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 Vembar , 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

Waitr will rebrand to ASAP, cannabis will be a key focus

The platform's non-restaurant delivery verticals will help it compete against major rivals, CEO Carl Grimstad said at the ICR 2022 Conference Tuesday.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 12, 2022

Dickey's opens its fourth virtual brand, Trailer Birds Hot Chicken

The chain entered the virtual space with Wing Boss in April 2021 and followed up with the launch of Big Deal Burger and Barbecue at Home.

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 11, 2022

Flytrex drones can fly over people, vehicles with new FAA approval

The approval will allow Flytrex, which tested drone delivery with El Pollo Loco last year, to carry small goods to up to 10,000 households in North Carolina. 

By Max Garland • Jan. 7, 2022

Waitr partners with Virtual Dining Concepts

The third-party delivery firm could soon offer brands like MrBeast Burger, Mariah's Cookies and Barstool Bites on its app, and will allow restaurant partners to add VDC's virtual brands to their operations. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 5, 2022

7 restaurant trends that will define 2022

Restaurants will trim their menus, phase out cumbersome curbside pickup channels and invest in automation as operators balance labor pressure with off-premise demand, analysts say. 

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman , Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 4, 2022

Waitr plans to acquire a cannabis dispensary POS company for $90M

The delivery company expects transactions on Cova's platform to reach approximately $2.3 billion. 

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 20, 2021

Reef loses David Chang's Fuku to Kitchen United as reports of food safety issues grow

The pivot may give Fuku more quality control, as Kitchen United makes restaurants responsible for preparing their food at rented kitchens. Reef, by contrast, handles the kitchen operations for its licensed brands.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 17, 2021

Uber Eats to offer autonomous food delivery in 2022

Uber's partnership with Motional, which will launch in Santa Monica, California, could provide access to more affordable and convenient restaurant deliveries. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 16, 2021

Chipotle to open first digital-only Chipotlane restaurant

The format, which will open in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, later this month, will not have a dining room or front line access as customers pick up food through a Chipotlane or walk-up window.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 16, 2021

Lyft, Olo partner to offer restaurant delivery

The ride-sharing provider enters a very crowded and competitive segment, but won't be building a marketplace, which could result in lower commissions.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 14, 2021

Grubhub sues NYC over restaurant data-sharing law

The delivery firm alleges the city's requirements for delivery companies to share data with restaurants are unconstitutional and present a security risk.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 13, 2021