McDonald's suspends dine-in operations at corporate stores

The fast food chain is encouraging franchisees to do the same and shift to drive-thru, takeout and delivery as COVID-19 continues to spread. 

By Julie Littman • March 17, 2020

Starbucks, Chick-fil-A lead charge in shift to off-premise only operations nationwide

Sweetgreen also eliminated dine-in seating, while Taco Bell has closed dining rooms in its company-operated stores as chains rapidly shift operations in response to COVID-19.

By Julie Littman • Updated March 16, 2020

Chipotle offers free delivery, tamper-proof packaging in response to COVID-19

Customers will also be able to leave special instructions for delivery to limit contact.  

By Julie Littman • March 13, 2020

Postmates will cover coronavirus medical costs for delivery fleet

The delivery platform will also let restaurants in San Francisco partner with it at no cost as foot traffic declines, giving small businesses an opportunity to protect profits as the virus spreads.

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 11, 2020

Food delivery app downloads are decreasing

Since May 2019, monthly active users of the largest foodservice delivery companies have dropped by more than 13%, according to data from Apptopia. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 10, 2020

Postmates adds non-contact delivery option as coronavirus spreads

Customers can now request to have their food orders left at the door, a move that could help the platform capture more diner spending as U.S. companies urge employees to work from home.

By Alicia Kelso • March 9, 2020

2020 is the year of the breakfast wars

Chains like Wendy's, McDonald's, Dunkin', Starbucks and Panera have expanded menu offerings for breakfast to capture growing demand for the daypart.

By Julie Littman • March 9, 2020

5 ways Dine Brands is combating traffic declines

CEO Steve Joyce explains how the company's growing catering platform and new focus on urban markets are among the ways it is trying to bring in more guests.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 28, 2020

NYC Council introduces series of food delivery regulations

The six bills would impact restaurant partnerships and include proposals for a 10% commission cap and a ban on charges for phone calls that didn't result in an order. 

By Alicia Kelso , Julie Littman • Feb. 27, 2020

DoorDash heads toward public status with confidential filing

Investors will likely put DoorDash's earnings under a microscope as earnings from Grubhub and Uber Eats have faced industry critique.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 27, 2020

Noodles & Company's digital sales grew 46% last year

The company aims to eventually bring guests from third-party delivery partners to direct delivery, CEO Dave Boennighausen said on its Q4 earnings call. 

By Lauren Manning , Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 27, 2020

Grubhub debuts benefits-focused subscription service

Grubhub+, which offers members perks ranging from unlimited free delivery to 10% cash back and access to special menus and events, could help the delivery platform's retention.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 26, 2020

Uber Eats lead steps down amid profitability struggles

Jason Droege, who launched the Eats division in 2015, will be replaced by vice president of international rides Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty effective immediately.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 25, 2020

Wingstop bolsters digital growth with pickup lockers, ghost kitchen

CEO Charlie Morrison said on an earnings call that Wingstop's digital mix topped 40% in January and its off-premise business drives about 80% of sales. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 20, 2020

Inspire Brands explores ghost kitchens

Inspire, which would be one of the first multi-brand owners to explore the model, told Restaurant Dive it wasn't ready to comment on its ghost kitchen trademarks as of Tuesday.

By Lauren Manning • Feb. 19, 2020

Proposed CA bill would require food delivery apps to share customer data with restaurants

The bill will be amended to require delivery apps to gain agreement from restaurants before listing them on their platform, Lorena Gonzalez's office told Restaurant Dive, echoing proposed Rhode Island legislation.

By Julie Littman • Updated Feb. 20, 2020

Proposed RI bill would fine delivery providers for listing non-partnered restaurants

Companies would be penalized $1,000 each day a violation occurs, and any merchant could bring action in superior court to recover actual damages or up to $5,000. 

By Julie Littman • Updated Feb. 12, 2020

Burger King, Tim Hortons invest in personalized drive-thru tech

The brands' menu boards will offer locational, situational and customized offerings similar to McDonald's rollout of Dynamic Yield.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 10, 2020

Grubhub adds 150K non-partnered restaurants as controversy grows

The delivery platform grew its network to 300,000 restaurants in Q4 and is eyeing a subscription program and pickup to gobble more market share, but frustration over its strategy could threaten its future.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 7, 2020

Uber Eats spent $1B on excess driver incentives, referrals in 2019

The food delivery platform is paying drivers more than its earning from trips as it aggressively expands into new markets and tries to grow its driver base amid a shortage of these gig workers.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 7, 2020

Waitr will lay off 2,300 drivers as it shifts to contract workers

All impacted drivers, whose jobs will be terminated effective April 8, will be able to continue working with the struggling delivery company as contractors, a Waitr spokesperson told Restaurant Dive. 

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Feb. 18, 2020

Saladworks pilots virtual kitchens in 3 markets

Saladworks joins the likes of Chick-fil-A, Wetzel's Pretzels, Halal Guys and others testing the Kitchen United model.

By Lauren Manning • Feb. 5, 2020

Yelp asks Grubhub to remove delivery from 'non-partner' restaurant pages

Grubhub told Restaurant Dive that Yelp was aware of the practice and that the companies recently came to the decision together. Yelp said that it asked Grubhub to make the change after recently learning of the practice.

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Jan. 31, 2020

Q1 delivery roundup: Chains expand third-party networks

Chuy's plans to rollout its exclusive partnership with DoorDash by the end of the first quarter while El Pollo Loco expanded its third-party partnerships to include Grubhub, Uber Eats and Postmates.

By Julie Littman , Emma Liem Beckett • Updated March 6, 2020

How restaurants are taking control of delivery in 2020

With doubts swirling over delivery's long-term profitability, this year will be marked by more restaurants renegotiating commission rates, developing branded online ordering and adding virtual kitchen options.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 31, 2020