Innovator of the Year: DoorDash

Not long after the pandemic struck, the third-party aggregator rolled out tools for merchants, including commission-free deals, provided streamlined access to PPP applications and cold weather grants.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 9, 2020

The Restaurant Dive Awards for 2020

From Chipotle to DoorDash, these are the companies and executives that led restaurant industry innovation in a time of crisis.

By Restaurant Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020

DoorDash hit with cease-and-desist letter from DC attorney general

The company has decided not to charge D.C. restaurants their contractual DashPass rates at this time following a warning from the District that doing so could put the aggregator in breach of a local delivery fee cap.

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Dec. 10, 2020

Jimmy John's partners with DoorDash using self-delivery product

The partnership marks a strategy shift for the sandwich chain, which once vowed never to work with third-party apps. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 2, 2020

Thrillist, Zuul launch rotating ghost kitchen in New York City

A series of 10 restaurants will lead a two-week chef residency at the shared kitchen facility in the SoHo district, offering limited-edition meals for delivery. Thrillist will cover food, labor, packaging and delivery costs.

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 1, 2020

DoorDash settles lawsuit over old tipping model for $2.5M

The agreement follows a November 2019 lawsuit filed by the Washington, D.C., attorney general's office, which alleged the company misled consumers to believe their tips would increase drivers' pay. 

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 25, 2020

DoorDash launches IPO

The food delivery company's initial public offering stock price is expected to range between $75 and $85 per share. 

By Julie Littman • Updated Nov. 30, 2020

Lyft may wade further into restaurant delivery

The ride-sharing company is interested in expanding into delivery and creating a model without a consumer-facing marketplace that could potentially lower commission rates. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 11, 2020

McDonald's new loyalty program will optimize digital, drive-thru opportunity

The chain will begin piloting the program, which offers personalized orders and deals across all digital touchpoints, at select Phoenix, Arizona, restaurants prior to a nationwide launch next year.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 9, 2020

Grubhub launches $2M winterization grants for restaurants

Eligible independent restaurants in Chicago, New York City, Boston and Philadelphia can apply for $10,000 grants to help prepare for colder months, mirroring similar efforts from DoorDash.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 9, 2020

Chicago announces 15% delivery cap on heels of $10M restaurant grant program

The limit took effect Monday, and delivery platforms that violate the new standard will be fined between $1,000 and $2,000 per offense.

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Nov. 24, 2020

Will ghost kitchens define the restaurant industry's future?

While investor interest booms and sales have the potential to outpace traditional models, questions linger about how much this emerging market could disrupt business in the long term. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 9, 2020

Uber Eats could reach profitability by next year, CEO says

As Uber Eats diversifies its business with the addition of grocery and pharmacy delivery, gross bookings were up 135% and revenue grew 125%.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 6, 2020

Ghost kitchen provider Reef raises $700M

Reef will use the funding to grow from around 4,800 locations to 10,000, and CEO Ari Ojalvo said ghost kitchens "will be a significant part of non-parking revenue" for the company. 

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Nov. 4, 2020

California's Proposition 22 passes in major win for food delivery companies

Uber, DoorDash, Postmates and Instacart contributed $200 million to support the measure in the state, which preserves their business models of hiring drivers and independent contractors instead of employees. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated Nov. 4, 2020

A DC ghost food hall gives a glimpse of a post-pandemic restaurant future

By the third weekend of dining room closures, restaurateur Aaron Gordon was pulling 100% of sales compared to 2019 through delivery and takeout alone. That spurred an idea, and in September Ghostline launched with six restaurants.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 2, 2020

Third-party delivery is vital now, but operators believe curbside changes will be most permanent

A study shows that nearly 40% of restaurants said they would not have been able to stay open during the pandemic without the likes of DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub.

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 29, 2020

Yum Brands sells Grubhub shares for $206M

The company remains optimistic that third-party delivery gives its brands growth potential, and offers delivery with multiple aggregators at 35,000 restaurants.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 29, 2020

Restaurants sue Grubhub over adding 150K non-partnered listings

Two plaintiffs are seeking class action status on behalf of the restaurants listed on the aggregator's platform without permission, and claim the practice results in lost orders and an inability to address customer concerns.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 29, 2020

DoorDash initiative brings closed restaurants back to life via delivery-only models

The aggregator has launched "Reopen for Delivery," a program that selects local merchants who closed during the COVID-19 crisis and helps re-establish them as delivery-only concepts. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 27, 2020

Seafood at takeout and delivery adds health, sustainability, and an innovative twist to your menu

With creativity, planning and a fresh mindset, chefs can offer delicious take-home seafood meals that add a memorable twist to the menu, profitability to the restaurant and keep customers ordering again.

Oct. 26, 2020

Chipotle could exceed $2.5B in digital sales in 2020

The fast casual chain's digital sales grew just over 200% to $776 million during the third quarter and made up nearly half of total sales. So far this year, digital sales are almost $2 billion.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 22, 2020

P.F. Chang's continues takeout-only expansion with NYC launch

CEO Damola Adamolekun said its three new To Go locations in the Big Apple is part of a larger strategy to reach a more urban population.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 19, 2020

Taco Bell adds DoorDash as a delivery partner

The new partnership, which will cover 75% of Taco Bell's U.S. locations, continues Yum's strategy to grow delivery after its exclusive partnership with Grubhub ended abruptly during the summer.

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 14, 2020

Ghost restaurant calculator

Thinking about developing a ghost kitchen business plan? Use this calculator to crunch the numbers and determine profitability.

By Nami Sumida, Julie Littman, Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 12, 2020