The Latest News
Auntie Anne’s, Jamba Parent Announces Rebrand to GoTo Foods
Focus Brands is rebranding as GoTo Foods, CEO Jim Holthouser announced Tuesday at the Focus Brands No Limits Conference in Las Vegas to a crowd of the company’s franchisees.
The Evolving Global Dynamics of Rapid Grocery Delivery
The transformation of the grocery delivery sector is a hallmark of the digital age, reflecting a shift towards convenience and efficiency worldwide.
Uber Eats Expands Robotic Delivery to Japan
Deliveries are expected to begin in part of Tokyo by the end of March 2024, via Cartken’s “Model C” autonomous, sidewalk robot.
Toast Lays Off 550 Employees Amid Restructuring
The Boston-based, restaurant technology company states the cuts are part of a restructuring plan to lower operating costs.
Bringing Hybrid, Native Delivery Options into Focus
A growing number of restaurants are employing hybrid and native delivery options to tailor their off-premises strategy to their unique circumstances.
Flybuy, Apex Announce Predictive Pickup Partnership
Flybuy, a location technology that predicts customer arrival times, has partnered with Apex Ordering Pickup Solutions to create delivery and takeout lockers with real-time data.
Galley Solutions Closes Big Funding Round
Amid ongoing challenges in foodservice supply chains, Galley Solutions raised $14.2 million through a Series A.
Wow Bao Launches Virtual-Restaurant Rewards, A First
Wow Bao, the mostly virtual steamed bun chain, launched the first virtual restaurant rewards program. The program, dubbed Bao Bucks, awards customers with in-program cash to spend on food. The points accumulate only with direct orders, much like other brand loyalty...
5 Off-Premises Tips from Independent Restaurant Gurus
Ask two independent operators how to approach third-party delivery and digital off-premises operations and you're bound to get five answers. That rang true during a Food On Demand Conference panel titled Case Studies from Independent Operators. Moderated by Hanson Li,...
Instacart Files Confidential IPO Registration
Grocery delivery giant Instacart has filed with a confidential notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the first legal step toward an initial public offering. The statement from the company was terse: Instacart today announced that it has confidentially...
‘That’s So Cool Man’—When Robots Join the Kitchen
Building the Automated Kitchen was a fascinating panel at the Food On Demand Conference, and not just because Flippy, Sippy and other neato robots are taking over unpleasant tasks.
Building the Right Tech Stack—FODC Panelists Share Advice
“If tech is not going to give you at least three times back, don’t do it. Just hard stop, don’t do it,” advised Square’s Bryan Solar, right, on a Food On Demand Conference panel.
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
Data Shows Continued Bleak Trends
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shake the restaurant industry, industry data is giving some clarity to just how bad sales are. Data from various outlets shows an industry in free fall, and while sobering, a clear view is important so the Food On Demand world can...
Research
How Operations Change Inside a Virtual Restaurant
Operators have to make some tweaks to get into a shared kitchen space successfully. It can be easy for the right brands, but even those with small menus and few ingredients will have things to learn. Melissa Surby-Curtin, the director of franchise operations at The...
The Deliverers
Uber Eats Begins In-Seat Deliveries at Yankee Stadium
Uber Eats has begun offering in-seat meal deliveries for fans inside Yankee Stadium.
Best Practices
What are your peers doing in delivery? Get some of the best practices out there.
Building the Drone Infrastructure Necessary for Scale
Before drones are flying around our burritos, prescriptions and maybe giving us a quote on roof repair, we’re going to need some infrastructure to enable this transformation. Even though the Federal Aviation Administration is going to take some time to allow drone...