Food On Demand

18/07/2025

Last year brought a lot of headlines about the tight labor market and how operators just couldn’t find enough bodies. Might that make now an ideal time for a kitchen-automation solution like XRobotics to make a pitch? Sure. It doesn’t hurt. But Igor Buchatskiy says don’t read too much into it.
https://bit.ly/4lxqtT7

XRobotics Raises Millions To Produce More Pizza-Making Robots by Adam Wahlberg | Jul 16, 2025 | Automation, News Last year brought a lot of headlines about the tight labor market and how operators just couldn’t find enough bodies. Might that make now an ideal time for a kitchen-automation solution...

17/07/2025

DoorDash is raising delivery fees in Seattle, again.

Amid ongoing battles with strict gig worker regulations, the company calls Seattle “the most expensive market to facilitate delivery in the U.S.”

The city’s PayUp law, effective January 2024, required app-based delivery companies to pay workers at least $26.40 an hour before tips and mileage. DoorDash says this adds up to nearly $30 per hour per driver.
https://bit.ly/469S3RC

Seattle Named ‘Most Expensive Delivery Market’ as DoorDash Raises Fees by Bernadette Heier | Jul 16, 2025 | News DoorDash is raising delivery fees in Seattle, again. Amid ongoing battles with strict gig worker regulations, the company calls Seattle “the most expensive market to facilitate deli...

17/07/2025

In Part 4 of the Food On Demand Conference Series, Ashley Elzinga Director of Sustainability & Outreach at the Foodservice Packaging Institute shares insights ahead of her panel appearance. She discusses key packaging trends—particularly the growing emphasis on recyclability, compostability, and reuse. Elzinga also explores how evolving legislation is shaping packaging decisions and how brands are using packaging as a strategic marketing tool.

Watch Full Episode Here:https://bit.ly/3IwJUgp

16/07/2025

Golden Corral made a splash in 2023 when it launched Homeward Kitchen, a fast-casual concept with a leaner dine-in area, enhanced pick-up area, and tricked-out drive-thru. And it worked. Sort of. Consumers who ordered from the North Carolina location seemed pleased but many didn’t know it was a Golden Corral joint, which would have provided a short-hand on what to expect. So in April, Golden Corral rebooted, with a new name, Golden Corral Favorites, and tech partner in Flybuy.
https://bit.ly/3TG4DAL

Golden Corral Relaunches Its Off-Premises Offshoot With a New Tech Partner by Adam Wahlberg | Jul 15, 2025 | News Golden Corral made a splash in 2023 when it launched Homeward Kitchen, a fast-casual concept with a leaner dine-in area, enhanced pick-up area, and tricked-out drive-thru. And it worked....

15/07/2025

When you have dishes as tasty as Naya, which is known for Lebanese food, offered in 34 locations on the East Coast, the challenge isn’t always persuasion, but trial. Try it and you will like it. That’s the bet. But how to get food on new forks? One solution: catering pop-ups.
https://bit.ly/4lULG9i

Naya Caters Pop-Up Events As a Key Part Of Its Marketing by Adam Wahlberg | Jul 14, 2025 | News When you have dishes as tasty as Naya, which is known for Lebanese food, offered in 34 locations on the East Coast, the challenge isn’t always persuasion, but trial. Try it and you will like it. That’...

14/07/2025

As contactless shopping grows, Venhub is rolling out its automated Smart Stores in places where convenience is key, such as transit centers, entertainment districts, and underserved neighborhoods.

“People can expect a seamless transaction, interface, and process. Extremely fast, consistently delivered service, secure and safe shopping,” explained Shahan Ohanessian, founder & CEO of Venhub, adding that the units are open 24/7.
https://bit.ly/4lrVvf2

From LAX to Hollywood, Venhub Expands 24/7 Automated Smart Stores by Bernadette Heier | Jul 9, 2025 | News As contactless shopping grows, Venhub is rolling out its automated Smart Stores in places where convenience is key, such as transit centers, entertainment districts, and underserved neighborhoo...

11/07/2025

The litany of ailments that troubled restaurants in 2024 have been well-documented. Price inflation? Yes. Employee turnover? Sure. Rent increases? Often. But was it all migraine city? No. There was a silver lining. In real labor productivity, which assesses how much can be produced by a given number of workers. Those measures went up, and they’ve been rising for several years now, due in large part to increased off-premises ordering since the pandemic, according to research from economists at the University of Chicago.
https://bit.ly/46zZXnn

University of Chicago Economists Reveal a Surge in QSR Labor Productivity by Adam Wahlberg | Jul 8, 2025 | News The litany of ailments that troubled restaurants in 2024 have been well-documented. Price inflation? Yes. Employee turnover? Sure. Rent increases? Often. But was it all migraine city? No.....

10/07/2025

The days of AI being spoken about in theoretical terms are quickly becoming obsolete. In the restaurant industry, it’s a much more practical and everyday matter, according to new research from Deloitte.

Deloitte recently unveiled its State of AI in Restaurants Survey of 375 restaurant executives and its conclusions are apparent: AI is becoming as commonplace in operations as a spatula or cash register.
https://bit.ly/3Gqm70X

You Heard Right. AI in Restaurants is Becoming Normal. by Adam Wahlberg | Jul 8, 2025 | News The days of AI being spoken about in theoretical terms are quickly becoming obsolete. In the restaurant industry, it’s a much more practical and everyday matter, according to new research from Deloitte. De...

09/07/2025

Founded in 2005, Olo has grown into a widely used platform for restaurants looking to manage digital ordering, payments, and guest data. It processes millions of transactions daily and serves more than 88,000 locations. Its client list includes Denny’s, P.F. Chang’s, Nando’s, and Cold Stone Creamery, among others. It also integrates with over 400 partners across the restaurant tech ecosystem.
https://bit.ly/4lFhSNL

Olo to be Acquired by Thoma Bravo in $2B All-Cash Deal by Bernadette Heier | Jul 7, 2025 | News In a major move in restaurant tech, Olo will be acquired by Thoma Bravo in a $2 billion cash deal. Olo says this will support growth and product expansion for the over 750 restaurant brands it currently w...

06/07/2025

Serve Robotics has expanded its sidewalk robotic delivery service to parts of Atlanta, including Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and Downtown, now serving more than 50,000 residents.

The autonomous robots are integrated into the Uber Eats app, and customers can choose robotic delivery at checkout from participating restaurants such as RReal Tacos, PONKO Chicken, and Shake Shack.
https://bit.ly/3GkwMdw

Atlanta Residents May Have Their Next Meal Delivered by a Robot by Bernadette Heier | Jul 2, 2025 | News Serve Robotics has expanded its sidewalk robotic delivery service to parts of Atlanta, including Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and Downtown, now serving more than 50,000 residents. The autonomous rob...

05/07/2025

More restaurant drone deliveries are hitting the skies in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

DoorDash announced a partnership with Flytrex to begin service in parts of Little Elm and Frisco. Customers can order from dozens of local and national restaurants, from Papa John’s to The Bass Trap. The service says it can reach over 30,000 households and more than 100,000 residents.
https://bit.ly/4knDopk

DoorDash Expands Drone Deliveries in Dallas Area by Bernadette Heier | Jul 1, 2025 | News More restaurant drone deliveries are hitting the skies in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. DoorDash announced a partnership with Flytrex to begin service in parts of Little Elm and Frisco. Customers can order f...

04/07/2025

From our team to yours, wishing you a safe and happy Independence Day!