Giant Eagle Partners with RangeMe to Boost Online Product Assortment

Giant Eagle, Inc. announced the launch of a new initiative to grow its Giant Eagle Marketplace eCommerce channel with a greater assortment of new and emerging products. As one of the nation's largest retailers, Giant Eagle will look to accelerate and scale product sourcing for this initiative by partnering with RangeMe, the industry standard online product discovery platform for retailers and suppliers.

"Giant Eagle Marketplace allows us to extend our aisles and assortments in our established online platform to offer brands and products that previously may not have been..."

New Acosta Report Details the Evolving Impact of COVID-19 on Consumer Behavior

Acosta, a global integrated sales and marketing services provider in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, today released its latest COVID-19 Shopper Insights report, COVID-19 Shopper Insights: Which Habits Are Sticking? The report examines pandemic-related shopping behaviors that are continuing to impact the CPG industry as COVID-19 evolves. According to Acosta's research, about 45% of consumers have increased their online grocery shopping and reduced trips to traditional CPG channels since pre-pandemic, indicating convenience and safety remain important considerations for consumers.

"COVID-19 has significantly impacted consumer behavior and accelerated trends we were seeing prior to March 2020," said Colin Stewart, Executive Vice President, Business Intelligence at Acosta. "While many believe we're headed towards normalcy, it is highly likely that...

Walmart Launches Walmart GoLocal, a New Delivery as a Service Business

Walmart announced the creation of a new line of business – Walmart GoLocal – that extends its expertise in delivering goods to customers to businesses of all sizes.

“In an era where customers have come to expect speed and reliability, it’s more important than ever for businesses to work with a service provider that understands a merchant’s needs,” said John Furner, president and CEO, Walmart U.S. “Walmart has spent years building and scaling commerce capabilities that support our network of more than 4,700 stores and we look forward to helping..."

Online Grocery Shoppers are Willing to Pay Double the Fee to Improve Delivery Time by One Hour 

The long-held assumption that speed is the most important online delivery factor for e-commerce customers is upended by new research released in an article today by MIT Sloan Management Review. During the early COVID-19 lockdowns, committing to a speedy delivery seemed particularly important. Now, as many consumers emerge from the pandemic, they care more about being able to select a specific delivery day and a precise delivery time when it's convenient for them to take in their groceries.

A new analysis finds that a grocery customer is willing to wait 10.8 hours longer for a delivery if the delivery window is one hour shorter, and will wait an additional 7.5 hours longer if the delivery can be...

Grubhub and Yandex SDG Launch Robot Delivery Technology at The Ohio State University

Grubhub, a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery platform on college campuses, and Yandex Self-Driving Group (SDG), a leading autonomous vehicles developer inside Yandex, one of Europe's largest internet companies, will roll out delivery via Yandex's robots at its first college campus — The Ohio State University (OSU).

More than 60,000 hungry Buckeyes will be able to order their favorite foods from on-campus dining locations via the Grubhub app and have them delivered by one of 50 Yandex robots operating at the...

Albertsons Companies Bring Grocery Shopping Through a Suite of New Revolutionized Digital Offerings 

Albertsons Companies has set out to reintroduce themselves to shoppers through new and refreshed offerings that make the grocery shopping experience more enjoyable and convenient. Today the company unveiled three new innovations: the launch of the free Deals & Delivery app, their new “Albertsons for U” shopper loyalty program and FreshPass™, their exclusive unlimited grocery delivery service with member-only perks.

“We have been working hard to revolutionize Albertsons Companies’ digital offerings and enhance all aspects of the food experience and journey,” said Chris Rupp, EVP...

Olo Teams Up with Grubhub to Streamline Delivery and Digital Orders for Restaurants

Olo, a leading on-demand commerce platform powering the restaurant industry’s digital transformation, announced an engagement with Grubhub, a leading U.S. food-ordering and delivery marketplace, to integrate digital orders directly into the point-of-sale (POS) of tens of thousands of restaurant brand locations via Olo Rails.

Rails is Olo’s solution that makes it easy for restaurant brands to publish their menus, prices and location information on participating third-party marketplaces in order to drive incremental sales, simplify workflows and manage orders from multiple channels into one place. The solution also allows orders placed by consumers on the Grubhub website or app to be injected directly into the order stream at the restaurant to improve order accuracy and...

Kroger and Kitchen United Partner to Provide Customers Meal Pick Up and Delivery from Restaurants

Kroger and ghost kitchen industry leader Kitchen United announced a partnership to offer customers freshly prepared, on-demand restaurant food.

"Our customers' appetite for fresh, on-demand meals continues to accelerate, and we remain focused on offering new and innovative products that provide anything, anytime, anywhere," said Dan De La Rosa, Kroger's group vice president, of fresh merchandising "Our partnership with Kitchen United taps into restaurants' growing use of off-premise kitchen space to increase...

HelloFresh Market Launches in U.S., Expanding Beyond Weeknight Dinners to Everyday Essentials

HelloFresh announced the launch of HelloFresh Market, an online store offering customers a range of add-ons, from quick meals to pantry essentials. The Market gives customers a convenient way to get breakfast options, ready-to-heat meals or everyday items – such as fresh produce, snacks, desserts, sides, spice blends, grocery essentials, and more – delivered to their doorstep simply by adding them to their weekly HelloFresh order. The range of Market offerings will be rolling out to all customers across...

7-Eleven Delivers Buy One, Get One Free Wing Deals on National Chicken Wing Day

To  celebrate National Chicken Wing Day on July 29, America's largest convenience retailer is offering buy one, get one free five-count bone-in wings via 7–Eleven Delivery found on the 7NOW® delivery app and the 7–Eleven app. 7-Eleven's delivery time is almost as unbeatable as its chicken and customers can choose between flavors like spicy, regular and buffalo.

Participating 7-Eleven® stores are also offering a buy one, get one free offer on boneless chicken wing skewers to 7Rewards® loyalty members. Available in hot honey, sweet sriracha and...

Thighstop's Take on National Chicken Wing Day: 'Save a Wing, Eat a Thigh'

This National Chicken Wing Day on July 29 comes amidst a national chicken wing crisis. Restaurant brands are widely bowing out this year, and consumers are left wondering where they will get their fix. But Thighstop, Wingstop's new virtual food brand, is giving the famous holiday new flavor by repositioning it as "Thighstop Thigh Day."

On one of the more popular food holidays among fans and foodies alike, Thighstop is determined to keep the celebration going by offering two free bone-in thighs with qualifying purchases on July 29. Available through Thighstop.com or DoorDash, the two free bone-in thighs are...

Packaged Facts: The Future of Grocery 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of consumer behavior and daily life. In 2020, many consumers were suddenly faced with more time at home.

• Office workers and those with jobs that can be done from home began to work from home full-time.
• Many schools and daycares closed, meaning that students and children were now spending their days at home.
• Restaurants, cafeterias, and other foodservice operations closed to dine-in service in many areas.
• With these changes, families across the U.S. were eating at home more often, cooking more, and sometimes feeding more people than usual throughout the day. As a result...

Uber and Costco Kick Off Grocery Delivery Pilot in Texas

Uber Technologies have entered a delivery pilot with 25 locations across the state of Texas where Costco members could have their groceries delivered within hours, if not minutes, with Uber and Uber Eats. Over the coming weeks, 7 additional Costco warehouses will be available to Uber users via Uber and Uber Eats mobile apps. The minimum order amount is $35 and delivery is free for Uber Pass and Eats Pass holders. This is Uber's first pilot with a food wholesaler in the United States.

Today's news follows Uber's recent announcement of their first national grocery partnership in the US, with Albertson's Co., which more than doubled the availability of Uber's grocery offering with...

Uber Accelerates National Grocery Availability Across the U.S.

Today, Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER) announced that its on-demand and scheduled grocery delivery is now available to Uber and Uber Eats customers in over 400 cities and towns across the U.S., including major markets like San Francisco, New York City, and Washington DC. This marks Uber’s first major grocery expansion in the U.S., more than doubling the availability of the offering this week, and accelerating its grocery rollout this year with a 1,200-store partnership with the Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI)...

Giant Food is Now Accepting EBT Payments on Online Pickup and Delivery Orders

Giant Food announced that individuals and families using SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits now have the option to pay with an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card when placing online orders for Giant Pickup and Giant Delivers throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.

The new user-friendly experience offers customers the option to add their EBT card to their account on Giantfood.com and begin shopping using their SNAP funds. While browsing online aisles, SNAP customers can sort products to show eligible items and a "SNAP Eligible" label will appear within...

SpartanNash to Open New Micro-Fulfillment Center to Better Serve Online Grocery Shoppers

Grocery retailer and distributor SpartanNash announced plans to open its first SpartanNash Micro-Fulfillment Center, located at 5199 68th St. SE in Caledonia, Mich. The 55,000-square-foot facility will hold 16,000 products and pick and pack Fast Lane orders for 24 Ada Fresh Market, D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare and Forest Hills Foods stores throughout West Michigan, primarily in the Grand Rapids and Holland area.

“Fast Lane has been a tremendous value-add for our store guests as the pandemic heightened the importance of safe, efficient grocery shopping, pickup and...

Grubhub Doubles Down on Its Commitment to Supporting Restaurants with The Grubhub Guarantee

Grubhub, a leading U.S. food-ordering and delivery marketplace, announced the Grubhub Guarantee, the company's newest feature promising diners on-time delivery and the lowest price relative to competitors, or Grubhub will make it right with Grubhub Perks for free food.

In a study of thousands of consumers, Grubhub looked at what mattered most to diners, and on-time delivery came in as one of the top factors when choosing a food delivery platform. With the Grubhub Guarantee, Grubhub is standing behind on-time delivery and lowest price in order to facilitate...

US Food Retail: Where Did Consumers Go During Covid-19? 

While the fact that food retailers have benefited enormously from stay-at-home orders and restaurant closures is hardly news, a deeper look into credit/debit card transactions reveals their different impacts across food retail categories in both brick-and-mortar and online environments. We translated these data points into six learnings from the most eventful year in the food industry in generations, as well as into insights as to how players can sustain the momentum in a post-Covid economy.

- Online is the big winner, but summer may bring a temporary halt. Recent data indicates a likely temporary halt to this expansion in Q2 2021, as cases...

Subway Debuts Largest Menu Update in Brand's History

Subway restaurants announced the biggest changes in the brand's history, making improvements to almost every core menu item and introducing important digital upgrades that elevate the guest experience. The Eat Fresh Refresh™ arrives in U.S. restaurants nationwide on July 13, and is marked with unprecedented moments, including participating Subway restaurants across the country closing for a Refresh Break and a one million sub sandwich giveaway to encourage people to come see and taste the changes.

Starting on July 13, the Eat Fresh Refresh comes to life in all U.S. Subway restaurants. The more than 20 menu updates include...

Grubhub Releases Third Annual State of the Plate Report

As we approach a new normal and restaurants reopen, there's a lot to look forward to for the rest of the year. Before looking ahead, let's rewind to see how diners ate their way through the last six months. Grubhub, part of leading global online food delivery marketplace Just Eat Takeaway.com, launched the third annual "State of the Plate" report. Looking at trends from hundreds of thousands average daily orders, Grubhub's mid-year report checks in on what has shaped 2021 thus far, including the top trending foods, popular restaurants across the country, and what we can expect to see more of in the second half of the year.

Unlike 2020, diners opted for the plant-based versions of delivery classics so far in 2021. And while last year's top food, the wildly popular...

Jollibee Announces the Launch of New Jollibee Ordering App

Jollibee announced the launch of its new Jollibee Ordering App. The ordering platform allows new customers and Jollibee fans to order the brand's food directly from their mobile devices. The app supports orders for delivery and in-store pickup and is live across the United States and Canada now via the Apple App Store and Google Play.

To celebrate the launch of the new app, Jollibee is running a two-week promotion giving customers the brand's Peach Mango Pie for free on every order placed with an account through the new platform. This offer can be redeemed by entering the promo code "JoyOnline" at checkout. The promotion is currently...

DoorDash and Beyond Meat Introduce Limited Edition Summer Grilling Kits for On-Demand Delivery

DoorDash announced a partnership with Beyond Meat, a leader in plant-based meat, to offer limited-edition, July 4th grilling kits to help customers host the ultimate BBQ featuring the new Beyond Burger®. The kits are available exclusively on DoorDash for on-demand delivery from DashMart, a new type of convenience store owned, operated, and curated by DoorDash.

As many people prepare for a summer of grilling and gathering, the kit also provides a seamless way for consumers to get their grilling essentials without taking a last-minute trip to the grocery store. According to a national consumer survey that polled 1,000 U.S. adults...

Domino's Rolls Out Carside Delivery 2-Minute Guarantee
Domino's Pizza is launching a new guarantee to offer customers the most convenient carryout experience possible. Domino's Carside Delivery 2-Minute Guarantee is simple: order Domino's Carside Delivery online, check in when you arrive, and as soon as your order is ready, a Domino's team member will head to your car in less than two minutes or your next pizza is free.

Domino's and DraftKings Inc., a leading sports entertainment and technology company, have launched Domino's Carside Delivery 2-Minute Guarantee Over/Under Challenge as well, giving customers the chance to predict if Domino's Carside Delivery nationwide will be quicker than...

DoorDash and Albertsons Companies Partner to Launch Access to On-Demand Grocery Delivery

DoorDash and Albertsons Companies are announcing a new partnership to offer on-demand grocery delivery from nearly 2,000 well-known Albertsons banner stores across the country including Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, and more from the DoorDash marketplace app.

As expectations for convenience, speed and ease continue to grow, consumers can now order groceries and essentials on-demand for delivery within an hour through DoorDash's top-rated marketplace with no time slot, queues or minimum order size required. Albertsons will offer more than...

Wingstop Launches Virtual Kitchen Thighstop

Thighstop, the new thigh concept with more than 1,400 locations nationwide, is addressing consumer's fear of a chicken wing shortage head-on by hacking chicken wing brand Wingstop and giving thighs the attention they deserve. Beginning today, fans nationwide can enjoy tasty new options available on Thighstop.com and through the brand's exclusive delivery partner DoorDash.

With a focused menu designed to keep taste buds craving more, Thighstop encourages guests to try thighs, which are one of the juiciest and most flavorful parts of the chicken. Chicken fans can now enjoy delicious, crispy thighs, served naked and sauced and tossed in 11 bold, distinctive and craveable flavors – the same 11 flavors that catapulted Wingstop to flavor fame. In addition to bone-in thighs...

Resorts World Las Vegas and Grubhub Team Up to Introduce Mobile Ordering Experience

Resorts World Las Vegas announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Grubhub, a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery platform, to become the first resort to offer Grubhub's advanced ordering technology. Through On The Fly at Resorts World powered by Grubhub, guests can conveniently order and charge the cost to their room or credit card via the Grubhub app from the resort's 40 food and beverage concepts and select retail shops for pickup or delivery to guest rooms as well as the resort's 5.5-acre pool complex.

"Our partnership with Grubhub further expands our goal of providing guests with first-of-its-kind experiences at the resort," said Scott Sibella, President of Resorts World Las Vegas. "Resorts World Las Vegas is proud to be the first resort to...

SpartanNash Announces More Perks, Greater Value for Online Grocery Shoppers

As part of its commitment to make online shopping for groceries accessible, affordable and convenient, Fortune 400 grocery retailer and distributor SpartanNash Company announced expanded benefits available exclusively for its Fast Lane subscribers.

Annual Fast Lane subscriptions are available for $49 per year and include free, unlimited curbside pickup at any SpartanNash store that offers Fast Lane online grocery shopping (a $4.95-per-order savings). Now, Fast Lane subscribers can save even more with...

DoorDash Expands To Japan

DoorDash the largest on-demand logistics platform for door-to-door delivery in the U.S., announced its official launch in Japan, beginning with Sendai. This marks the company's first market expansion in Asia and third country outside the U.S., including Australia and Canada.

As DoorDash continues to invest in international growth in its commitment to empower local economies, Japan, one of the most restaurant-dense countries in the world, offers a unique market opportunity for the company to support local businesses with...

Nathan’s Famous Launches Brand’s First Natural Casing Footlong Hot Dog

Nathan’s Famous announced the creation of its first footlong hot dog. The footlong hot dog features all the makings of a Nathan’s Famous hot dog – the natural casing and the Nathan’s Famous secret spice recipe.

"Indulgence isn’t a bad thing, especially when it comes to a Nathan’s Famous hot dog,” states James Walker, Senior Vice President, Restaurants. “Whether you like it plain, or with just a little Nathan’s Famous mustard, or you go all out with our world-famous chili cheese dog, a Nathan’s Famous hot dog is certainly...

NRF Chief Economist Says 'Satellite Account' Would Better Measure Retail Performance

National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz today backed a recommendation that federal agencies should create a “satellite account” to better assess the performance of the retail industry, saying traditional statistical measurements do not accurately reflect the industry’s contribution to the economy amid the increase in online shopping and other changes.

“In recent years, critics have claimed the retail industry is facing an existential crisis, that retail is not growing and that we are entering – if not already in – a retail apocalypse,” Kleinhenz said. “This is not an accurate picture, and the analysis driving this conclusion is incomplete. But why has this become...

Most British Online Grocery Shoppers Plan to Continue Online Grocery Shopping After the Pandemic 

The great online grocery shopping boom is here to stay as 90% of current online grocery shoppers plan to keep shopping for their groceries online once the peak of COVID-19 passes. Meanwhile, just 5% of these shoppers say they are planning to stop doing so.

An impressive three in five (59%) Brits are online grocery shoppers, up from 50% in 2019 – this represents the highest level of growth recorded in the past decade. In addition to user growth, the category is experiencing increased usage from existing users, with over half (53%) of online grocery shoppers doing...

Instacart Launches Priority Delivery and Introduces 30-Minute Grocery Delivery

Instacart introduced "Priority Delivery," a new experience that unlocks faster grocery delivery for customers across the U.S. and Canada. As part of this launch, customers in some of the largest cities in the U.S. will now have access to grocery delivery in as fast as 30 minutes. With Priority Delivery, Instacart is bringing the in-store express lane online, helping customers immediately get what they need delivered from their favorite grocers and specialty retailers. With this launch, Instacart is unveiling a new Priority Delivery product experience that makes it even easier for customers to discover the fastest delivery windows available in their area.

As part of the rollout of Priority Delivery, customers in more than 15 of the largest cities in the U.S., including Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle, across more than 300 store locations, will now be able to access 30-minute delivery from...

Instacart and 7-Eleven Expand Nationally, Unlocking Faster Convenience Delivery

Instacart, the leading online grocery platform in North America, announced the expansion of its collaboration with 7-Eleven, the world's largest convenience retailer, to nearly 4,000 new stores nationwide. With this expansion, Instacart now delivers from nearly 6,000 7-Eleven® stores, reaching nearly 60 million U.S. households across the country. To make it easier for customers to instantly connect to their favorite convenience retailer and get the goods they need, customers also now have access to 7-Eleven delivery via Instacart in as fast as 30 minutes. Today, consumers nationwide can choose from thousands of essential products from 7-Eleven - including pantry staples, household items, alcohol, snacks, over-the-counter medication, and more - to be delivered from the store to their door.

With the announcement, 7-Eleven delivery via Instacart is now available across...

U.S. Restaurant Carry-Out and Delivery Digital Orders Soar During the Pandemic

Digital ordering was a lifeline for consumers and U.S. restaurants, particularly full service restaurants, during the pandemic, reports The NPD Group. In the year ending March 2021, which covers a full year since the start of the pandemic, restaurant digital orders grew +124% compared to prior year. Digital orders for carry-out, which represented 62% of all digital orders, increased by +130%, and digital orders for delivery grew by +142% in the period compared to year ago and held 38% share of total restaurant digital orders, according to NPD’s ongoing foodservice market research, CREST®.

Digital ordering offered full service restaurants, which operated under varying degrees of mandated dine-in restrictions throughout the pandemic, much needed...

Grubhub Unveils Grubhub Direct, a Commission-Free Platform

Grubhub announced Grubhub Direct, a platform to help independent restaurants better compete online through commission-free online ordering and access to their customer data. With nearly 10 years building branded ordering and loyalty experiences for large restaurant chains, Grubhub is leveraging its expertise to help independent restaurants develop their own customized ordering websites, empowering them to market directly to their diners, receive their diner data and manage their branded website—all without any marketing fees.

"We're constantly listening and learning from our independent restaurant partners, and we've heard them. Restaurants want more options to build their brands online and maintain a loyal base of diners through their own channels," said Matt Maloney, founder and CEO of Grubhub. "That's why we're opening...

Grubhub Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

Grubhub announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 and also posted a letter to shareholders on its investor relations website. For the first quarter, the Company reported revenues of $551 million, which is a 52% year-over-year increase from $363 million in the same period last year. Gross Food Sales grew 60% year-over-year to $2.6 billion, up from $1.6 billion in the first quarter of 2020.

"We are proud of our continued role in helping restaurants grow their businesses and supporting the communities where they operate. Our team continued its strong execution in the first quarter – easily hitting records for all of our key business metrics," said Matt Maloney, Grubhub founder and CEO. "With yesterday's public filing of the registration statement and...

DoorDash Announces Pricing Updates

DoorDash unveiled new pricing changes designed to better support restaurant partners. Beginning today, all U.S. local restaurants will have a choice of three different delivery commission price points with new Partnership Plans, starting with a 15% option. Additionally, DoorDash is lowering Pickup commission costs to 6% and making Storefront, a commission-free online ordering product, free (except for payment processing fees) for all restaurant partners. These actions are intended to create more choices and solutions across a portfolio of restaurants' needs and put more profits into the pockets of local businesses.

"There is a massive, increasingly digital opportunity for small restaurants, and we believe that when we work together, we can help them capture more of that market in a post-pandemic world––in-store, online, through a third-party partner, or any combination of these three," said Christopher Payne, COO of DoorDash. "Over the past year, we've introduced...

P.F. Chang's Celebrates Spring Holidays with New Menu

P.F. Chang’s is celebrating a season of moms, dads and graduates, creating a unique and memorable celebration experience for each signature event. Launching is an updated menu, suited for celebrations of all kinds. The exclusive pre-fixed menu includes a selection of four courses and a glass of wine for $50 per person.

“At P.F. Chang’s, we believe there’s much cause for celebration over the coming weeks, whether it’s honoring important family members or hard-working scholars,” said Tana Davila, chief marketing officer for P.F. Chang’s. “We’re always a place to celebrate life’s milestones – both big and small – but...

Kroger Introduces First-of-its-kind, Delivery-focused Customer Fulfillment Center

Grocery retailer Kroger has launched its first Customer Fulfillment Center (CFC). The CFC aims to transform the grocery delivery process with the help of technology developed by Ocado.

"2020 was a pivotal year for grocery e-commerce, with Kroger's digital business scaling to over $10 billion—and achieving a record digital sales increase of 116%," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "We're incredibly proud to achieve this milestone that advances our position as one of America's leading e-commerce companies...

Kroger Delivery Introduces First Customer Fulfillment Center

Kroger is launching the first Customer Fulfillment Center (CFC), combining vertical integration, machine learning, and robotics with affordable, friendly, and fast delivery service for fresh food.

Located in Monroe, OH – a city north of Cincinnati – and powered by Ocado Group, a world leader in technology for grocery e-commerce, the CFC is the first to open, transforming and supporting the grocer's thriving digital business.

"2020 was a pivotal year for grocery e-commerce, with Kroger's digital business scaling to over $10 billion—and achieving a record digital sales increase of...

Taco Bell to Continue New York City Expansion this Month 

Taco Bell is making its presence known with a new Cantina in the heart of Times Square. Built with the energy and on-the-go vibrance of New York City in mind, the newest restaurant embraces technology in a whole new way to serve the demands of New Yorkers.

The Cantina opens its doors to New Yorkers on April 14. Below are the unique elements of both the restaurant itself and its new neighborhood...

Canada: Dine-In Restaurant Visit Declines Soften in February when Restrictions were Eased
The pent-up demand for indoor dining was evident in February after dine-in restrictions were eased in Canada’s largest provinces. Dine-in restaurant visits increased by 4 percentage points in February compared to January, an increase of 10.5 million visits versus prior month. The downside of this news is the still deep traffic declines in on-premises dining. Dine-in visits declined by -79% in February compared to same month last year and were down -85% in January compared to last year, according to NPD, which continually tracks consumers’ use of Canadian restaurants and other foodservice outlets.

Off-premises dining, like carry-out, delivery, and drive-thru, has been the beneficiary of the indoor dining restrictions. In January off-premises visits, digital or physical, were up...

Pizza Hut Launches a Digital Carryout Option

After becoming the first national pizza brand to offer Contactless Curbside Pickup, Pizza Hut is doubling down on safety and convenience and launching The Hut Lane™, a dedicated digital order pick-up window available at over 1,500 locations across the country with more to come.

As customer preferences shifted during the early months of the pandemic, Pizza Hut adapted to offer a way for customers to place digital orders without ever having to leave their vehicles. The Hut Lane represents the next evolution of this breakthrough experience, offering safety, convenience and speed without customers ever having to park their cars.

"We are giving our customers a variety of options to optimize their pizza-eating experience as we build on our business momentum," said Nicolas Burquier, Chief Customer & Operations Officer, Pizza Hut. "Not only do we offer industry-leading, innovative menu items that are only...

Kroger Outlines Strategy to Deliver Strong and Sustainable Total Shareholder Return Through Digital

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) will host a virtual 2021 Investor Day today to provide an update on the company's strategic initiatives and plans to deliver strong and sustainable total shareholder return of 8% – 11%.

"Kroger continues to deliver for customers through our seamless ecosystem and relentless focus on freshness, value and convenience," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO. "Building upon the foundation established by our Restock Kroger transformation, and leveraging key learnings from operating during the pandemic, our strategy of Leading With Fresh and Accelerating With Digital is designed to convert our industry's near-term tailwinds into long-term competitive advantages...

Dunkin’ Celebrates 1,000th Next Generation Restaurant Opening

Back in 2018, Dunkin' opened its first Next Generation restaurant in Quincy, MA, featuring a new design with a modern atmosphere and innovative features. Now, just three years later, Dunkin' is celebrating the opening of its 1,000th Next Gen restaurant in Woodstock, GA.

For the official ribbon-cutting, franchisee Andy Awale of the Awale Network was joined by Scott Murphy, Head of Inspire Brands Beverage-Snack Category and President of Dunkin’, and Mathias Piercy, Regional Vice President at Dunkin’. Other festivities included merch and free coffee giveaways, a presentation of a $1,000 grant to the Northside Hospital Cherokee NICU – Miracle Babies Fund from the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, and a donation of 1,000 pounds of Dunkin’ packaged coffee to the Never Alone food pantry.

The Next Generation store concept includes...

Aramark Welcomes Fans Back to Sporting Events

As pro sports teams begin to welcome fans back, having fans in the stands for this season’s MLB Opening Day will take on added meaning for America’s Pastime. Whether it’s a ballpark, stadium or arena, Aramark, the leading food and beverage partner of major league sports teams, is meeting and exceeding the safety and hygiene standards required in today’s environment, while also improving the overall gameday dining experience, with new and proven solutions.

Innovative Solutions for Frictionless & Contactless Service

To create a safe, efficient and frictionless service experience for fans, Aramark’s continuous pipeline of testing and development of fan-friendly technology and innovative self-service concepts is proving to be a benefit for operating in today’s world and has paved the way for...

Chekout, a New Foodservice Delivery Platform, Launches in NYC

Chekout, a new service company specializing in superior food delivery, has officially launched in the New York City area. Through their app, Chekout provides the effective and properly priced delivery service for both the restaurant and consumer. Restaurants benefit from Chekout's promise to never cut into any of their profits, and therefore it is 100% free to use. For diners, the platform guarantees that menu prices will never be inflated, and consumers will never pay more than $2.50 for delivery no matter their distance from the restaurant or their order total. This new service was created to disrupt the third-party food delivery industry, that has been known for increasingly high pricing, and bring a new approach to the way consumers order food.

"Our business model is based on treating our customers and restaurant partners as fairly and with as much respect as possible," says Christopher Bruno, Founder & CEO of Chekout. "We are creating an app/platform that will eliminate the fees customers and restaurants have been paying...

Chipotle Invests in Leading Autonomous Delivery Company, Nuro

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it has invested in Nuro, a leader in autonomous delivery, as part of their Series C funding round. Nuro uses robotics in their fleet of on-road, occupantless and autonomous vehicles to deliver everyday consumer goods. This is the first significant investment in a third-party technology company the organization has made since Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol took the helm in 2018.

Expanding access and convenience through Chipotle's digital ecosystem is a strategic priority for the company. Chipotle's digital business grew over 174% year over year in 2020, with about half of the digital sales coming from...

National Restaurant Association Survey Breaks Down How Consumers Used Restaurants During Pandemic

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Restaurant Association began a weekly survey of 1,000 adults to see how they were utilizing restaurants.

Starting in February 2020, the survey “tracks the extent to which U.S. adults participated in restaurant and foodservice on a week-to-week basis.”

The survey is broken down into six periods over the past 12 months and focuses on patronage during breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack/beverage and dinner and both on-premise and off-premise dining...

Quicklly Expands Industry-Leading Digital Marketplace to New York-New Jersey Metro Area

On the heels of a remarkable $1.27 million pre-seed funding round, Quicklly, the nation's largest and most comprehensive Indian and South Asian food marketplace, today announced the expansion of their footprint to now serve customers in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area. 

Chipotle Launches New Hand-Crafted Quesadilla as Its First Customizable Digital-Only Entree
Chipotle Mexican Grill announced it is introducing a new Hand-Crafted Quesadilla as a digital-only menu item on March 11. The Quesadilla marks the first customizable entrée Chipotle will add to its menu since it introduced a salad option 17 years ago.

"We're so excited to answer the call from fans and introduce one of the most highly anticipated menu items in our brand's history," said Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer. "The Hand-Crafted Quesadilla brings so many new possibilities to our menu, and fans will love exploring fresh flavor combinations through...

Challenges Facing Foodservice Industry in 2020 Spurred Significant Growth in Off-Premises Services

The COVID-19 pandemic shook the world in 2020, leading to one of the steepest declines the global foodservice industry has experienced in recent history, according to global information company The NPD Group.

The pandemic interrupted years of growth in foodservice, causing a 20% drop in global sales and a 21% decline in total visits in 2020, to 958 billion euros ($1.157 trillion USD).

While mandated lockdowns restricted dine-in options, consumer demand for restaurant food was not abated, leading to unprecedented growth in...

BJ’s Wholesale Club Adds Online EBT Payment Option for Pickup Orders in Select States

BJ’s Wholesale Club, a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States, announced that it now accepts EBT payments for SNAP eligible items on BJs.com for in-club pickup and curbside pickup orders in Florida and North Carolina.

BJ’s members in these states can now seamlessly shop for their groceries on BJs.com for in-club pickup or contactless curbside pickup and use their EBT card for SNAP eligible items at checkout. The retailer’s easy two-step checkout process for online EBT payment also includes the option to...

Three Quarters of Brits Would Shop At an Amazon Grocery Store 

With the first Amazon grocery store now open in Britain, latest research from Mintel reveals that three quarters (76%) of Brits say they would shop at one.

When asked what would encourage them to shop at a physical Amazon grocery store, almost two thirds (63%) of consumers said they would be attracted to discounts for Prime membership. Meanwhile, a quarter (24%) would like the opportunity to be able to collect online orders. Overall attraction in shopping at these physical stores was higher among younger shoppers, with...

Cracker Barrel Offers New Prime Rib Heat n' Serve and Creative Basket Options

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® announced the launch of its Spring Into the Season campaign, featuring a new, homestyle Prime Rib Heat n' Serve meal and Baskets for Every Occasion gift options to make the most of the Easter holiday and life's most memorable milestones. Plus, Cracker Barrel's popular classic Easter Heat n' Serve meal including spiral-sliced sugar-cured ham will be back in two sizes – Feast and Family Dinner.

"Whether you're craving a country feast, refreshing your home for Spring, or planning to give one-of-a-kind Easter baskets, Cracker Barrel is here to offer convenient and delicious ways to make new traditions at home or celebrate with us around one of our tables," said Cracker Barrel Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Tate. "This year, we're especially excited to offer...

Ghost Kitchens Partners With Walmart Canada to Offer One-Stop Meal Pickup or Delivery

Ghost Kitchen Brands (GKB) is excited to announce it is teaming up with Walmart Canada, its first partnership with a big-box retailer to bring one-stop meal pickup and delivery to more Canadians. The first Ghost Kitchen at Walmart is now open in the St. Catharines Walmart (420 Vansickle Rd.) with additional locations in Woodstock, Toronto, Lachenaie and Saint-Constant to open in the coming months.

Customers can order freshly prepared meals in-store and online for contactless pickup or delivery (from a third-party app such as Uber Eats), and mix and match from more than 20 well-known brands including...

BJ’s Wholesale Club Introduces New App Features for Seamless Shopping 

BJ’s Wholesale Club announced that the company is making it easier for members to seamlessly shop and save by launching new features on the BJ’s app.

The BJ’s app includes a refreshed homepage where members can now easily reorder their favorite items, quickly clip digital coupons and conveniently shop using digital services, such as same-day delivery, buy online, pick up in-club and curbside pickup.

“The BJ’s app is the easiest way to get the most out of your BJ’s membership, from...

Foodservice and Retail Get Creative for an Unprecedented Valentine’s Day 

While the pandemic has caused disruptions to gatherings and going out, there remains a special significance around Valentine’s Day. Consumers are committed to celebrating the holiday, even if traditional celebrations must be altered. According to the National Retail Federation, about 52% of adults plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, spending a total of $21.8 billon.

Nearly three-quarters of consumers celebrating the holiday this year feel it is important to do so given the current state of the pandemic. The virus is still a focus, with 74% indicating it will directly impact their plans for the holiday. About 24% of consumers plan to gift their loved one with an evening out, the lowest in...

Londoners Driving Trend for Delivery of Snacks and Coffee

There’s a new food trend emerging in the capital. Latest analysis from The NPD Group shows a significant rise in families in London ordering snacks and coffee delivered to their home. Demand from families for snacking delivered by foodservice operators and delivery platforms like UberEats and Deliveroo increased strongly, up +95% in London in 2020 versus 2019. This is significantly ahead of the +11% increase in orders placed by families across the country as a whole.

London currently represents one quarter of the UK’s snacking via delivery market. Dominic Allport, Insights Director (Foodservice), The NPD Group says “During 2020, London was the only region to see a rise in snacking via delivery. The main reason is the greater use of delivery subscriptions such as...

Instacart and Family Dollar Partner to Launch National Same-Day Delivery

Instacart, a leading online grocery platform in North America, announced a new national partnership with Family Dollar to deliver from more than 6,000 stores across the U.S. With this new partnership, customers now have access to same-day delivery of Family Dollar's broad and affordable selection of household goods, pantry and baby essentials, electronics, office and school supplies, personal care items, and more in as fast as an hour. This expansion builds on the companies' successful 275-store pilot that initially launched in late-2020.

Customers rely on Instacart to get all the groceries and goods they need delivered to their door safely and conveniently. Whether stocking up the fridge or pantry, enhancing...

Grubhub Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2020 Results

Grubhub Inc., a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020 and also posted a letter to shareholders on its investor relations website. For the fourth quarter, the Company reported revenues of $504 million, which is a 48% year-over-year increase from $341 million in the same period last year. Gross Food Sales grew 52% year-over-year to $2.4 billion, up from $1.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019.

"We remain steadfast in our support of our restaurant partners as the ongoing pandemic continues to weigh on their businesses and their local communities. From increased marketing spend and reduced commissions, to winterization grants and free digital ordering tools, we continue to be fully committed to...

Insight Into Key Markets Ahead of the ‘Big Game’ as Foodservice Takes Unique Approach to Gameday

Heading into the big game last February, the coronavirus was just a blip on everyone’s radar, the focus was on ordering wings and appetizers for the pre-game party or planning a trip to a local sports bar.

This year, many Americans will be enjoying the big game in smaller groups and while meat lover’s pizzas and chicken wings will be devoured all night, trips to restaurants are out of the cards for some and businesses are shifting their takeout specials to cater...

Chicory Survey Reveals That Over 50% of Consumers Place an Online Grocery Order Once a Week or More

Today, Chicory, the leading digital shopper marketing platform for CPG and grocery companies, released the results of a new national grocery consumer research study, Online Grocery Usership Changes Year Over Year. The results of this fifth quarterly consumer survey quantify the impact of COVID-19 on online grocery usage by comparing current 2021 results to past quarterly studies throughout 2020. For an infographic of the high-level data captured from this survey, please visit this link...

Grubhub Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2020 Results

Grubhub Inc. (NYSE: GRUB), a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020 and also posted a letter to shareholders on its investor relations website. For the fourth quarter, the Company reported revenues of $504 million, which is a 48% year-over-year increase from $341 million in the same period last year. Gross Food Sales grew 52% year-over-year to $2.4 billion, up from $1.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019...

Uber Eats Launches Eat Local: A Renewed Commitment to US Local Merchants

Uber Technologies, Inc. announced its Eat Local campaign, renewed efforts to support independent restaurant owners and operators in 2021 as the industry continues to face COVID-related challenges.

“We’re here for restaurants at Uber Eats—as we have been since the start of the health crisis,” said Stephane Ficaja, head of Uber Eats and Delivery for the US & Canada. “Today we’re committing $20 million through various initiatives at a critical time, renewing promises we’ve made on pricing, and will remain focused on our partners’ success in the months ahead.”

Details of the support package include...

Taco Bell Introduces Build Your Own Cravings Box 

For just $5, Taco Bell is introducing a new Build Your Own Cravings Box. The offer will be available exclusively to Taco Bell Rewards Beta members on the Taco Bell app starting today, and to other Taco Bell digital customers on February 11.

Stretching customers' dollars further than ever before, the Build Your Own Cravings Box is the ultimate Taco Bell eating experience. Packaged in a convenient, recyclable paperboard box, guests can create their meal exactly as they please from a selection of favorites. With the click of a button, 18 different variations appear on Taco Bell's mobile and website, showcased in the following categories...

Auntie Anne's Introduces New Pretzel Rollups Featuring Bacon and Turkey 

Auntie Anne's is here to help consumers shake up mealtime with something different. With more than 40% of consumers feeling challenged in having to plan different meals on a daily basis, Auntie Anne's is taking away the stress of mealtime and adding golden pretzels, cheddar, bacon, and turkey to everyday meals and snacks with all-new Pretzel Rollups.

Available in Turkey & Cheddar and Bacon & Cheddar, the Pretzel Rollups are made for pairing with dips and beverages, and no prep is required. Delivery is also available through...