Uber launching “industry-first” pilot to deliver equipment to restaurants

Uber has announced it is partnering with foodservice equipment distributor Parts Town to provide equipment delivery to operators and service technicians in the Chicago market. A press release calls the partnerships “the restaurant industry’s first” between a parts distributor and ride-sharing provider to offer replacement parts for delivery. If the program goes well, Uber says […]

Restaurants stand to gain as food delivery flourishes

By Kyle Brown As the restaurant industry recovers from the pandemic and all of its accompanying headwinds, one area has instilled hope in the hearts of many restaurateurs: third-party online food delivery. It’s a shining beacon of meaningful and sustained growth – to the tune of an expected US$24 billion in the U.S. and US$154.3 […]

Provincial competition law needed to address the power of gig work platforms

By Vasiliki Bednar and Robin Shaban With the invention of gig-based platforms like Uber and SkipTheDishes, the gig economy has not just become an integral part of the labour industry, but also digital society as well. Along with the meteoric rise in popularity of these platforms, many of these companies have “monopsonies” in their industries. […]

Integrating digital & on-site experience is key to driving restaurant sales

A new report from Paytronix has found that restaurant managers are increasingly looking to integrate physical and online customer experience as a key component of their innovation strategy to boost restaurant sales. The 2022 Restaurant Friction Index found that a cross-channel ordering experience has become an integral approach. Four in 10 (41 per cent) of […]

Ontario establishes basic gig workers’ rights including $15 minimum wage

Ontario has announced “historic” new legislation that would see it become the first province to establish foundational employment standards for app-based gig workers, including extending to them the province’s general minimum wage of $15. The Working for Workers Act 2022 intends to boost protections for digital platform workers who offer rides or deliver food and other […]

The rising importance of multiplatform operations

The increasing prominence and profitability of off-premises dining has been a prominent accelerated shift throughout the pandemic. Now and moving forward, restaurants must realize that appealing to the multiplatform customer is vital for survival and success. Financial services company Rabobank estimates that even coming into COVID-19, off-premises sales had increased nearly four times faster than […]

DoorDash introduces DashMart grocery & convenience store

DoorDash is launching a new DashMart concept that offers its partners and customers a far wider range of items delivered to their doors, as well as giving restaurants and merchants the chance to sell retail products and reach more customers in new ways. DashMart is a virtual store that delivers everyday essentials, groceries, and local […]

2021 Canadian restaurant online ordering trends

After a challenging couple of years, restaurateurs have learned how to adapt to keep their doors open and their businesses thriving. The rise of off-premise dining and third-party delivery point to online ordering as a key component of engaging today’s customers with the convenient, fulfilling experiences they crave.  A new report by DoorDash, 2021 Restaurant […]

New Uber membership combines rides, delivery services

Uber has announced it is launching a new membership program called Uber One that combines its rides, grocery, and food delivery services. The membership costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year and includes five per cent off eligible rides and delivery orders on food, grocery, alcohol, and more. It also offers an unlimited $0 […]

Delivery aggregators & the costs of convenience

A new report has shed light on the extended effects of the pandemic on food delivery aggregators and third-party delivery apps. The inaugural The Digital Divide, Aggregators: The Cost Of Convenience, a collaborative PYMNTS and Paytronix report, examines the spending habits of restaurant customers in the U.S. It found that many consumers came to rely […]