Off-premise
Del Taco leans on catering in turnaround plan
Del Taco announced upgrades to its catering service on Thursday, allowing customers to order directly through the brand's website and adding taco salads to the menu. This move is part of the Project Del Sunrise revival plan, launched after the acquisition by Yadav Enterprises, to reverse declining sales. Other industry brands such as Chipotle and Denny's are also intensifying their efforts in the catering market.
Dunkin’ partners with Walmart for delivery
Walmart announced on Thursday that it will offer delivery of Dunkin' food and beverages through its website and app, initially covering 150 in-store Dunkin' locations and gradually expanding to most Walmart stores nationwide. This move aims to strengthen its competitiveness in the food delivery sector, with Inspire Brands as the partner.
Chick-fil-A to close remaining Little Blue Menu restaurant
Chick-fil-A announced it will close its last Little Blue Menu location, situated in College Park, Maryland, with plans to transform it into a traditional Chick-fil-A restaurant by 2027. Little Blue Menu, a 'test-and-learn' concept launched five years ago, aimed to explore new service methods. The first location opened in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2021 and closed in 2023. This closure reflects an industry shift from virtual concepts to in-restaurant dining experiences.
QSR traffic fell 4.4% in May
Placer.ai's latest report shows that quick-service restaurant (QSR) foot traffic in May fell 4.4% year-over-year, continuing the downward trend since the start of the year; meanwhile, full-service restaurant foot traffic rebounded by 0.7% after two consecutive months of decline. Short visits (<10 minutes) decreased by 6.8%, possibly related to high fuel costs.
Church’s Texas Chicken debuts catering
Church's Texas Chicken announced the rollout of its catering delivery service across its entire U.S. restaurant system, offering buffet-style meals, group combo packages, and individually packaged meals. The brand's CEO stated that this move aligns with the continued growth in demand for delivery and off-premise dining. Analysts believe that flexible catering options will help the brand cover more occasions and support its U.S. store expansion and per-store revenue growth.
Subway to offer delivery from Walmart locations
Walmart announced that it will launch Express Delivery on its app and website starting in June, with Subway as the first partner restaurant. Customers can order Subway meals along with their groceries and have them delivered within 30 minutes. Initially covering select stores in six states, the service will expand to about 1,400 stores by the end of summer.
Chick-fil-A opens ghost kitchen in Miami
Chick-fil-A has opened its first Florida ghost kitchen in Miami's Wynwood district, continuing to expand its delivery-only operations. The location, operated in partnership with CloudKitchens, offers popular menu items like Chick-N-Minis around the clock and delivers through third-party platforms. This move extends the brand's exploration of virtual concepts and digital pickup, while its total store count continues to grow in 2025.
Pressed Juicery to open in 27 CloudKitchen locations
Pressed Juicery has partnered with CloudKitchens to enter 27 delivery centers by the end of summer. This move aims to expand online ordering and delivery operations while leveraging its established wholesale production model to reduce operational costs.
Applebee’s offers free delivery to Wyndham Rewards members
Applebee's announced a partnership with Wyndham Rewards to provide free delivery on orders of $15 or more for members ordering through the Wyndham mobile app. The collaboration covers more than 1,100 Applebee's locations in the U.S. within five miles of Wyndham hotels and is expected to further increase the share of its off-premise business.
Pizza Hut franchisee says AI caused $100M in damages
Pizza Hut franchisee Chaac Pizza Northeast has filed a lawsuit against the franchisor, alleging that the Dragontail AI system triggered a 'cascade of operational failures,' slowing order processing and disrupting third-party delivery integrations, resulting in approximately $100 million in business and enterprise value losses. Pizza Hut stated it is reviewing the claims and will respond through legal channels.