Third-party vs. direct delivery: Debate reaches boiling point amid coronavirus

There's no restaurant roadmap to survive dining room closures. But one thing is certain: pick the wrong off-premise game plan when the stakes are this high, and it could gut your bottom line.

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 7, 2020

Outback's reopened locations report sales down only 17%

Encouraged by results coming from 23 reopened Outback Steakhouses, parent company Bloomin' Brands plans to reopen 336 restaurants across its companies in multiple states. 

By Alicia Kelso • May 7, 2020

Uber Eats to leave 8 global markets

Uber will shutter its food delivery operations in the Czech Republic, Egypt, Honduras, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates. 

By Julie Littman • May 6, 2020

DoorDash partners with Pennsylvania AG to extend financial, childcare benefits

Expanded benefits include financial assistance for Dashers who have tested positive for COVID-19 and for top Dashers who have primary childcare responsibilities for children whose schools and daycares have closed.

By Alicia Kelso • May 5, 2020

Popeyes chicken sandwich boosts quarter despite coronavirus pressure

Even during the pandemic, the chicken sandwich's popularity didn't wane. Comp sales were up 26.2% globally while traffic grew 40% during Q1 2020.

By Julie Littman • May 1, 2020

Off-premise may be key to casual dining relief, BTIG research suggests

While sales declines across the casual dining segment are severe, the trend has been steadily improving by an average of 5% per week.

By Alicia Kelso • April 28, 2020

California is paying restaurants to deliver meals to seniors

The program will reimburse restaurants $16 for breakfast meals, $17 for lunch and up to $28 for dinner. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 27, 2020

Seattle caps delivery fees at 15% in emergency order

The city's cap became effective Friday and will remain in place until restaurants can reopen their dining rooms. New York City is also considering a 10% cap. 

By Alicia Kelso • Updated April 28, 2020

Takeout sales outpacing delivery amid coronavirus, data shows

Upserve found that while delivery made up 32% of sales in February through its online ordering platform, it represents just 14% of transactions as of April 20, suggesting an uptick of restaurants going online without third-party partners. 

By Lauren Manning • April 23, 2020

Chipotle grows digital sales 81% in Q1 despite coronavirus

The fast casual chain's online sales reached its highest quarterly level at $372 million in Q1, representing over 26% of overall sales.

By Julie Littman • April 22, 2020

Chicago hybrid restaurant offers a side of humor with 'social distance goods'

All Together Now altered its operations to provide a variety of pandemic provisions, including nightly dinners, small bites and its popular wine and cheese pairings for delivery and pickup.

By Julie Littman • April 20, 2020

San Francisco caps food delivery commissions at 15%

An emergency order from Mayor London Breed makes San Francisco the first city to set limits on what third-party delivery platforms can charge restaurants. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 14, 2020

How to transition your restaurant to online ordering during COVID-19

What restaurants need to know about pivoting to a takeout-only business model during the coronavirus pandemic.

April 14, 2020

DoorDash cuts commissions by 50% for local restaurants

More than 150,000 restaurants with less than five locations in the U.S., Australia and Canada will benefit from the reduction through the end of May.

By Alicia Kelso • April 13, 2020

Tripadvisor adds delivery/takeout, gift card information to restaurant listings

The platform has launched a new feature that allows diners and travelers to buy gift cards to their favorite restaurants directly from its website. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 8, 2020

Google Maps adds delivery, takeout filters to boost restaurant traffic

The feature directs users to a restaurant's website to help cut down on commission fees from third-party delivery partners.

By Lauren Manning • April 7, 2020

Shake Shack moves into meal kits as sales sharply decline

The burger chain partnered with Goldbelly, a gourmet food delivery service, to launch a cook-at-home burger kit nationwide. They cost $49 for an eight-pack.   

By Alicia Kelso • April 6, 2020

Restaurant delivery platforms turn to grocery

Uber Eats has teamed up with Carrefour in France for 30-minute grocery delivery, while DoorDash has added convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Wawa.

By Jessica Dumont • April 2, 2020

April was Papa John's strongest month in its 35-year history

Comp sales rose 27% during the month, with 10% of that growth likely due to the impact of COVID-19 and more people staying at home.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated May 7, 2020

Postmates couriers are employees, New York appeals court finds

Laws generally are evolving to make it more difficult for companies to establish gig worker status — a change many businesses, especially food delivery companies, are fighting.

By Jennifer Carsen , Emma Liem Beckett • March 31, 2020

Curbside service and cocktails: How a full-service restaurant is staying open during coronavirus

Southern California restaurant 101 North has turned to curbside pickup, delivery, cocktail kits and selling items from its kitchen to maintain revenue while its dining room is closed.

By Julie Littman • March 24, 2020

Coronavirus grows delivery platforms' restaurant partner networks

Grubhub CEO Matt Maloney told MarketWatch that his company is getting 10 to 15 more restaurant leads as many have been forced to pivot to delivery following state-mandated dine-in closures.

By Alicia Kelso • March 23, 2020

Darden's Q3 results hint at dismal future for casual dining

Same-store sales dropped more than 21% for the week ending March 15 across its brands, with same-store sales declining 60% this week. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 20, 2020

Domino's, Papa John's ramp up hiring amid slew of industry layoffs

Domino's plans to hire 10,000 while Papa John's wants to hire 20,000 and Pizza Hut is looking to add 30,000 following increased demand for pizza delivery during the coronavirus outbreak. 

By Julie Littman • Updated March 23, 2020

Chuck E. Cheese closes dine-in, offers in-home birthday packages

While still offering off-premise dining, the birthday-focused restaurant is making its dance-party-themed videos and rewards available online and selling family packs with cake, pizza and goodie bags during COVID-19 closures.

By Lauren Manning • March 17, 2020