Walmart's Innovative Approach to Convenience Around the World

Shopping lists are increasingly including a new item: convenience.

The grocery industry is a great example. American shoppers average about 60 minutes spent shopping for food each week. To cut this time down, more and more of Walmart’s U.S. customers find themselves taking advantage of online shopping options like pickup and delivery.

But the U.S. isn’t the only place customers want convenience. Walmart Canada’s recent announcement to expand grocery delivery with Instacart demonstrates how quickly customers are responding to time-saving innovations in...

AmazonFresh Expands to Houston, Minneapolis and Phoenix With 1- and 2-Hour Delivery

Amazon today announced that AmazonFresh has expanded to three new cities: Houston, Minneapolis and Phoenix. Beginning today, Prime members in those cities can shop tens of thousands products from meat and seafood to fresh produce and everyday essentials for free two-hour delivery from AmazonFresh.

“We’re thrilled to introduce AmazonFresh to Prime members in Houston, Minneapolis and Phoenix,” said Stephenie Landry, Vice President of AmazonFresh and Prime Now. “Prime members tell us they want their stuff even faster. We’re happy to deliver on that ask and can’t wait for customers in Houston, Minneapolis and Phoenix to take advantage of...

Revention and DoorDash Team Up to Offer On-Demand Logistics Services

Revention, the industry-leading provider of restaurant ordering and management solutions, today announced its partnership with the largest and fastest growing last-mile logistics platform in more than 4,000 cities in the United States and Canada, DoorDash.

This partnership will provide restaurateurs the opportunity to grow their business by offering on-demand logistics and/or streamlining existing delivery operations to accommodate for peak times, unexpected surge of orders, downtime, and service outside of standard areas.'

The Revention and DoorDash partnership will significantly expand operational efficiencies for restaurateurs, with potential benefits including...

Food Lion to Expand "To-Go" Grocery Pick-Up Service at Multiple Stores

Food Lion continues to expand its “Food Lion To-Go" grocery pick up service at multiple area locations beginning August 19, 2019.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at each location at 8:45 a.m. on August 19th, and to help introduce customers to this new service, Food Lion is offering shoppers their first pickup for free.

The launch of this new, convenient service enables Food Lion to continue to deliver on its promise to ensure an easy, fresh and affordable grocery shopping experience, and it allows customers to order and pick up their groceries in as little as an hour.

“We are so excited to expand this convenient service to more stores in the Food Lion footprint and enable customers to spend more time...

Five Guys and Postmates Partner for National On-Demand Delivery

Postmates, the leader in enabling anyone to have nearly anything delivered on-demand, announced today that it has partnered with Five Guys to enable national on-demand delivery, including an integration with ItsaCheckmate. Five Guys and Postmates customers will now find Five Guys locations across the country integrated into the Postmates feed, making it simple to find your favorite burgers and fries.

"We are thrilled to launch our integrated partnership with Five Guys for on-demand delivery," said Dan Mosher, SVP, Merchant Lead, Postmates. "Five Guys is an incredible family-run business that has a dedicated following and is extremely popular on the Postmates platform."

The Postmates Data and Analytics team dug into the data to uncover these Five Guys Delivery Facts...

Applebee’s Nationwide Delivery Has Arrived

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar just made dining at home or on-the-go easier, more convenient and more flavorful with Applebee’s Delivery℠ available at participating restaurants nationwide. Now, wherever you are, you can order online at Applebees.com or through the mobile app and Applebee’s Delivery, powered by DoorDash, will have your favorite mouthwatering Boneless Chicken Wings and Loaded Shrimp Fajitas delivered to your door hot and fresh. For those meals when you’re too tired to cook or just don’t want to pack the family in the car, Applebee’s Delivery has your back.

Applebee’s is celebrating the news in two big ways. First, hungry fans can take advantage of free delivery now through Sunday, September 1 when ordering Applebee’s Delivery. And to commemorate Applebee’s new partnership with NBC Sports’ Football Night in America, free delivery will continue...

Domino's Launches National E-Bike Program for Pedal-Powered Delivery

Domino's Pizza, the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, knows a thing or two about pizza delivery, including the fact that cars aren't always the most efficient way to get hot, delicious pizzas to hungry customers. A bike is often a better solution to traffic congestion and parking challenges. Domino's stores across the nation will soon have the option to use custom e-bikes for pizza delivery through a partnership with Rad Power® Bikes – North America's largest e-bike brand.

"Domino's tested e-bikes in a number of corporate-owned stores across Houston, Miami and New York earlier this year, and those stores saw improvements in overall delivery and service," said Tom Curtis, Domino's executive vice president of corporate operations. "They also experienced labor benefits, as the stores were able to hire from a wider pool of candidates, including those who...

US Foods Launches US Foods Direct

US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) today announced the addition of US Foods Direct to the company’s exclusive e-commerce platform. This new offering is integrated into US Foods’ online ordering platform, providing operators with an endless aisle of more than 40,000 specialty products and counting. US Foods Direct gives operators easier access to hard-to-find ingredients, such as specialty spices, seasonings, herbs, pastas, flours, sauces or oils, and innovative, on-trend items such as plant-based proteins, dairy-free or vegan alternatives, and gluten-free products. With US Foods Direct, operators now have a one-stop shop for distinctive ingredients that will set their menu apart from the competition.

Sixty-three percent of foodservice operators say they want to improve on offering something different from the competition. Unfortunately, for many operators who are searching for unique ingredients, this can mean sourcing products from other specialty food channels which require longer lead times and additional resources. With sixty two percent of operators reporting...

Aramark Acquires On-Demand Food Delivery Service, Good Uncle

Aramark (NYSE:ARMK), a global leader in food, facilities management and uniforms, today announced the acquisition of privately-held Good Uncle, an innovative, app-based on-demand food delivery service that brings freshly prepared, restaurant quality meals to conveniently located pick-up points around college campuses. The addition of this concierge service to the Aramark portfolio furthers the company’s commitment to advancing innovation through culinary-and technology-driven solutions that better serve customers and clients.

“We are pleased to welcome the Good Uncle team to the Aramark family. As consumer dining habits evolve, we’re continually looking for new ways to disrupt the marketplace with innovative services,” said Eric J. Foss, Aramark’s Chairman, President and CEO. “Good Uncle strengthens our ability to offer...

Meal Kits and Online Grocery Shopping Revitalize Interest in Home Cooking

More than half of U.S. adults claim they really enjoy cooking (53%) and more than a third consider the kitchen to be the most important room in the home (35%), according to data in the new report Eating Trends: Cooking & Food Shopping from market research firm Packaged Facts. These percentages are up compared to a decade ago.

Packaged Facts found that most people who don't cook at home either have a lack of time to grocery shop and meal prep or they lack confidence in their cooking skills. The latter reason is especially prevalent among Gen Z adults (ages 18-24) and to a lesser extent Millennials (ages 25-39).

The meal kit industry is arguably the best example of a food industry segment that's making it easier for adults to start cooking more at home again. The products are marketed to emphasize...

Shake Shack Announces Partnership With Grubhub for Nationwide Delivery

Shake Shack (NYSE:SHAK), the modern day “roadside” burger stand, today announced they have entered into an integrated partnership with Grubhub (NYSE:GRUB), the nation's leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace. The partnership reflects Shake Shack’s long-term digital growth and innovation strategy to make its iconic food more accessible to consumers through an increasing number of channels.

Grubhub and its Seamless brand in Shake Shack’s hometown of New York City - will be Shake Shack’s national delivery partner with direct-to-POS integration for menu syncing and order submission. With Grubhub’s “Just in Time” technology, pickups by drivers will be timed to the moment an order is ready, resulting in faster delivery, fresher food and a better guest experience. Shake Shack will have access to enhanced tools to analyze...

Innovation is Bringing New Excitement to the Burger Category in Canada

More Canadians today than a year ago say they’re ordering burgers from foodservice at least once a month, and the growth of the LSR burger category is outpacing the industry. In the 2019 Canadian Burger Consumer Trend Report, Technomic dives into the factors at play, including innovations such as plant-based burgers and unique flavour profiles.

“The bigger the burger category gets, the more important it is that operators maintain points of differentiation,” explains Charles Winship, manager of consumer insights at Technomic. “Responding to demands for plant-based options as well as spicier, bolder flavours will be critical as brands look to offer burgers that truly stand out.”

Key takeaways from the report include...

Burger King to Launch the Impossible Whopper Nationwide

Burger King restaurants announced today that it is bringing the plant-based Impossible Whopper sandwich nationwide this month. Starting on August 8, guests across the nation will be able to visit their local BK restaurant, or order for delivery via the BK App and through DoorDash, to try the Impossible Whopper for a limited time only and decide for themselves if it delivers the same flame-grilled, juicy craveability of the famous Whopper sandwich.

The Impossible Whopper is 100% Whopper, 0% beef. It features a flame-grilled patty made from plants topped with freshly sliced tomatoes and onions, crisp lettuce, creamy mayonnaise, ketchup and zesty pickles on a toasted sesame seed bun.

“We are really excited to be able to offer our new Impossible Whopper to our guests across the country at an unbeatable value for a limited time,” said Chris Finazzo, President, North America, Burger King Corporation. “Since we first launched our market tests in St. Louis in April, and...

White Castle Partners with Uber Eats to Expand Delivery 

White Castle, the nation's first fast-food hamburger chain and home of The Original Slider®, today announced a new partnership with Uber Eats, offering online ordering and delivery to Cravers near more than 330 White Castle locations. Coinciding with the 15th anniversary of beloved film classic, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, White Castle and Uber Eats will be giving away up to 1 million Original Sliders – one 10 sack per customer (small order fee may apply on orders of less than $10) – to Cravers with their order through the Uber Eats app using promo code 1MILLIONSLIDERS beginning on July 30. The fast-food chain is also offering a new Harold & Kumar meal reflecting pricing from 2004 when the film was released. The meal is available to Uber Eats customers on July 30 and 31 and includes 30 Original Sliders, five small fries and four 21 oz. soft drinks for just $23.40.

Cravers can now order any of White Castle's coveted menu items, such as The Original Slider®, the plant-powered Impossible Slider, or even a Crave Case for those with the boldest of appetites, through the Uber Eats app. Beginning July 30, White Castle will be giving away...

Grubhub Reports Second Quarter 2019 Results

Grubhub Inc. (NYSE: GRUB), the nation's leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. The Company posted revenues of $325 million, which is a 36% year-over-year increase from $240 million in the second quarter of 2018. Gross Food Sales grew 20% year-over-year to $1.5 billion, up from $1.2 billion in the same period last year.

"The team continued executing in the second quarter, adding thousands of new, high-quality independent and enterprise restaurants and growing our active diner base to more than 20 million," said Matt Maloney, Grubhub founder and CEO. "We are excited about the trajectory of our two-sided marketplace – both in terms of geographic diversity and depth in individual markets. Restaurants are increasingly valuing the incremental sales and...

Walmart Begins Pilot with Autonomous Vehicle Company Gatik

To address consumer demand for convenience, Walmart is bringing the best of their grocery pickup and delivery service to communities across the United States. The company is testing new and innovative capabilities that will improve the business and shape the future of retail. Walmart has been exploring pilot options with self-driving car companies that include customer delivery as well as transporting goods between store locations. Today, Walmart has announced a new pilot with autonomous vehicle company Gatik.

In March, Arkansas passed legislation that allows self-driving vehicles to operate in the state. Through Gatik, Walmart is staying on the cutting edge of grocery pickup by testing the vehicles to move customers' orders on a two-mile route in Bentonville between stores. This will aid Walmart in learning more...

Starbucks Delivery to be Available Throughout the US in Early 2020

Today, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) announced plans to make Starbucks® Delivers available throughout the U.S. in early 2020 through an agreement with Uber Eats as the preferred delivery provider of Starbucks® items. The intention to expand follows an 11-market roll-out which demonstrated successful operational integration and received positive customer response to an effortless high-quality experience consistent with the Starbucks brand.

“We are driven to create new and unique digital experiences that are meaningful, valuable and convenient for our customers,” said Roz Brewer, group president and chief operating officer for Starbucks. “Partnering with Uber Eats helps us take another step towards...

Mobile Payment Trends Create Growth in Global Food E-Commerce

A country’s mobile payment usage will be an increasingly strong indicator for its food e-commerce market going forward, as consumer familiarity with making mobile payments is key for boosting online shopping, reports Packaged Facts in the recent market research study Global Food E-Commerce (published May 2019).

Research in the report reveals that:

• The rapidly growing penetration of smartphones means that an increasing share of total e-commerce transactions will be performed via mobile devices, rather than computers.
• Mobile devices are essential to omnichannel sales strategies that integrate online and offline shopping experiences.
• Mobile apps are the payment platforms used in cashierless grocery stores.

Mobile payments are central to online-to-offline grocery experiences such as Alibaba’s Hema Fresh and JD.com’s 7Fresh in China. U.S.-based Kroger and Walmart also offer...

McDonald’s Adds DoorDash as U.S. Delivery Partner

Today, McDonald’s USA and DoorDash announced a new partnership to expand the availability and accessibility of McDelivery beyond its current offering, launching first in the Houston, Texas area across more than 200 restaurants beginning July 29th.

“In a few short years, McDelivery, has become an important part of our growth and our customer-centric strategy,” said Chris Kempczinski, President of McDonald’s USA. “Building on the success of McDelivery in the US, we’re excited to make McDelivery accessible to customers on DoorDash, which is available in all 50 states and reaches...

Giant Food Announces Convenient New Giant Pickup Service 

Giant Food, the leading greater Washington D.C. regional grocery chain, announced today the launch of Giant Pickup, which will allow customers to place their grocery orders online and pick them up at a local store without ever leaving their cars. Giant Pickup will begin rolling out on July 1st and will be available at 100 stores in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Delaware by the end of the year.

With Giant Pickup, customers now have another option to suit their busy schedules, from shopping in-store to pickup and home delivery...

KFC Celebrates National Fried Chicken Day with Free Grubhub Delivery July 4-7

Kentucky Fried Chicken® has announced free delivery through delivery partner, Grubhub, to celebrate one of our favorite days of the year, National Fried Chicken Day (July 6). And, because the Colonel thinks every occasion is a good time for a bucket of Original Recipe®, the fried chicken experts are celebrating with free delivery all weekend long (July 4-7) – just in time for the 4th of July holiday weekend.

Heading to a family picnic, summer BBQ or pool party? Give the grill a rest and let the Colonel take the stress out of holiday cooking with a bucket of Original Recipe®, KFC’s world-famous secret blend of 11 herbs & spices. Since its origination in 1940, the Colonel’s secret recipe has been often imitated, but never duplicated, and...

Crowd Cow Imports the A5 Wagyu Japanese Packer Brisket as New Product Offering

Crowd Cow, the online marketplace that sources its meat directly from the top 1% of farms and ranches across the country, including Japan for its Wagyu products, announced today that they have exclusively imported a limited amount of Japanese A5 Wagyu "Packer Briskets" into the United States. These briskets, the popular cut for barbecuing that comes from the lower chest of the cow, have a unique cut plan, different from that of a domestic brisket, which lends itself to weighing in at over 30 pounds untrimmed. Even more rare and exclusive are the fewer than 20 Olive Wagyu Briskets from Kagawa that Crowd Cow is offering. The marbling and tenderness of authentic Japanese A5 Wagyu produces...

As Grocery Wars Heat Up, A Growing Number of Consumers Enlist in Ordering Groceries Online

The leading grocery retailers have been playing a game of one-upmanship when it comes to raising the bar on online ordering convenience. From offering grocery delivery to-your-door to same-day delivery through a variety of service modes, like drive-up pick-up, grocers are making shopping easier and an increasing number of consumers are responding. The percentage of U.S. consumers, ages 18 and above, who shopped online for groceries within a 30-day period, whether for delivery or pick-up in store, increased from 17 percent in the quarter ending November 2018 to 20 percent, or about 51 million consumers, in the quarter ending February 2019, reports The NPD Group.

Of those who shop online for groceries from brick and mortar or pure-play online grocers, 16 percent order their food and beverages for delivery. The option to order online and pick-up in store, also known as...

Uber Eats Partners with Olo to Simplify Third-Party Delivery for Thousands of Restaurants

Uber Eats today announced it has partnered with Olo, the leading digital food ordering platform for the restaurant industry, to integrate directly into the point-of-sale (POS) of leading restaurant brands via Olo Rails. An important distinction for restaurant brands, this partnership allows orders placed by consumers on the Uber Eats website or app to be injected directly into the order stream at the restaurant, drastically improving order accuracy and operational efficiencies for restaurant operators.

“We’re excited to partner with Olo,” said Liz Meyerdirk, Uber Eats Global Head of Business Development. “This integration will streamline the Eats ordering experience and...

Acosta Finds Grocery Delivery and Non-Traditional Grocery Channels are Gaining Popularity

With residents of the top 50 most populous cities comprising nearly 16 percent of the total U.S. population and city growth rates consistently topping those of suburban and rural areas, urban grocery shoppers are becoming an increasingly influential demographic.

Research released today in The Urban Grocery Shopper, the latest Hot Topic report from Acosta — a leading full-service sales and marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods industry — provides insights into the grocery shopping world of city dwellers, which varies significantly from that of suburbanites and those living in rural areas.

"For urban grocery shoppers, crowded stores are the norm so convenience is a major priority," said Colin Stewart, Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence at Acosta. "City dwellers are more likely than...

AmazonFresh Expands to Las Vegas with 1- And 2-Hour Delivery

Amazon today announced that AmazonFresh has expanded to Las Vegas. Starting today, Prime members in Las Vegas can shop tens of thousands products from meat and seafood to fresh produce and everyday essentials for ultrafast one- and two-hour delivery from AmazonFresh.

“We’re thrilled to introduce AmazonFresh to Prime members in Las Vegas,” said Stephenie Landry, Vice President, AmazonFresh and Prime Now. “Prime members tell us they want their stuff even faster. We're happy to deliver on that ask and can’t wait for customers in Las Vegas to take advantage of one- and two-hour delivery from AmazonFresh.”

With AmazonFresh, Prime members can combine grocery and other shopping into one seamless experience that easily fits into their busy lives. Customers can choose from tens of thousands of items across produce, meat, grocery, plus Amazon.com bestsellers from Amazon devices to electronics, health and personal care, home & kitchen, toys and more...

Dunkin' Begins Nationwide Delivery Rollout through Grubhub

More of America will now run on Dunkin' without ever having to leave their home or office. Dunkin' today announced that it is partnering with Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB), the nation's leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, to begin the rollout of its new Dunkin' Delivers service. As the first step in this launch, today more than 400 Dunkin' restaurants throughout New York City's five boroughs will now offer delivery through Seamless, Grubhub's New York brand. Following the initial launch, Dunkin' and Grubhub will look to expand the Dunkin' Delivers service to restaurants throughout other markets in the coming months, including in Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Using Seamless or Grubhub, people who live and work in New York City can enjoy their favorite Dunkin' coffees, espresso drinks, Cold Brew and frozen beverages – as well as donuts, breakfast sandwiches, bagels and more – delivered directly to them, wherever they are throughout the day. New Yorkers looking for a convenient Dunkin' delivery experience can simply open the Seamless or Grubhub mobile app or website, choose their favorites and...

Domino's and Nuro Partner to Bring Autonomous Pizza Delivery to Houston

Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, and Nuro, the robotics company transforming local commerce, are partnering on autonomous pizza delivery using the custom unmanned vehicle known as the R2 later this year. The global leader in pizza delivery will use Nuro's unmanned fleet to serve select Houston Domino's customers who place orders online. This partnership will expand Nuro's autonomous delivery operations, which have safely and successfully been running in the Houston metro area since March 2019.

"We are always looking for new ways to innovate and evolve the delivery experience for our customers," said Kevin Vasconi, Domino's executive vice president and chief information officer. "Nuro's vehicles are specially designed to optimize the food delivery experience, which makes them a valuable partner in our autonomous vehicle journey. The opportunity to bring...

While Restaurant Delivery gets All the Buzz, Digital Orders Overall Grow by Double-Digits

The growing access to foodservice delivery has garnered lots of attention from the marketplace and media, but while delivery grabs the spotlight, digital restaurant orders overall steadily grow by double-digits, reports The NPD Group. Restaurant digital orders, which are defined by meals or snacks ordered via mobile app, internet, or text message, have grown by 23 percent over the past four years and now represent 3.1 billion visits and $26.8 billion dollars. NPD forecasts digital orders to continue to grow by double-digits through 2020 with growth across all service modes including delivery, on premises, and carryout, according to NPD’s Delivering Digital Convenience report.

Although convenience is understandably the top reason consumers choose digital ordering, other top reasons include: no waiting; the ability to order, pay, and have it ready; ordering at my “own” pace; and earning rewards/feeling valued. In addition to these reasons...

Chili's Partners Exclusively with DoorDash

Chili's® Grill & Bar, a leader in the casual dining industry, is also leading the category in off-premise innovation. To build on that momentum, starting today, Brinker International, Inc., the parent company of Chili's and Maggiano's Little Italy®, has entered into an exclusive agreement with DoorDash, the nation's largest on-demand destination for door-to-door delivery, that brings delivery of Chili's favorites to Guests from more than 1,000 participating restaurants nationwide.

"We chose DoorDash as an exclusive partner because they have a leading market share in areas where Chili's restaurants are located and have a fast growing delivery platform," said Wyman Roberts, chief executive officer of Brinker and president of Chili's. "While we tested delivery with several partners, DoorDash integrated seamlessly into our operations, demonstrated the ability to drive incremental sales and provided...

RestaurantOwner.com: Restaurant Delivery Report 

RestaurantOwner.com's published results of their 2019 Restaurant Delivery Survey focuses on the growing trend of restaurant delivery and summarizes input gathered from nearly 1,000 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their experiences with self-delivery and third-party service providers, and their insights regarding restaurant delivery.

Survey Results:

Restaurant delivery has become available in most independent restaurants, with 57% of operators offering some form of delivery. Moreover, 16% of the operators without delivery plan to add the service within a year. Of operators who offered delivery, 31% used only third-party services, 12% operated in-house delivery services, and 14% relied on...

Good Eggs Releases Results of Family Food Fix Survey 

Good Eggs, the online market that delivers absurdly fresh groceries, today announced the results of its Family Food Fix Survey, which takes a pulse on the perspectives and behaviors of today's consumers when it comes to the necessary task of grocery shopping. Additionally, the findings reveal insights into meal kit usage, the reality of preparing multiple dinners every night, and what families across America want most for dinner.

"From grocery shopping to getting dinner on the table, feeding a family has become a time-consuming struggle for today's busy parents," said Jaime Nessel, Vice President of Assortment of Good Eggs. "Online grocery delivery services can provide significant time savings to families. At Good Eggs, we provide a complete, yet curated assortment of local products, absurdly fresh local produce and meat...

Guests can Now Order P.F. Chang's with Uber Eats Across the U.S.

Enjoying P.F. Chang's menu of made-from-scratch favorites just got even easier. Now, guests across the U.S. can order P.F. Chang's using their Uber Eats app.

"Uber Eats is one of the fastest growing off-premise delivery companies in the U.S.," said Tana Davila, P.F. Chang's senior vice president. "We are excited to partner with them and make our food even more accessible to current and new customers."

Uber Eats is fully integrated throughout P.F. Chang's restaurant point-of-sale system, ensuring seamless order placement and timely delivery of orders from the entire made-from-scratch menu in restaurants across the country. P.F. Chang's will continue to offer...

Wegmans Joins Forces with DoorDash to Power Wegmans Meals 2GO Delivery

Wegmans today announced that it's teaming up with the largest and fastest growing, last-mile logistics platform, DoorDash, for delivery of the supermarket's popular restaurant-quality meals available in the new Wegmans Meals 2GO app. The venture is now live at the Dulles (Sterling) store in northern Virginia, and the Pittsford, East Ave., and Perinton stores in Rochester, NY. Two more Rochester-area stores, Penfield. and Holt Road, are set to go live on April 30. Wegmans Meals 2GO will roll out to more than 40 stores by year's end, with more to follow in 2020.

Wegmans Meals 2GO orders for lunch, dinner or anytime-in-between can be delivered through DoorDash within a roughly five-mile radius of participating stores. Delivery is available on orders of $20 or more, with diners able to choose from sushi, pizza, wings, subs, salads, soups, hot wokery (Asian), ready-to-heat meals, desserts and...

Grubhub Reports First Quarter 2019 Results

Grubhub Inc. (NYSE: GRUB), the nation's leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019. The Company posted revenues of $324 million, which is a 39% year-over-year increase from $233 million in the first quarter of 2018. Gross Food Sales grew 21% year-over-year to $1.5 billion, up from $1.2 billion in the same period last year.

"We are extremely proud of our entire team for another fantastic quarter of execution - record new diner growth, thousands of new quality restaurants added to our platform and a sixth consecutive quarter of organic order acceleration. Even with our recent ramp in growth investments, adjusted EBITDA per order improved during the quarter, underscoring our ability to grow in a long-term sustainable manner...

Worldwide Market Insights Study: Online Food Delivery Services Sees Rapid Growth 

The "Global Online Food Delivery Services Market Size, Market Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2018 To 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Online food delivery services market was valued at US$ 81.56 Bn in 2017 and will be growing at a CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026.

In recent years, online food delivery has witnessed rapid growth. The rise of the digital technology has reshaped the food delivery services market and consumers expect ...

Retail Feedback Study: Grocery Shoppers Digital Interaction Strengthening

The Retail Feedback Group (RFG), a leader in providing actionable stakeholder feedback, today released the 2019 U.S. Supermarket Digital & Social Engagement Study.

Digital Interaction with Supermarkets Strengthening

More than six out of ten (63%) of supermarket shoppers interact with their supermarket digitally, up from the 56% found in 2017. More than half check a digital circular (55%), while smaller percentages are building...

Checkers & Rally’s Launches Deepest and Most Franchisee-Friendly Delivery Platform in QSR

Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants, Inc., today announced the launch of the brand’s new delivery platform, the most comprehensive and franchisee-friendly delivery system in all of QSR. The platform brings five national delivery services – Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, Grubhub and Amazon Restaurants – together under one single, seamless point-of-sale (POS) system. Integrations via Olo will give guests the ability to order the brand’s “Crazy Good Food” from their favorite delivery service, while giving franchisees and restaurant operators a profitable and operationally simple way to fulfill those orders.

“While some of the biggest brands in QSR have committed to a single delivery service, we wanted to give Checkers & Rally’s guests more ways to bring our amazing burgers, famous seasoned fries and exciting flavors to their front doors ...

Papa John's Announces National Partnership with DoorDash 

Today, Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) announced a national partnership with DoorDash, the fastest-growing on-demand destination for door-to-door delivery, offering delivery from more than 1,400 restaurants. To celebrate the launch, lucky pizza lovers can get $0 delivery during St. Patrick’s Day weekend from March 15-17 on all orders over $10 delivered through the platform at participating locations.

By working with partners like DoorDash, Papa John's continues to find ways to reach new customer segments and expand its off-premise offerings through delivery and takeout.

“This partnership extends our continued commitment to meet customers wherever they are and provide simple, easy ordering for guests in addition to our own ...

Tillster Serves the Stats on QSR and Fast-Casual Delivery

Delivery is on a meteoric rise in QSR and fast-casual dining. People are willing to pay a premium to get food without picking it up. In situations when restaurants don't provide delivery on their own, firms like DoorDash, UberEATS, and Postmates have built themselves on connecting consumers and restaurants across the last mile.

 

A recent study by digital ordering solutions firm Tillster aimed to summarize consumer preferences on food delivery. They found that in the past year more than half of all QSR and fast casual customers placed a delivery online, and a majority of customers would order more if delivery was available.

 

One of the biggest takeaways from Tillster's study was consumer preference for first-party ordering solutions. Consumers don't want to look for a restaurant on ...

Introducing Knick Knacks: Blue Apron’s Newest and Most Flexible Culinary Offering

Blue Apron, known for creating incredible meal experiences, today introduced its most flexible culinary innovation to date: Blue Apron Knick Knacks™, a new line of recipe solutions that give consumers the flexibility to combine the protein and produce of their choice with specialty, pre-portioned, refrigerated ingredients and step-by-step recipes to enjoy a delicious meal for two.

“Our promise, through every product we create, is to inspire and support home cooks by bringing quality, discovery, and convenience to their meal experiences. We are proud to introduce Knick Knacks as our latest culinary innovation, which gives consumers the ‘secret sauce’––from our test kitchen to their home––to create a delicious meal, while allowing for the flexibility to ...

Taco Bell Announces Nationwide Delivery 

Taco Bell fans have been wishing for delivery for years and now it's coming true. Today, Taco Bell is announcing nationwide delivery available via Grubhub, uniquely designed for an even faster experience. And for a limited time, all Taco Bell orders over $12.00 come with free delivery excluding tax.

To ensure faster delivery, Taco Bell has integrated its point-of-sale system directly into the Grubhub app, which means pickup is timed to the moment an order is ready, helping precious cargo like Bean Burritos and Crunchwrap Supremes® make it to the doorstep hot, fresh and Fire Sauce-ready. Grubhub is also bringing more drivers to areas with Taco Bell restaurants so more fans can satisfy their cravings from home ...

Kroger and Home Chef Expand Nationwide Retail Rollout and Launch Meal Kit Feature for Online Orders

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) and Home Chef announced today the introduction of retail meal kits to new cities, bringing the weekly rotating meal solution to 500 additional Kroger Family of Stores across the country. Additionally, homechef.com has launched a customizable meal kit feature for online orders, allowing customers to have more flexibility in deciding what's for dinner by providing the choice to change and upgrade recipe ingredients. The feature—the first among leading meal kit brands—offers unprecedented variety for customers.

"Kroger continues to redefine the customer experience and provide new ways to shop for, prep and cook meals through exciting brick-and-mortar and digital experiences," said Robert Clark, Kroger's senior vice president of merchandising. "Last October, Kroger introduced Home Chef retail meal kits, and ...

How U.S. Millennials Are Shaping Online FMCG Shopping Trends

There’s no denying the impact and influence that digital technologies have on our lives, particularly among younger generations. But even in a world that is steadily heading online, it’s important for manufacturers, brands and retailers to understand that brick-and-mortar environments are not fading in importance—even among Millennials.

According to the latest Nielsen Category Shopping Fundamentals study, as detailed in our recent Millennials on Millennials report, 60% of U.S. consumers’ FMCG decisions are still made at the shelf. This is a key insight for retailers, but so is understanding the influence that digital has on influencing consumers on their way to the shelf. Not surprisingly, Millennials are more active on social media than older generations, and this affects the way they look for information as they shop. For example...

Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen Outlines Five Exciting Predictions for the Future of Retail

The Kroger Co. Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen provided his outlook on the future of retail at the NRF 2019: Retail's Big Show in New York City during a dynamic keynote presentation themed Restocking the future: Kroger's insatiable appetite to play and win the long game. CNBC "Squawk on the Street" and "Closing Bell" Anchor Sara Eisen moderated the 30-minute conversation on Sunday.

Here are Mr. McMullen's five predictions for the future of retail. 

Retail Won't Go Away

The industry experiences disruption and transformation every few years, but it's happening at a more rapid speed than ever before...

Chipotle Launches Lifestyle Bowls so Customers can Achieve New Year's Wellness Resolutions

Paleo, Keto, Whole30® and Double Protein-approved options are now available for delivery exclusively through Chipotle's mobile app and website

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced the launch of a new collection of Lifestyle Bowls, just in time for New Year's Resolutions. The new line includes a Paleo Salad Bowl, Keto Salad Bowl, Whole30® Salad Bowl and Double Protein Bowl, all exclusively available through the mobile app and on the Chipotle website for in-restaurant pickup or delivery. These first-to-category, diet-driven menu offerings are helping those who have committed to living a healthier lifestyle by making it easy to order delicious bowls that only contain the real ingredients permitted by certain diet regimens.

One notable expert showing support for the launch is Whole30® co-founder Melissa Hartwig Urban. "We are always looking for ways to make the Whole30 easier and more accessible, and travel has always been a pain point. It's not always easy to find ...

Grubhub Releases Annual "Year In Food" Report Detailing Most Popular Dining Trends Of 2018

While vegan-friendly bean burritos top the chart, chicken rules the roost when it comes to food preferences

Grubhub, the nation's leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, today released findings from its annual "Year in Food" report. To find out what food trends shaped the year (or didn't), Grubhub analyzed millions of orders placed by more than 16 million diners on its platform and surveyed consumers across the country on their ordering tastes and eating habits.

Key takeaways include

The Final Piece of the Online Grocery Puzzle

Robotics startup Myrmex recently announced plans to launch their fully automated grocery pickup system to the mass market. Boosted by the platform's innovative, patented design, the company has already received a great deal of attention from top EU industry players and is poised to make a significant disruption.

"Customers are increasingly looking digital in the quest for greater grocery shopping convenience," insisted Founder Ioannis Kanellos. "Myrmex goes a step further by leveraging the power of mobile robotic units and arm manipulators to deliver online orders faster than ever."

The past decade has been ripe with innovations that seek to create a better experience for the grocery shopper. What started with platforms like Shipt, Instacart and AmazonFresh has since evolved into ... 

Pizza Hut U.S. to Acquire Online Ordering Provider QuikOrder

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Acquisition of Long-Time Pizza Hut Technology Partner Expands Digital Ordering Capabilities

Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), today announced that its U.S. business has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire QuikOrder, a leading online ordering software and service provider for the restaurant industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it marks one of Pizza Hut's largest acquisitions to date.

By acquiring QuikOrder's online ordering capabilities, Pizza Hut U.S. will improve its ability to deliver an easy and personalized online ordering experience and accelerate digital innovation across its base of more than 6,000 restaurants in the U.S. In 2018, approximately half of Pizza Hut U.S. sales were ...

Taziki’s Mediterranean Café Launches New Innovative App

Customers to Receive Offers And Better Ordering Experience

Taziki's Mediterranean Café Launches New Innovative AppBirmingham, AL (Restaurant News Release) Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, recently named one of Inc. 5000’s fastest growing companies, has seen an impressive rise in online ordering and to-go sales in 2018.

During the past three years, the company has experienced an over 200% increase in the amount of online and to-go orders.

As a result, Taziki’s is focusing on efficiency and improving the customer experience with the ordering process. The restaurant is working to create more convenient ways to order ahead, both with a mobile app and online ordering options ...

Sysco’s Innovative E-Commerce Platform Partners with Frieda’s Specialty Produce

Sysco Corporation (NYSE: SYY), the leading global foodservice distribution company, announced today that its e-Commerce platform, Supplies on the Fly, has partnered with Frieda’s Specialty Produce to offer next-day delivery of specialty and exotic produce items to customers across the United States.

Exclusively for Sysco customers, Supplies on the Fly is an online ordering platform designed with convenience in mind, enabling foodservice operators to order the restaurant essentials they need, bill it to their Sysco invoice and get it delivered directly to their door. With over 170,000 products...

Nearly 50% of US Consumers Will Shop Online for Groceries This Thanksgiving

Twice as many people will purchase groceries online this holiday season vs last; popular items are canned goods and beverages – not turkey and pie

RichRelevance, the global leader in Experience Personalization, today announced key findings from its Digital Grocery Survey: 2018 Holiday Edition consumer survey. The study finds that more than 4 in 10 Americans (44%) plan to shop online for some or all of the groceries they need for their Thanksgiving or holiday meal this year. This is more than twice as many people who shopped online for Thanksgiving groceries in 2017.

Amazon dominates as the top online grocery destination for shoppers (57%), followed by big-box retailers such as Walmart and Target (48%). Traditional supermarkets like Safeway and Kroger will attract a significant – but quite smaller – number of online shoppers (30%) this holiday...

This Week in Retail: Thanksgiving Outlook 2018

Thanksgiving is next week, and some supermarket shelves are already being cleared of some key essentials. As grocers restock in an attempt to keep up with demand, we have the latest outlook on what Turkey Day 2018 will bring.

The Show-Stopper

First, let’s take a look at the bird. ‘Tis the feast of fowl after all.  Buying opportunities at retail have more than doubled since last week, currently claiming 16 percent of total protein features. Turkey has seemingly taken circular share away from chicken, falling to just 12 percent this week versus 19 percent a week ago.

Average regional ad prices for frozen turkeys range from...

FreshDirect Reveals Top Ten Food Trends for 2019

Company’s food experts forecast up-and-coming products, ingredients, and influences

FreshDirect, the Northeast’s leading online fresh food grocer, today announced its top ten food trends for 2019. The trends list was curated by FreshDirect and FoodKick’s in-house teams of food and wine* experts.

“Our FreshDirect and FoodKick food experts are constantly working with farmers, fishermen, artisans, and producers to source high-quality, great tasting products for our customers,” said Scott Crawford, Chief Merchandising Officer at FreshDirect. “These deep relationships paired with FoodKick’s ability to work with emerging brands place us at the cutting edge of what’s happening in food and we’re excited to announce what we see as the major trends and influences coming in 2019 and beyond.”

FreshDirect’s top 10 trends for 2019...

Instacart Unveils National Expansion of New "Instacart Pickup" Grocery Service

Instacart, the North American leader in online groceries, today announced the national expansion of Instacart Pickup, a new grocery click-and-collect service. Instacart Pickup gives customers the convenience of both delivery and/or pickup options, allowing them to order through Instacart and pick up their groceries from their favorite retailer. Instacart will be working with existing and new retail partners to add the Instacart Pickup service to participating partner stores nationwide over the coming months and throughout 2019.

The national rollout of Instacart Pickup follows a multi-month product pilot the Company offered customers to enlist their feedback on the new service. Based on their positive response, the Company has deepened its partnerships with...

Shipt Expands Same-Day Delivery With Lowes Foods in the Carolinas

Membership-Based Service to Expand Same-Day Delivery with Local Retailer to North and South Carolina Residents

Shipt, a leading same-day delivery marketplace, today announced it will expand same-day delivery of an assortment of groceries and household essentials with Lowes Foods across the following North and South Carolina markets starting Nov. 1:

• North Carolina: Charlotte, The Triad, The Triangle, Wilmington
• South Carolina: Charleston, Columbia, Greenville

Building on years of growth and momentum across North and South Carolina, this expansion gives nearly three million households across the region access to products delivered by Shipt in as little as one hour. To celebrate the announcement, new Shipt members will receive a 2 week free trial and $15 off their first order...

Meijer Expands Home Delivery to Include Store Pick-Up Option Across Midwest

Meijer announced the expansion of its Meijer Home Delivery program to include a pick-up option at stores across the Midwest, building on a chainwide initiative to offer customers multiple ways to conveniently shop its stores.

“Customers are always looking for ways to manage busy schedules and maximize their time, so we believe offering pick up enhances our Meijer Home Delivery program, especially around the holiday shopping season,” said Keith Rothstein, Group Vice President of Merchandise Services. “Being able to choose between store-to-door delivery and pick up is another personalized option that ultimately makes it easier than ever to shop at our stores.”

The popular service is now available at 227 Meijer supercenters in six states, offering nearly 11 million households the flexibility to shop anytime, from anywhere, and have a personalized shopper to hand-select and deliver your order store-to-door, or...

Just in Time for the Holidays, Walmart Announces Major Improvements to its Marketplace

When customers shop Walmart.com, they trust us for low prices and free two-day shipping* on the items they buy every day. And, regardless if the item is shipped by Walmart or a third-party, marketplace seller, we know they expect the same, seamless shopping experience.

With that in mind, we’re making two significant changes to our marketplace shopping experience. We’re working with our marketplace sellers to make millions of items available for free two-day shipping without a membership fee and simplifying the returns process for items purchased from marketplace sellers, including launching the ability to facilitate returns of these items at any one of our 4,700 stores. The improvements will begin to roll out this November, just in time for the holiday season...