Red Robin to add 120 Donatos locations this year

The growth plan will bring the partnership that began in 2018 into more than 200 locations. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 21, 2021

Wingstop debuts virtual brand focused on chicken thighs

As wing prices increase, Thighstop will instead provide a menu of bone-in and boneless thighs tossed in 11 different flavors. 

By Julie Littman • June 21, 2021

Dickey's to add 100 ghost kitchens through Combo Kitchen partnership

This partnership will also include the barbecue chain's virtual brands Wing Boss and Big Deal Burger, which the company launched earlier this year. 

By Julie Littman • June 18, 2021

El Pollo Loco to launch drone delivery pilot

The Mexican QSR, which will begin testing its Air Loco service on June 24, expects drones to reduce delivery costs by 25% to 30%. 

By Julie Littman • June 17, 2021

Grubhub promotes CFO Adam DeWitt to CEO

Following the completion of Just Eat Takeaway's acquisition, Grubhub founder and CEO Matt Maloney will join JET's management board.

By Julie Littman • June 16, 2021

C3, Chowly partner to bring virtual brands to 10K restaurants

The collaboration will allow C3, which is currently in 250 kitchens, to rapidly expand through Chowly's network of enterprise and small restaurant clients. 

By Julie Littman • June 16, 2021

Kitchen United launches licensing partnership with UK-based chain

Camile Thai, which operates in Ireland and the United Kingdom, will offer delivery and takeout exclusively at Kitchen United MIX locations, providing the ghost kitchen operator a new way to diversify its brands. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 8, 2021

Report: 25% of online restaurant orders in 2020 were for delivery

For third-party delivery, guests spent about 32% more than takeout patrons, but after the pandemic these guests only spent 10% more than takeout customers, Paytronix found.  

By Julie Littman • June 7, 2021

UK-based Foodhub to enter the crowded US delivery market

The delivery service charges 0% commission and will expand into Louisiana, where it could challenge local competitor Waitr and other major aggregators.

By Alicia Kelso • May 28, 2021

Q&A: How Walmart's restaurants are evolving

Darryl Spinks, the company's head of retail services, talks about the shift into ghost kitchens and plans to more actively court small and regional restaurant tenants.

By Jeff Wells • May 28, 2021

Ghost kitchen provider JustKitchen to raise $20M as it plots US expansion

The company will enter Seattle and several California cities as part of its international growth plan, and will use the funds to develop software and build more spoke kitchens.   

By Julie Littman • Updated June 9, 2021

Grubhub teams with Restaurant Strong Fund to offer $2M in grants

The program's $5,000 grants for select restaurants with five or fewer locations could help fill the gap left by the Restaurant Revitalization Fund's early closure.

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 25, 2021

Food halls, ghost kitchens and the future of in-store restaurants

Rather than shying away from offering fresh meals and in-store dining due to lingering safety concerns and elevated at-home cooking trends, grocers are leaning into restaurants like never before.

By Jeff Wells • May 24, 2021

DoorDash may be plotting European expansion

The dominant U.S. third-party delivery aggregator appears to be preparing a debut in Germany, listing 21 job postings in Berlin ranging from management to recruitment and logistics roles. 

By Alicia Kelso • May 19, 2021

Quiznos, Taco Del Mar to open 100 ghost kitchen units

The Rego Restaurant Group brands join a growing network of chains, including Saladworks and Wow Bao, that have partnered with Ghost Kitchen Brands. 

By Julie Littman • May 19, 2021

Gov. Gavin Newsom signs law requiring delivery companies to disclose fees

California's legislation requires third-party aggregators to provide an itemized cost breakdown of each transaction to both diners and eateries. 

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Oct. 6, 2021

Celebrities bring sizzle to new virtual restaurant brands from Nextbite

The SoftBank-backed startup launched a taqueria brand with comedian George Lopez and a "munchie menu" concept with rapper Wiz Khalifa.

By Chris Kelly • May 14, 2021

DoorDash boosts revenue nearly 200% despite driver shortage

The company worked to improve its network efficiency, expanded its marketing to gain more drivers and improved conversion rates to help overcome the impacts of a delivery courier shortage. 

By Julie Littman • May 14, 2021

Chick-fil-A will launch a virtual brand in Nashville

While the chain has tested ghost kitchens, this appears to be its first virtual brand. The concept, called Little Blue Menu, will serve Chick-fil-A's classic menu alongside roasted chicken and wings.

By Julie Littman • May 13, 2021

Grubhub launches commission-free platform for independent restaurants

Grubhub Direct allows independent operators to create customizable ordering websites, manage customer relationships and access diner data including names, emails and order history.

By Julie Littman • May 12, 2021

The hunger wars

How the pandemic has altered the dynamics of restaurants and delivery providers.

May 10, 2021

Why restaurants need to be digital now

To thrive in an increasingly online marketplace, restaurants need to invest in technologies that help manage the customer relationship and manage delivery automation, says Hypertrack founder and CEO Kashyap Deorah.

By Kashyap Deorah • May 7, 2021

Square adds to-go alcohol delivery feature

The commission-free, on-demand delivery option lets restaurants and bars offer customers the option to buy alcohol from their website and have it delivered through DoorDash.

By Alicia Kelso • May 6, 2021

Five Guys franchisee opens the chain's first US ghost kitchen

Encore Restaurants, the largest Five Guys franchisee, opened a delivery-only location in Garland, Texas, on May 1, joining a growing list of chains using this channel for expansion.

By Alicia Kelso • May 5, 2021

Uber and Gopuff link up on 'everyday essentials' e-shop

The deal marks the first time Uber has partnered with a vertically integrated delivery business, reflecting the company's push to diversify its delivery arm in a bid to reach profitability. 

By Jeff Wells • May 5, 2021