The Latest News
Analysts Pick the Restaurant Industry’s Best Value Promos of 2026
In this month’s Around the Industry, restaurant industry researchers select the brands they believe have taken the most impressive approach to enhancing their value menus thus far in 2026.
Olo CEO Unpacks Vision for Second-Party Future
Noah Glass details Olo’s push to create a “second-party” Goldilocks zone for restaurant online ordering—a zero-commission, data-sharing alternative to traditional channels.
Swipe Savvy Acquires GiftAMeal to Expand Restaurant Loyalty and Social Impact
The deal brings GiftAMeal’s donation-driven engagement model into Swipe Savvy’s loyalty platform, expanding social impact tools that have already driven stronger guest frequency and spend.
Loyalty Programs Level Up With Fast Value, Tiers and Plenty of Tweaks
In 2026, the loyalty arms race is shifting from blanket discounts to tiered programs built around frequency, aspiration and smarter economics.
Outstanding Operator: Teriyaki Madness
The brand surpasses 200 locations, riding the momentum of a decade-old bet on technology. TMAD anticipates another year of expansion in 2026, with 54 restaurants slated to open.
Love on the Menu: Restaurant Brands Serve Valentine’s Day Promos
From McNugget Caviar kits to free weddings at Denny’s, restaurant brands are thinking outside the box to attract lovebirds this Valentine’s Day.
Outstanding Operator: Olga’s Kitchen
Michigan restaurant chain leans on tech to expand off-premises operations while maintaining 55-year-old legacy.
Courier-Friendly Delivery Laws Take Effect in NYC
New York City’s new 3PD laws went into effect Jan. 26, expanding minimum pay for delivery workers and updating gratuity-related requirements for platforms.
Airbnb Partnerships Deliver Groceries and Chef-Made Meals to Guests
Instacart and CookUnity partnerships offer meal kits and grocery delivery services to Airbnb visitors. “Kitchen Stocking Incentive” rewards participating hosts.
Zipline Flies Past 2 Million Deliveries, Expands to Houston and Phoenix
With two million commercial flights completed, Zipline eyes expansion into four states throughout 2026. The company saw 15 percent week-over-week growth in U.S. deliveries over the last seven months.
More Than Low Prices: How Consumers Define Value for QSRs
Recent research finds that “value” is among the top trends shaping consumer preferences and behaviors, but customers seek more than low prices alone.
DeliverThat Joins Toast Partner Ecosystem
This partnership allows restaurants to route off-premises catering orders from Toast POS directly to DeliverThat’s driver network. Integration is now available to all U.S. Toast clients.
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.
Food On Demand Topics
Finance
In Complex Deal, Serve Robotics Nabs $30M, Goes Public
Serve Robotics announced a $30M investment, and a reverse merger with Patricia Acquisition Corp., a public company that will adopt Serve’s name.
Research
Study Finds Grocery Delivery Less Sustainable than In-Store Shopping
New research examines the impact, energy use, emissions, and traffic congestion of grocery delivery and whether there may be a better way to manage and optimize deliveries.
The Deliverers
Tony Illes Has Made 9,197 Third-Party Deliveries, Now He Delivers On His Own
A Tony Delivers app is launching soon and expansion into multiple cities may follow.
Best Practices
What are your peers doing in delivery? Get some of the best practices out there.
Next Robot Wants To Make Risotto For You
Al Dente is its follow-up to Robby, its stir-fry robot, which was launched in 2023 and is now in use in more than 100 locations.