How Fogo de Chao, STK balance off-premise with experience

The challenge for both brands was developing solutions that would be robust enough to withstand the pandemic environment without compromising the reason diners visit them in the first place: experience. 

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Jan. 19, 2021

Kitchen United to open 16 centers this year

The company is doubling down on existing high-value markets like Chicago and Los Angeles while it plans to expand into new ones like New York City and the Bay Area later this year. 

By Julie Littman • Jan. 14, 2021

Noodles & Company opens first ghost kitchen in Chicago

The Humboldt Park location will allow customers to order meals through the company's loyalty app, as well as third-party partners, for pickup and delivery.

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Updated May 20, 2021

Grubhub partners with Fiat Chrysler to add in-car food ordering

Consumers can reorder favorites or discover new restaurants, which allows them to find nearby eateries they have not ordered from before.

By Alicia Kelso , Julie Littman • Jan. 12, 2021

Denny's diversifies with rollout of 2 virtual brands

The Burger Den will open in February, while The Melt Down, which will focus on sandwiches, launches in the spring. 

By Julie Littman • Jan. 12, 2021

Focus Brands adds surcharge for digital pickup, delivery orders

The company said the additional 35 cent fee will help support the online ordering experience, but customers have already criticized the practice. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 7, 2021

DoorDash drivers can now earn cash rewards

The benefits are part of the company's $12 million Dasher Rewards Program, which was announced in November, that offers additional incentives to the most active couriers.

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 6, 2021

2020 Trends: Expectations vs. reality

The restaurant industry had great expectations this year, but the pandemic completely changed the market's competitive landscape. Here's how the crisis impacted the trends we originally predicted for the year. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 23, 2020

Shake Shack rolls out in-app delivery nationwide

The feature, facilitated by Uber Eats, allows diners to track orders in real time with a $0.99 flat delivery fee and no delivery fee for orders over $35.

By Alicia Kelso • Updated March 18, 2021

NRA, delivery companies develop nationwide framework that could ease tensions

The seven principles, which address issues such as transparency, food safety and alcohol delivery, mark the first time the two parties have come together to create guidelines to shape public policy.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 17, 2020

Grubhub offers free delivery in Chicago, NYC during winter

Through mid-March, the aggregator will offer its Grubhub+ subscription program to customers for free. It will also include local partner restaurants in the program at no additional cost.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 16, 2020

Postmates joins Uber, DoorDash in bankrolling driver benefits in CA with price hikes

The aggregators are rolling out customer fees to help pay for healthcare subsidies, mileage reimbursement and occupational insurance they promised in winning ballot measure Proposition 22. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated Jan. 20, 2021

Wendy's teams with Uber Eats on customized menus for Twitch gamers

The burger chain's "Never Stop Gaming Menu" includes combinations of items selected by five of the platform's most popular streamers.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 10, 2020

Grubhub's latest online ordering tools won't charge marketing fees

The delivery aggregator's new Direct Order Toolkit allows restaurant partners to add either a direct link for use in email marketing and social media, a direct "order now" button on their website or a QR code on printed materials. 

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 9, 2020

DoorDash valued at $39B after IPO

By selling 33 million shares at $102 a piece, the food delivery company would raise nearly $3.4 million and become the second largest IPO of the year.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 9, 2020

Innovator of the Year: DoorDash

Not long after the pandemic struck, the third-party aggregator rolled out tools for merchants, including commission-free deals, provided streamlined access to PPP applications and cold weather grants.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 9, 2020

The Restaurant Dive Awards for 2020

From Chipotle to DoorDash, these are the companies and executives that led restaurant industry innovation in a time of crisis.

By Restaurant Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020

DoorDash hit with cease-and-desist letter from DC attorney general

The company has decided not to charge D.C. restaurants their contractual DashPass rates at this time following a warning from the District that doing so could put the aggregator in breach of a local delivery fee cap.

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Dec. 10, 2020

Jimmy John's partners with DoorDash using self-delivery product

The partnership marks a strategy shift for the sandwich chain, which once vowed never to work with third-party apps. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 2, 2020

Thrillist, Zuul launch rotating ghost kitchen in New York City

A series of 10 restaurants will lead a two-week chef residency at the shared kitchen facility in the SoHo district, offering limited-edition meals for delivery. Thrillist will cover food, labor, packaging and delivery costs.

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 1, 2020

DoorDash settles lawsuit over old tipping model for $2.5M

The agreement follows a November 2019 lawsuit filed by the Washington, D.C., attorney general's office, which alleged the company misled consumers to believe their tips would increase drivers' pay. 

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 25, 2020

DoorDash launches IPO

The food delivery company's initial public offering stock price is expected to range between $75 and $85 per share. 

By Julie Littman • Updated Nov. 30, 2020

Lyft may wade further into restaurant delivery

The ride-sharing company is interested in expanding into delivery and creating a model without a consumer-facing marketplace that could potentially lower commission rates. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 11, 2020

McDonald's new loyalty program will optimize digital, drive-thru opportunity

The chain will begin piloting the program, which offers personalized orders and deals across all digital touchpoints, at select Phoenix, Arizona, restaurants prior to a nationwide launch next year.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 9, 2020

Grubhub launches $2M winterization grants for restaurants

Eligible independent restaurants in Chicago, New York City, Boston and Philadelphia can apply for $10,000 grants to help prepare for colder months, mirroring similar efforts from DoorDash.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 9, 2020