Today in food commerce, Instacart announced plans to open micro-fulfillment centers for 15-minute delivery, and Olive Garden parent company Darden discussed how the company is keeping its prices lower than smaller competitors. Plus, restaurant payment solution sunday announces new ordering tools.
Instacart Leverages Range of Fulfillment Options to Be Consumers’ One-Stop eGrocery Shop
Instacart is entering the ultrafast grocery delivery space. In an announcement on Wednesday (March 23) concerning the company’s new platform offering bundled services, the aggregator said it is planning to offer “Carrot Warehouses,” micro-fulfillment centers for 15-minute deliveries, with supermarket chain Publix set to utilize the option in “the coming months.”
Olive Garden Parent Prices out Competitors, Invests in Digital Pickup Ordering
As soaring inflation has many consumers anxious about their spending, Darden Restaurants, parent company of Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse, among others, is leveraging its scale to price out smaller brands. Raj Vennam, the company’s senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, told analysts on an earnings call Thursday (March 24) discussing the company’s third-quarter 2022 financial results that inflation is double the company’s assumption at the start of the year, with the trend impacting both food and labor costs.
Americans Embrace Old Dining Habits, New Payment Methods
With two-thirds of American consumers saying they’re now eating in restaurants following the COVID-19 pandemic, one aspect of dining out is a bit different: the way people pay. According to PYMNTS research, the share of consumers choosing to frequent fast food and table-service restaurants rose in February, a trend that is likely to continue.
ResTech Firm sunday Debuts Restaurant Ordering Tools
Restaurant payment solution sunday has announced new “Order & Pay” capabilities, according to a Wednesday (March 23) press release. The pandemic has changed consumer behaviors, and per the release, sunday’s tech solutions can help ease the operational pressures that have arisen, such as labor shortages.
Zomato Bolsters Invoice Bazaar Partnership to Deliver Working Capital to Restaurants
Invoice Bazaar, a Dubai-based inclusive finance platform, is renewing its partnership with food delivery company Zomato to help bring working capital to Zomato restaurants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the companies announced Wednesday (March 23). Invoice Bazaar and Zomato initially began working together in 2021 in response to the pandemic.
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