Waitr adds chief information officer as it expands business model

Matthew Coy joins the company shortly after it named Timothy Newton as its chief technology officer and announced a rebrand to emphasize new verticals.

By Alicia Kelso • March 8, 2022

Over 50% of diners would switch delivery providers if fees rose, study shows

On average, consumers said they would stop using a delivery app if delivery fees reached $9, Coupon Follow data finds. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 4, 2022

IHOP tests 2 virtual brands in 50 stores

Parent company Dine Brands has expanded Thrilled Cheese and Super Mega Dilla from nine restaurants last quarter to 50.

By Alicia Kelso • March 3, 2022

Wendy's CFO: Ghost kitchens, nontraditional units will make up half of 2022 store growth

The burger chain, which has opened 30 kitchens with Reef so far, plans to open up to 200 more units with the ghost kitchen platform this year.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 2, 2022

DoorDash buys Bbot to bolster in-store digital ordering capabilities

The deal may grow DoorDash's partner business footprint, since Bbot services restaurants, hotels, bars, food halls, ghost kitchens and bowling alleys.

By Alicia Kelso • March 1, 2022

Krispy Kreme to open delivery-only shops in US and Mexico

After a successful pilot in the U.K., the donut chain will bring its "dark shop" concept to the U.S. this year to grow access points in a low-cost way.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 24, 2022

Grubhub links with Buyk on convenience delivery

Buyk will manage order fulfillment and delivery under the arrangement, which will bring more than 2,000 products from local and national suppliers as well as its own private label items to Grubhub's online marketplace.

By Sam Silverstein • Feb. 23, 2022

Kiwibot and Sodexo to bring over 1K delivery robots to 50 college campuses

Kiwibot also recently raised roughly $7.5 million in funding, which will go toward ramping up production to build 100 robots a month.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 17, 2022

DoorDash's 2021 revenue, losses buoyed by new verticals

The leading delivery aggregator's revenue rose 69% over year one of the pandemic, but its losses grew by $7 million.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 17, 2022

Grubhub expands convenience channel Grubhub Goods nationwide

The service will offer delivery from more than 3,000 locations across the country and follows a successful pilot with 7-Eleven. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 15, 2022

Slower McDonald's units may see higher DoorDash fees

The delivery company lowered standard commissions on orders to 11.6% as part of a November deal, but that charge jumps to 17.6% if a driver has to wait over seven minutes.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 14, 2022

DoorDash will give cash advances to small businesses

DoorDash Capital allows restaurants to repay the cash advances based on a percentage of their DoorDash sales and without interest.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 9, 2022

DoorDash puts down roots in same-day flower delivery

The aggregator's new vertical initially includes more than 3,000 local and national florists and marks another step beyond foodservice. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 9, 2022

Brinker plans more off-premise-only kitchens, virtual brand expansion

The chain opened an off-premise kitchen in Manhattan last month and plans to open similar units near universities in Dallas and Columbus, Ohio, CEO Wyman Roberts said during the company's Q2 earnings call. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 4, 2022

The Restaurant Dive Outlook on 2022

Restaurants are investing in labor-saving technology, wage hikes and new delivery strategies to prepare for a year that may still be squeezed by labor, supply chain and inflation pressure. 

Feb. 4, 2022

Shake Shack hooks up with DoorDash for chicken sandwich-themed dating site

The brands are linking to help spicy food lovers "eat cute" in time for Valentine's Day with an effort that could generate valuable first-party data.

By Chris Kelly • Feb. 3, 2022

Lunchbox's $50M funding includes investment from DoorDash execs

This participation in the funding round reflects blurring lines between digital ordering and delivery fulfillment, though Lunchbox CEO Nabeel Alamgir has been critical of third-party delivery firms' high commission fees. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 2, 2022

Domino's introduces $3 credits for carryout customers

Diners can earn these "tips," which go toward future carryout purchases, on $5-plus online takeaway orders every day between Jan. 31 and May 22.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 31, 2022

Deliverect secures another $150M, pushing its valuation above $1.4B

The company has accrued $240 million in total funding since its founding in 2018, and is reportedly considering an IPO. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 25, 2022

7-Eleven introduces subscription delivery service

For $5.95 a month, shoppers can get items, including hot food and drinks, delivered by the convenience store in about 30 minutes.

By Kaarin Moore , Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 25, 2022

Waitr adds chief technology officer as it expands into new verticals

Timothy Newton previously worked as vice president of global technology operations at Papa John's, and appears to be Waitr's first CTO.

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 19, 2022

Delivery firms are offering more flexibility to retain partners. Will it work?

Major aggregators are rolling out white labels, subscription programs and new data tools to keep partner restaurants and delivery customers as more diners order from operators directly. 

By Julie Littman • Jan. 19, 2022

Instacart launches Ready Meals Hub

Like Instacart's convenience delivery offering, Ready Meals adds another service that addresses cross-channel challengers — in this case, restaurants.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Jan. 14, 2022

Reef signs expansion deal with Denny's amid closure of 95 units

Reef considers these units, which temporarily shuttered on Jan. 7, to be "underperforming," Business Insider reports. The company said these units are being revamped to service partner brands. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated Jan. 13, 2022

Sustained delivery profitability may hinge on business beyond restaurants

While eateries remain their core businesses, third-party aggregators are adding new verticals, like retail and grocery, and services to diversify.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 12, 2022