Issue #129 – OnTrend Concepts

February 9, 2023

Peter Cook, Editor

Interesting Ghost Kitchen Digest this week! Not that much hard news, but some very insightful articles (and good podcasts!).

We’re less than a month from the International Ghost Kitchen Conference! Check out the latest and greatest speaker-lineup! It is really good. In the past week alone we have confirmed speakers from Just Eat Takeaway, C3, Virtual Dining Concepts, Wingstop, Deliverect, PKF Hospitality, Clone (formerly Not So Dark), The Lean Kitchen Network, and more! Check out the agenda here. This is a really unique opportunity to network with the leading minds in the business. You can’t afford to miss it. If you want to bring a group of people, reach out to me to arrange a group discount.

Are you a member of the Ghost Kitchens Group on LinkedIn? Join the conversation!

And now, the news…

Cruising Kitchens and Virtual Dining Concepts Return to the Super Bowl

No, not a Super Bowl ad…a Pardon My Cheesesteak trailer is headed to Glendale for the big game! Another nice quick video by Cruising Kitchens.

Speaking of the Super Bowl

Did you see the announcement about the “Super Bowl of Ghost Kitchen Conferences”? The 3rd Annual Ghost Kitchen Conference will be held in conjunction with the Texas Restaurant Show this July!

How to Improve Your Loyalty Participation Rate

Good LinkedIn discussion on loyalty participation.

Roku and DoorDash Have Teamed Up for Interactive Food Delivery Ads

Roku and DoorDash's new partnership is bringing interactive ads to streaming that offer delivery deals with the click of a remote control button.

Redefining the Restaurant: How foodservice is expanding its boundaries

From CPG and smart vending machines to expanding the world of virtual brands, a restaurant can’t be contained within four walls anymore.

Food innovation: how and why do we innovate food?

Food innovations keep the market relevant and exciting by finding more ways of addressing safety, security, and sustainability issues.

Ghost kitchens, personalization. Mintel identifies 2023 trends in foodservice channel

"As part of the foodservice channel, it is worth pointing out the direction related to ghost kitchens, which is consistent with the growing expectations of consumers to get exactly what they want, when they want it," says Honorata Jarocka, Senior Food and Drink Analyst at Mintel.

How casual-dining restaurants are leveraging technology to enhance their kitchens

From Chili’s to Walk-On’s and P.F. Chang’s, operators look to enhance speed and efficiency using new tech tools.

From Micro to Nano: Why Robotics and Automation Are Integral to Last Mile Delivery

Robotics and automation play a crucial role in the last-mile delivery process, allowing for fast and efficient order fulfillment and reducing the need for manual labor.

DoorDash, Uber Eats can now charge SF restaurants more for delivery

The 15% commission cap that went into effect last year to limit the fees San Francisco restaurants pay to delivery app companies has ended.

Chipotle will enhance digital service with automated makelines, gamified rewards

Chipotle’s digital business surpassed $3 billion in revenue during 2022 and represented 39% of food and beverage sales, CEO Brian Niccol said Tuesday.

Wow Bao enters the metaverse with a new NFT membership program

The virtual restaurant concept announced an NFT-based extension of Wow Bao’s current rewards program with an access pass to an exclusive NFT club.

How a recession could impact brands’ metaverse spending

Four metaverse marketing experts shared their thoughts on how a recession might impact spending in the space with Digiday. Here are some of the biggest takeaways.

Uber Eats to back community development loans for Black-owned restaurants

Uber Eats and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation are partnering to offer loans with flexible repayment terms to Black restaurant owners through a Black Restaurant Fund.

Podcast: Challenging Your Marketing Mindset for Growth

In the latest episode of Turning Tables, host and growth strategist, Kathleen Wood, and her guest, Nichole (Cole) Robillard, Chief Marketing Officer at Smokey Bones discuss industry insights, staying competitive and being a marketing leader with a challenger’s mindset.

Podcast: Heroes & Headwinds Features Geoff Alexander, President & CEO of Wow Bao

The Culinary Edge hosts Geoff and talks about their growth, challenges, and human-centric hospitality.

UK: Founder in Five: Q&A with Peckwater Brands CEO Sam Martin

Quick questions for Sam Martin…or you could just come talk to him at the International Ghost Kitchen Conference!

MENA: Grubtech Announces Partnership with Order

Grubtech’s expertise in streamlining kitchen workflows and Order's proficiency in food delivery creates a comprehensive experience for users.

India: What Do You Know About the Largest Ghost Kitchen Operator in the World?

Grab analyst gives a quick overview of a company with which everyone in the industry should be familiar.

India: Saffola Oats Partners with Kolkata based Cloud-Kitchen Edabba to Curate a Dedicated Oats Menu

Edabba is now one of the top local cloud kitchen enterprises in East India, with 8 kitchens and having served over 7 Lakhs orders in Kolkata and Bangalore. The company also owns other cloud kitchen brands such as ebowl, Kolkata Local and Red Lantern under its umbrella.

India: Samosa Singh launches its first QSR outlet in Bengaluru

In addition to the latest QSR outlet, Samosa Singh has over 50 cloud kitchens in 8 cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad.

Southeast Asia: Empowering Restaurants, One Delivery At A Time

Though there are multiple factors that played an important role in the industry’s rediscovered growth, the main highlight of the recent years’ evolution in the industry can be attributed to the introduction of breakthrough technology & innovation in food delivery management tools offered by players like foodpanda across Pakistan.

APAC: New Zealand Police Investigate Deep Discounting of Alcohol by Delivery Firm and Supermarkets

Wait a second, discounted alcohol?!? Someone call the police!

APAC: Vietnam's food and beverage industry to do well this year despite modest economy

The food and beverage market is forecast to grow by over 18 per cent this year to VND720 trillion (US$31 billion).

Our newsletters are a collection of all the news from the previous week related to each digest topic. The focus is on trends, deal announcements, technology, and other industry disruptors and innovations.

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