The Latest News
Sauce Adds a Customer Retention Module To Its White-Label Delivery Platform
Sauce automates individualized messages to existing customers and operators don’t have to do a thing.
Outstanding Operator: Viva Chicken
The QSR with the tasty Peruvian-style poultry is expanding to new locations, supported by a revamped tech stack and a deep confidence in its catering program.
Outstanding Operator: Playa Bowls
Founded by passionate surfers Robert Giuliani and Abby Taylor, the brand continues to expand, including in off-premises operations, with its innovative loyalty program and customizable menu.
Incept AI Has a Drive-Thru Order-Taking Solution That Minimizes Secondary Noises
The company boasts a 97 percent success rate with its voice AI platform.
API Provider MealMe Validates B2B Play With $8 Million Round
It started as a food-delivery price aggregator but is now a thriving tech provider.
Could Voice AI Be Your Most Effective Drive-Thru Cashier?
Humans are slower and don’t love to suggest sell. Technology doesn’t mind.
Wonder Acquires Grubhub for $650 Million
Marc Lore’s Wonder has purchased Grubhub, with the deal set to close in Q1 2025, aiming to create a “super app” for meal-time services.
Texas Roadhouse Looks To Chick-fil-A For Reconciliation Insights
It’s part of its drive to add third-party delivery widely in 2025.
Fast-Casual Brands Should Be Ready to Adapt, Say Qdoba, Portillo’s Executives
The brands discuss adapting to trends with new technology and creative social media marketing at the Restaurant finance and Development Conference.
Applebee’s and IHOP Open First Duel-Branded Location in U.S.
It will combine IHOP’s breakfast and Applebee’s lunch and dinner, with a drive-thru for takeout.
Chef Robotics Prepares To Wheel Into Ghost Kitchens
Chef Robotics has made inroads in large commercial kitchens. Now it’s looking at new spaces.
Meet the Robots Serving Students at the University of Minnesota
The university launched autonomous robot food deliveries on campus —a first for Minnesota—and we went to check it out.
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
Bikky Founder Details Data-Driven Mission After Seed Round
Food On Demand spoke with Bikky co-founder and CEO Abhinav Kapur shortly before announcing its recent, $5.25-million seed round.
Research
Guest Sentiment Shows Off-Premises Dip
In a new collection of guest sentiment data from the feedback platform Tattle, the customer is not all that happy and off-premises experiences especially could have been better. Overall, sentiment since January 2021 has declined across the board. Dine-in, takeout and...
The Deliverers
Survey Highlights Impact of Grocery Delivery on SNAP Recipients
A DoorDash survey of over 2,400 SNAP recipients found that 78 percent prefer using their benefits for grocery delivery rather than shopping in-store, citing accessibility and reduced stigma.
Best Practices
What are your peers doing in delivery? Get some of the best practices out there.
Chef Robotics Prepares To Wheel Into Ghost Kitchens
Chef Robotics has made inroads in large commercial kitchens. Now it’s looking at new spaces.