Today in restaurant and grocery tech news, Square launches in France, and Albertsons partners with DoorDash for DoubleDash order add-ons. Plus, WOWorks CEO Kelly Roddy speaks with PYMNTS about how the pandemic dramatically changed grocers’ relationship with prepared food.
New Gig App Provider Ranking Features Intriguing Motion, Including Some Demotion
The big dogs of the gig world still hold the high ground, as we expected. DoorDash remains at No. 1, seemingly impossible to dislodge. At No. 2 it’s Uber Driver, yet again, and looking strong despite a recent Dutch court ruling that Uber drivers should be deemed employees. If past is prologue, then Instacart Shopper would be at No. 3 for another cycle — and it is.
The Bring-It-to-Me Economy Comes for Alcoholic Beverages With DoorDash, Uber
The way consumers order alcohol is beginning to look increasingly like the ways they can order other goods they need every day: brought straight to their door within the hour. DoorDash announced on Monday (Sept. 20) that it is adding beer, wine and spirits to its delivery marketplace in 20 states, D.C., Canada and Australia. The news comes after Uber announced earlier this year that it would acquire alcoholic beverage delivery platform Drizly.
Square Launches Business Software Services in France
Following a successful Early Access Programme, global software, payments and hardware platform Square announced on Tuesday (Sept. 21) that it has launched in France, granting small and large French businesses access to the company’s innovative ecosystem with the tools they need to start, run and grow their businesses.
Albertsons Debuts DoubleDash, Lets Consumers Add Merchants to Grocery Delivery
Albertsons is teaming with DoorDash to add orders from local restaurants to their grocery orders. There will reportedly be no new delivery fees or order minimums, and the feature will allow users to order hot and prepared meals from any Albertsons Delo Marketplace.
WOWorks Redefines the Grocerant for the 2020s
The pandemic killed the in-store salad bar, WOWorks CEO Kelly Roddy tells PYMNTS in an interview. Now, as consumers’ food spending shifts toward prepared meals, non-traditional restaurant locations have the opportunity to keep grocers relevant to today’s consumer.
UK Supermarkets Adopt Automated Solutions to Combat Labor Shortage
As United Kingdom grocers struggle against a historically challenging labor market, many are accelerating their automation efforts. On Monday (Sept. 20), it was reported that Germany-based discount grocery giant Aldi is trying out its first checkout-less supermarket in London, and on Tuesday (Sept. 21), U.K. grocer Asda announced that it will begin testing out autonomous delivery with self-driving vans next year.
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