Send us a textIn this episode of the Digital Restaurant Podcast, we dive into several key industry trends and developments. We discuss Wonder's surprising acquisition of Grubhub at a steep 91% discount, exploring how this deal could bolster Wonder's vision of a "super app" for mealtime. The conversation shifts to the growing impact of Ozempic on the restaurant industry, with discussions around how reduced appetites might affect dining behaviors and prompt restaurants to rethink menu offerings...

Send us a textSupport the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl or Meredith come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl & Meredi...

Send us a textArticles mentioned in the video:DoorDash and Toast are quietly becoming ShopifyRelated Article: DoorDash Debuts Commerce Platform, Mobile App Support for MerchantsInstacart is likewise wrapping around its B&M clientsRelated Articles: Instacart focuses on diversifying tech, brand partners to fuel growthInstacart adds games, personalized coupons to its smart carts4. Supply chain AI supporting Wendy's & ChipotleRelated Article: Supply chain AI supporting Wendy's5. Lists - f...

Send us a textIs drone delivery the future of dining convenience, or simply a fleeting trend? Let's unveil the groundbreaking partnership between Serve's robot delivery and Wing's drone technology, poised to revolutionize how food finds its way to your doorstep. By synergizing Serve's short-distance, heavy-load capabilities with Wing's high-speed, long-distance prowess, we explore a new era of delivery efficiency that could breathe new life into ghost kitchens. Yet, as with any innovation, we...

Send us a textWhat if your food delivery arrived late 98% of the time? Join us as we explore staggering statistics from InTouch Insights on the current state of the digital restaurant landscape. Meredith and Carl reveal why younger consumers under 45 are setting the trend in delivery orders and discuss the intricate challenges of ensuring on-time deliveries—only 2% hit the mark! We dissect the complications of batching orders, delve into the importance of accurate delivery estimates, and unco...

Send us a textCan the restaurant industry learn from airlines and hotels when it comes to loyalty programs? In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Irvi Patel, who shares her remarkable transition from the finance sector to her current role leading customer experience and engagement at GoToFoods. Irvi provides a fascinating comparison of industry maturity stages, illustrating the immense growth potential in the restaurant sector through data-driven decision-making and consumer behavior ...

Send us a textSupport the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl or Meredith come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl & Meredi...

Send us a textCan technology enhance your dining experience, or is it slowly eroding the personal touch that makes dining special? Join us as we dissect Pete Wells' provocative retirement essay and engage in a lively debate between Meredith and Carl on whether technological innovations like kiosks and mobile ordering are a blessing or a curse for the hospitality and restaurant industry. While Wells laments the loss of personal interaction, Meredith counters with compelling arguments on the ef...

Send us a Text Message.How would your restaurant handle a massive global outage affecting millions of devices and services? On this episode of the Digital Restaurant, we dissect the recent CrowdStrike crisis, shedding light on how it exposed critical vulnerabilities across various industries, including restaurants. Learn how businesses like Starbucks took a proactive approach to turn a negative situation into a customer win by offering free coffee during the outages. We'll equip you with acti...

Send us a Text Message.What if a new law could make your favorite takeout significantly more expensive? Join us on this week's The Digital Restaurant as we unravel the profound impacts of Seattle's new delivery driver wage laws on local eateries. You'll uncover how a $26.40 minimum wage and additional mileage fees have led platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats to impose a $5 surcharge, slashing delivery demand by half. We explore how restaurants like Bok Bok Fried Chicken and Biscuits are tac...

Support the Show.🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl or Meredith come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl & Meredith's Deliveri...

What if the restaurant industry isn't just facing a temporary downturn, but a fundamental shift in how it operates? Join us on this thought-provoking episode of The Digital Restaurant as we scrutinize Technomic's bearish forecast for 2024, digging into the reasons behind sluggish traffic and rising price sensitivity among consumers. Discover how cutting-edge technology helps us track these trends in real-time yet surprisingly hasn't managed to slash operational costs. We also bring you fresh ...

What happens when two industry giants like Amazon and Grubhub join forces? This episode unpacks the latest integration that allows Amazon customers to order directly from Grubhub via Amazon's platform. We'll explore the ripple effects this move could have on competitors like DoorDash and Uber Eats, and speculate on further collaborations that might completely reshape the food delivery landscape. Amazon's increased stake in Grubhub is a game-changer, and we dissect the benefits for restaurants...

Discover the future of eating out without stepping foot outside your door as Meredith and I slice into the digital dining revolution. We kick off with the surprisingly sophisticated world of pizza trackers, examining whether these real-time updates truly enhance customer satisfaction or if they're just a tech gimmick. But it's not all about the tracking – we also sink our teeth into the heated debate surrounding junk fees in the restaurant industry. How will new legislation impact those extra...

Join us in this insightful episode of The Digital Restaurant Podcast from the Food on Demand Conference at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Dive into the discussions with industry experts like Andrew Custage from Medallia and Deena DePhillips from Red Robin, as they explore pivotal topics ranging from the impacts of delivery versus pickup pricing to the crucial decisions between building versus buying technology. Don’t miss Travis Kalanick's rare appearance at a conference stage, sharing visionary ...

Discover the future of dining with us as we unravel the latest technological marvels transforming the restaurant industry. You'll get an insider's look at how digital advancements like kiosk ordering and mobile pickups are reshaping the customer journey, yet sometimes leave us tapping our feet with longer wait times. Hold onto your forks for our special sit-down with Irvi Patel from GoToFoods and Maria Rivera from Small Sliders at the Food on Demand conference, where we'll slice into the rise...

Discover the future of restaurant delivery and technology in our latest episode, where Meredith and I dissect Deliveroo's earnings, the shift towards first-party pickup channels, and how senators are scrutinizing junk fees. If you're in the restaurant business or just a food delivery aficionado, this discussion is packed with insights on consumer behavior, the UK versus US financial transparency, and whether pandemic-driven changes are here to stay.  Join us as we navigate the dynamic...

This special edition of The Digital Restaurant podcast features James Buell COO of World of Beer Bar & Kitchen, discussing the innovative approaches to digital customer acquisition. The conversation revolves around how the integration of technology, particularly through partnerships with companies like Nift, plays a crucial role in driving customer engagement and loyalty. James shares his journey from a marketer to COO, emphasizing the value of mentorship and seizing opportunities within...

Imagine your dinner zooming to your doorstep, no driver in sight - that's the future we're unpacking as Waymo and Uber blaze trails with driverless deliveries right here in Arizona. The roads to cost reduction and safety enhancements are mapped out in a captivating discussion, where we navigate through the impact on tipping culture and the potential for marketplace delivery services to thrive. Then, in a personal twist, I share a laugh-out-loud debate: when celebrating milestones, should one...

In this insightful episode, we're thrilled to welcome Lauren Fernandez, the visionary behind Full Course, a groundbreaking initiative reshaping the landscape of the food industry. Lauren joins host Meredith to share the exciting journey and purpose of Full Course, an organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs in the culinary world. Lauren reveals the inspiring addition of three dynamic women to the Full Course board, each bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge...

Could your next meal be crafted by artificial intelligence? Tune in as we unwrap the layers of a tech-charged restaurant revolution, where NVIDIA's silicon brains may soon whisk up your dinner while unified commerce cooks up a seamlessly interconnected dining experience. We've sliced into the heart of the pizza-making world at the Vegas Pizza Expo, savored the digital-only innovation of Chick-fil-A's New York experiment, and peppered in Joe Kaskowski's seasoned insights. Our journey through...

In a recent captivating episode, industry visionaries Carl Orsbourn, Meredith Sandland, Dan Londono, and moderator Kristen Hawley dove deep into the transformative wave sweeping across the restaurant and hospitality sector. Amidst a backdrop of relentless change propelled by digital innovation, consumer preferences, and the global pandemic, the panel explored how the landscape of dining and food delivery is evolving. The episode, rich in insights, began with an emphasis on the pressing need...

Is the clink of cutlery against plates soon to be replaced by the silent tap of digital orders? Join Meredith and me as we venture into the world of 100% digital restaurants, weighing the pros and cons of this tech-driven frontier. In the bustling realm of quick-service eateries, touch screens and kiosks are quickly becoming more than just a way to skip the line; they're pivotal in harvesting customer data and inflating check averages, all while striving to maintain that irreplaceable human...

Embark on an enlightening journey through the intricacies of food safety with Christine Schindler, the innovative mind behind Pathspot. As the founder and CEO, Christine brings her background in biomedical engineering and global public health into the bustling world of food service, ensuring diners enjoy meals that are just as safe as they are delicious. At Create last year, Meredith took the conversation to the next level, exploring how restaurants are upping their game in hygiene practices...