Nathan's Famous opens 100th ghost kitchen

The hot dog chain has agreements to launch another 45 locations for its namesake restaurant and its Wings of New York virtual brand in the next few months.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 8, 2021

Pizza Hut's momentum continues in Q4 with 8% same-store sales growth

The Yum Brands chain reported an 8% increase in same-store sales for Q4, buoyed in part by 18% same-store sales growth for off-premise.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 5, 2021

Uber Eats earmarks $20M in expansion of independent restaurant support

Uber's Eat Local commits $4.5 million for microgrants to support restaurant partners, as well as waives and reduces certain fees through June 30.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 4, 2021

Uber buys alcohol delivery platform Drizly for $1.1B

Drizly, which is available in more than 1,400 cities, will eventually be integrated with the Uber Eats app while also maintaining the separate Drizly app.

By Christopher Doering , Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 2, 2021

McDonald's plans to open nearly 500 restaurants in US and IOM segments in 2021

The chain called new restaurant development an "important driver of our growth" during its recent Q4 earnings call. McDonald's will also spend $500 million to modernize 1,200 existing locations. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 1, 2021

Brinker integrates with Google for pickup of It's Just Wings

Patrons can now search for the virtual brand using Google Search and Google Maps, place their orders, pay and pick up at Chili's restaurants.

By Alicia Kelso , Julie Littman • Updated March 24, 2021

Wow Bao to reach 1K locations through its host kitchen program

The fast casual brand, which currently has 150 locations, is using this initiative to expand into new markets while also providing outside restaurant partners additional revenue.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 26, 2021

Uber lays off 15% of Postmates' employees

Uber has let go of about 185 Postmates staff, with CEO Bastian Lehmann and most of the delivery aggregator's executive team expected to leave the company, The New York Times reports. 

By Julie Littman • Jan. 25, 2021

DoorDash rides with Daveed Diggs, 'Sesame Street' for first Super Bowl ad

A reimagination of the "People in Your Neighborhood" song from the children's show highlights all the things that people can order via the app.

By Robert Williams • Jan. 25, 2021

IHOP adds burritos and bowls to meet off-premise demand

The causal chain's off-premise comp sales increased 154% during Q3, and the new more portable items are meant to be ideal for takeout and delivery. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 20, 2021

How Fogo de Chao, STK balance off-premise with experience

The challenge for both brands was developing solutions that would be robust enough to withstand the pandemic environment without compromising the reason diners visit them in the first place: experience. 

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Jan. 19, 2021

Kitchen United to open 16 centers this year

The company is doubling down on existing high-value markets like Chicago and Los Angeles while it plans to expand into new ones like New York City and the Bay Area later this year. 

By Julie Littman • Jan. 14, 2021

Noodles & Company opens first ghost kitchen in Chicago

The Humboldt Park location will allow customers to order meals through the company's loyalty app, as well as third-party partners, for pickup and delivery.

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Updated May 20, 2021

Grubhub partners with Fiat Chrysler to add in-car food ordering

Consumers can reorder favorites or discover new restaurants, which allows them to find nearby eateries they have not ordered from before.

By Alicia Kelso , Julie Littman • Jan. 12, 2021

Denny's diversifies with rollout of 2 virtual brands

The Burger Den will open in February, while The Melt Down, which will focus on sandwiches, launches in the spring. 

By Julie Littman • Jan. 12, 2021

Focus Brands adds surcharge for digital pickup, delivery orders

The company said the additional 35 cent fee will help support the online ordering experience, but customers have already criticized the practice. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 7, 2021

DoorDash drivers can now earn cash rewards

The benefits are part of the company's $12 million Dasher Rewards Program, which was announced in November, that offers additional incentives to the most active couriers.

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 6, 2021

2020 Trends: Expectations vs. reality

The restaurant industry had great expectations this year, but the pandemic completely changed the market's competitive landscape. Here's how the crisis impacted the trends we originally predicted for the year. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 23, 2020

Shake Shack rolls out in-app delivery nationwide

The feature, facilitated by Uber Eats, allows diners to track orders in real time with a $0.99 flat delivery fee and no delivery fee for orders over $35.

By Alicia Kelso • Updated March 18, 2021

NRA, delivery companies develop nationwide framework that could ease tensions

The seven principles, which address issues such as transparency, food safety and alcohol delivery, mark the first time the two parties have come together to create guidelines to shape public policy.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 17, 2020

Grubhub offers free delivery in Chicago, NYC during winter

Through mid-March, the aggregator will offer its Grubhub+ subscription program to customers for free. It will also include local partner restaurants in the program at no additional cost.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 16, 2020

Postmates joins Uber, DoorDash in bankrolling driver benefits in CA with price hikes

The aggregators are rolling out customer fees to help pay for healthcare subsidies, mileage reimbursement and occupational insurance they promised in winning ballot measure Proposition 22. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated Jan. 20, 2021

Wendy's teams with Uber Eats on customized menus for Twitch gamers

The burger chain's "Never Stop Gaming Menu" includes combinations of items selected by five of the platform's most popular streamers.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 10, 2020

Grubhub's latest online ordering tools won't charge marketing fees

The delivery aggregator's new Direct Order Toolkit allows restaurant partners to add either a direct link for use in email marketing and social media, a direct "order now" button on their website or a QR code on printed materials. 

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 9, 2020

DoorDash valued at $39B after IPO

By selling 33 million shares at $102 a piece, the food delivery company would raise nearly $3.4 million and become the second largest IPO of the year.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 9, 2020