ChowNow’s Post

Uber delivering your Olive Garden order: Olive Garden’s parent company is finally catching on that the best place to enjoy a steaming plate of fettuccine Alfredo is from the comfort of your bed. Darden announced yesterday it is entering an exclusive partnership with Uber for the next two years to deliver its lasagna to customers. After long resisting third-party delivery apps, Darden said that by May of 2025, diners around the US will be able to order their zuppa through Olive Garden’s app or website and have Uber deliver it. Some locations will pilot the program this year. The announcement came as Darden reported lackluster quarterly earnings for the restaurant many 12-year-olds consider the height of luxury: Same-store sales at Olive Garden fell 2.9% last quarter, more than analyst estimates of 1.8%. CEO Rick Cardenas said July was much slower than the company expected, but restaurant traffic did pick up in August thanks to an early start to its Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion (it usually starts in September). Big picture: Darden reported revenue of $2.76 billion, missing Wall Street estimates of $2.8 billion, but its stock still jumped more than 8% thanks to the Uber collab.—MM https://lnkd.in/e8CqxyMH

🚀 Throwback to when Business Insider highlighted how ORDERIFIC is changing the game for restaurant owners! We're still proud to offer zero commission on orders and deliveries, empowering local businesses to thrive. 🌟 Check out the full article to see how we're making a difference: https://lnkd.in/ddkPHpRH #TechForGood #Innovation #RestaurantTech #SmallBusinessSupport #ORDERIFIC

Tavolope makes restaurant billing simple and fast. It helps staff process orders quickly and keeps track of sales easily. With Tavolope, managing your restaurant’s bills is smooth and efficient, and you can effortlessly generate detailed reports. Get onboard with us to elevate your restaurant’s operations today!! #POS #Tavolope #billingsoftware #Technology #Growth #RestaurantBusiness

Wendy's is embarking on an interesting experiment with surge pricing #pricing #surgepricing #wendys #fastfood 📝 Highlights from the article Wendy's plans to introduce dynamic pricing, much like Uber and Lyft, as it rolls out digital menus to all its US restaurants by 2025. This means that menu items such as burgers and Frosties will fluctuate, costing more during increased demand. Wendy's says that dynamic pricing will allow discounts at slow hours, but 52% of consumers believe it's equivalent to price gouging, according to a Capterra survey. Wendy's is investing $20m in rolling out digital menus to its US restaurants by 2025. 💡 Advantages: ➡️ Dynamic Pricing: Similar to ride-sharing companies like Uber, Wendy’s surge pricing allows them to adjust menu prices based on demand, time, and location. This flexibility can help maximize profits during peak hours or in high-demand areas. ➡️ Real-Time Updates: With digital menu boards, Wendy’s can update prices in real-time, ensuring accuracy and responsiveness to market conditions. ➡️ Customization: Different menu offers during specific parts of the day allow Wendy’s to cater to varying customer preferences and optimize sales. 💡 Pitfalls: ➡️ Customer Perception: Surge pricing might be perceived negatively by customers accustomed to fixed menu prices. Some may find it frustrating or unfair. ➡️ Complexity: Implementing dynamic pricing requires sophisticated systems and algorithms. If not executed properly, it could lead to confusion or errors. ➡️ Risk of Backlash: If surge pricing leads to significantly higher prices during busy times, it could alienate loyal customers and affect the brand's reputation.

Helping Small Restaurant Owners go digital! My key learning from leading the Smart Links pilot has been the realization that while restaurant partners have listed on food delivery sites, many, especially smaller businesses, are now appreciating the power of actively building a digital presence to differentiate themselves in this highly competitive landscape. While some partners realised the need, most were unsure of how to begin. I'm thrilled to share how our latest product, Smart Links, helps partners drive orders from consumers across the web and provides access to data to help them build familiarity and confidence in doing just that Check this link out to learn more about Smartlinks - https://lnkd.in/gQC3nGbX And if you know someone who runs a restaurant business - share this video with them - https://lnkd.in/gMKsvzM2

A staggering 75% of diners say they prefer to check a restaurant’s website before visiting. This statistic really highlights just how crucial a restaurant's online presence can be. When I first learned about this, I took a deep dive into optimizing my own restaurant's website. The experience was revealing. I discovered the importance of not just having a pretty page but ensuring it was user-friendly, informative, and reflective of our brand. It became clear that a well-structured website could bridge the gap between potential customers and our restaurant. What this means for restaurant owners is that investing in your website isn’t optional—it’s essential. It could directly influence foot traffic and online orders. How do you think restaurant websites impact customer choices? What changes have you made to enhance your own online presence? https://lnkd.in/g72fUKhR

In today's fast-paced world, offering convenience is key to success for any business. That's why we've made it easy for your customers to order food with Straunt's Online Ordering feature. Here's how it works: Customer-friendly: Our user-friendly interface makes it easy for customers to browse your menu, customize their orders, and easily checkout. Delivery or pickup: Offer your customers the flexibility to choose delivery or pickup, catering to their preferences. Boost your sales: With seamless online ordering from Straunt, you can increase your reach and attract new customers, leading to higher sales and revenue. Ready to upgrade your restaurant operations? Click on the link in the bio and get started with Straunt, today! #convenience #pickupservices #onlinepresence #fooddelivery #customersatisfaction #restaurantmanagement #restaurantmarketing #restauranttech #restaurantoperations #restaurantpos #ordermanagement #onlineordering #restaurantdelivery #deliveryservices #restaurantbusiness #growyourbusiness #straunt #growith #banter #uncode

When it comes to your business, efficiency is to be prioritized to achieve that expansion and growth prospect of yours. A tool to ease the process of billing, inventory manage, reports and many more would definitely add to the efficiency of the business. It is very much vital to be aware of the whereabouts of your business even when you are on a vacation. Try TavoloPe to maximize your chances of growth and ease of operations of your restaurant. #technology #pos #tavolope #growth #business #restaurants #billingsoftware

With margins slim for restaurant owners, using technology to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experience can be essential for keeping the doors open. Using Clover, success is always on the menu. 🍳🤑 While small businesses have outperformed the rest of the economy since 2020, restaurant spending has taken a slight dip lately, down 3.1% from March to April. Foot traffic didn't significantly change, so it's a sign that consumers are choosing less-expensive items or lower-cost spots to eat. With Clover solutions from Fiserv, users can browse menus, customize items, order, and pay without having to wait in line. It also reduces likelihood of order errors and frees up staff to improve the customer experience. “Not only is the customer experience improved; there’s increased revenues, too,” said Mark Hennin, Head of Clover Growth at Fiserv. “On average, what we see is that a customer, through a self-service device, will spend between 10% to 30% more because of cross-sell and up-sell opportunities."

Happy Saturday! Please checkout this week's edition of Branded Hospitality Ventures' Hospitality Headline Newsletter Newsletter - "Last Call for Alcohol!" The link is in the comment section. The Top of the Fold looks at the decline in alcohol sales, the drivers behind this generational shift in consumer behavior and what restaurant operators need to do in order to make up for the decline in this most important money-maker. This week's first Shoutout goes to our partners at PepsiCo and specifically its DRIPS by Pepsi crafted beverages. The Pepsi DRIPS truck will pouring in Domino Park in Williamsburg BK this weekend from 1pm to 7pm today and tomorrow! A second Shoutout went to ComAve, an innovative online & e-commerce platform for enhance fan engagement and the legendary Arsenal F.C and the partnership which made ComAve Arsenal's official e-commerce marketplace partner. And yes, a third, but quick Shoutout to Big Chicken that captures Shawn P. Walchef post and Entrepreneur Media's article on Shaquille O'Neal and how he used an unconventional strategy to start his chicken restaurant. We have an articles from Branded's restaurant evangelist, 🍔🍟🍕🎙 David "Rev" Ciancio on his 2025 Restaurant Marketing Playbook and our GTM specialist, Seth Temko on the slippery slope of exaggerated claims. And of course, our B-List, which, as always, is created by the "Machine" and its algorithms that continue to highlight the good people that are making things happen in this industry we love. Comments, feedback and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. It takes a village! Michael Schatzberg; Julie Zucker; Drewe Raimi; Noah Stern; Mark Senkpiel; Matthew Lerner; Jordan Schlachter; 🟦 Christopher Sebes; Andrew J. Nash; Kimberly Trouville Smith; Josh Goodman; Josh Halpern; Brandon Barton; Ivan Matkovic; Will Hench; Rajat Bhakhri; Ritukar Vijay; Yossi Meshulam; Taj Adhav; Nabeel Alamgir🦄; 🍽️Zack Oates🍕 & Mani Kulasooriya #hospitalitystrong; #innovation; #technology; #venturecapital