3 billion transaction that would create the world’s largest online food...
Outstanding Operators
Food On Demand Outstanding Operators features restaurant brands with innovative operations that are taking creative paths to success with delivery and all things off-premises.