DoorDash, Grubhub sue San Francisco over permanent delivery caps

The companies claim the 15% cap — which San Francisco's Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in June — is unnecessary, harmful, unconstitutional and will result in fewer orders for restaurants.

By Julie Littman • July 19, 2021

How successful ghost kitchens are built

Restaurant operators need to focus on location, menu development and consumer satisfaction KPIs when developing delivery-only concepts, writes Chris Adams, vice president of strategy at Oracle Food and Beverage.

By Chris Adams • July 16, 2021

Host kitchen and software startup Acelerate secures $14.4M in funding

The company licenses seven proprietary brands to existing restaurants and works with operators to bring their menus to other restaurant partners.

By Alicia Kelso , Emma Liem Beckett • July 15, 2021

Ruby Tuesday to serve virtual barbecue brand in-store

Through September, guests can order Libby's BBQ, which was originally conceived as a delivery-only brand, for dine-in, takeout and delivery. 

By Julie Littman • July 15, 2021

Dickey's to debut a brick-and-mortar store for its virtual wings brand

Wing Boss will open a restaurant in the Dallas market following strong results just four months after its launch as a delivery-only brand.

By Alicia Kelso • July 14, 2021

Grubhub gives diners perks to offset late deliveries, lower competitor prices

Grubhub said its latest feature, which is funded by the aggregator and not restaurants, will help protect restaurant reputations and create better diner experiences.

By Julie Littman • July 12, 2021

Digital c-store Gopuff hiring over 100 employees to back ghost kitchens operation

Job listings, which include line cooks, kitchen leads and district managers, across at least six states hint that the company is preparing to deliver fresh-made foods. 

By Julie Littman • July 9, 2021

Study: Labor shortages, food costs are now restaurants' biggest concerns

New research commissioned by Uber Eats and DoorDash shows concern about these issues eclipses operator worries about third-party delivery fees.

By Alicia Kelso • July 8, 2021

C3 raises $80M to grow virtual brand footprint

Reef Technology, which co-led the investment alongside Brookfield Asset Management, has committed to carrying C3's brands in 500 of its ghost kitchens in the U.S. 

By Julie Littman • July 7, 2021

Grubhub, Yandex deploy delivery bots to first college campus

The Ohio State University students will be able to order deliveries from on-campus dining through Grubhub's app, which will be fulfilled by 50 Yandex robots.

By Julie Littman • Updated Aug. 19, 2021

P.F. Chang's aims to have 50 To Go stores by 2022

The chain currently has 10 of its smaller footprint, off-premise-focused stores open, with 20 additional units underway. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 29, 2021

Local Kitchens raises $25M, eyes market expansion

The digital food hall provider will use the funding to grow further into new California markets, as well as other regions. 

By Julie Littman • June 29, 2021

Donatos partners with Reef Kitchens to open a ghost kitchen

The delivery-only collaboration, which will expand the pizza chain's presence in Nashville, Tennessee, comes as the restaurant also grows through its relationship with Red Robin.

By Alicia Kelso • June 25, 2021

Grubhub partners with Las Vegas hotel to replace in-room dining

The deal with Resorts World Las Vegas lets guests order from the resort's 40 food and beverage concepts using the aggregator's app or via QR codes located on the property.

By Alicia Kelso • June 24, 2021

San Francisco passes permanent delivery fee cap

The 15% cap will soon hit Mayor London Breed's desk for final approval and could make the city the first in the U.S. to enact a permanent limit.

By Julie Littman • June 24, 2021

Uber Eats adds app disclosure in DC, PA for greater pricing transparency

At the request of the local attorneys general, the delivery platform has included an additional statement on its mobile platform and website that prices may vary from in-store.

By Julie Littman • June 23, 2021

Red Robin to add 120 Donatos locations this year

The growth plan will bring the partnership that began in 2018 into more than 200 locations. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 21, 2021

Wingstop debuts virtual brand focused on chicken thighs

As wing prices increase, Thighstop will instead provide a menu of bone-in and boneless thighs tossed in 11 different flavors. 

By Julie Littman • June 21, 2021

Dickey's to add 100 ghost kitchens through Combo Kitchen partnership

This partnership will also include the barbecue chain's virtual brands Wing Boss and Big Deal Burger, which the company launched earlier this year. 

By Julie Littman • June 18, 2021

El Pollo Loco to launch drone delivery pilot

The Mexican QSR, which will begin testing its Air Loco service on June 24, expects drones to reduce delivery costs by 25% to 30%. 

By Julie Littman • June 17, 2021

Grubhub promotes CFO Adam DeWitt to CEO

Following the completion of Just Eat Takeaway's acquisition, Grubhub founder and CEO Matt Maloney will join JET's management board.

By Julie Littman • June 16, 2021

C3, Chowly partner to bring virtual brands to 10K restaurants

The collaboration will allow C3, which is currently in 250 kitchens, to rapidly expand through Chowly's network of enterprise and small restaurant clients. 

By Julie Littman • June 16, 2021

Kitchen United launches licensing partnership with UK-based chain

Camile Thai, which operates in Ireland and the United Kingdom, will offer delivery and takeout exclusively at Kitchen United MIX locations, providing the ghost kitchen operator a new way to diversify its brands. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 8, 2021

Report: 25% of online restaurant orders in 2020 were for delivery

For third-party delivery, guests spent about 32% more than takeout patrons, but after the pandemic these guests only spent 10% more than takeout customers, Paytronix found.  

By Julie Littman • June 7, 2021

UK-based Foodhub to enter the crowded US delivery market

The delivery service charges 0% commission and will expand into Louisiana, where it could challenge local competitor Waitr and other major aggregators.

By Alicia Kelso • May 28, 2021