News Category: Restaurants

Grubhub Invites Diners to Help Celebrate and Support the Black Restaurant Community

Food is at the heart of all communities and cultures, and this month Grubhub is honoring the diverse culinary plates from the Black community. To support and celebrate our many Black-owned restaurant partners, we are working alongside two organizations who have made an incredible impact in this community, Feed the Soul Foundation and Black Restaurant Week, LLC. Feed the Soul, the non-profit arm of Black Restaurant Week, will be the beneficiary of Grubhub’s February Sound Bites concert featuring Anderson .Paak, The Soul Rebels, Big Freedia, Trombone Shorty and Tarriona “Tank” Ball. In addition, we’re unveiling a new search filter, powered by Dine.Black, to help diners discover nearby Black-owned restaurants.

During February, all proceeds from Grubhub’s Donate the Change program benefit Feed the Soul Foundation, which aims to aid marginalized entrepreneurs in the culinary industry with business development resources and support sustainable business growth. They provide business development training, consultation services to improve business operations, and business resources including programming, funding, technology, workforce training and more. Feed the Soul Foundation will use our diner donations toward the following:

  • Multiple $10K grants will go to restaurant owners for business development, such as menu consultation, operations or marketing initiatives.
  • Restaurant emergency funds to support restaurants in the event of an unexpected emergency such as flooding or a break-in. Feed the Soul Foundation will help provide  resources to help restaurants re-open and get back on their feet.
  • Scholarships to marginalized hospitality management college students, creating a pathway to help grow the next generation of restaurant entrepreneurs.

Our Donate the Change feature allows diners who opt-in to round up their change on their orders. Last year, Grubhub diners across the country donated more than $20 million dollars to various organizations and communities in need of support through the same program. Grubhub also matches Donate the Change contributions by Grubhub+ members. We invite more diners to opt-in to Donate the Change and join us this month to help make an impact in supporting the Black culinary community.

Grubhub is also partnering with Black Restaurant Week, LLC beginning with Black Restaurant Week in the Pacific Northwest on Feb. 19-28th. The partnership will promote Black-owned businesses and help local diners discover and support Black-owned restaurants in Oregon and Washington, with plans to continue with Black Restaurant Weeks in major markets across the country.

Feed the Soul Foundation will also be Grubhub’s donation partner for our popular virtual concert series Sound Bites, which will feature performances by Anderson .Paak and The Soul Rebels, with special guests Big Freedia, Trombone Shorty and Tarriona “Tank” Ball. During the live concert, fans tuning in will be encouraged to comment during the live stream, and Grubhub will donate $5 for every comment (up to $100K) to Feed the Soul Foundation. Sound Bites will take place on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. ET on the Grubhub YouTube channel.

Finally, Grubhub is also excited to unveil a new search filter that will help diners easily find and order from Black-owned restaurants in their area. With the help of Dine.Black, this new filter will showcase thousands of restaurants nationwide on the Grubhub platform.

We have a responsibility to do our part in raising up our fellow foodies and that starts with discovery. We invite our diners to join our efforts by ordering from these incredible restaurants while at the same time supporting other culinary efforts. Visit the Grubhub app or Grubhub.com to find a delicious restaurant near you.

Grubhub gives restaurants expanded commission-free ordering solutions

As restaurants face uncertain and challenging times this winter, Grubhub is introducing a new package of marketing commission-free solutions to make it easier for restaurants to do online ordering through their own digital channels or on-premise properties. These solutions build upon the hundreds of millions of dollars we’ve devoted since March to restaurant support and demand generation, and give restaurants more ways to leverage our Grubhub technology to fulfill orders.

This new package – the Direct Order Toolkit – gives restaurants free access to three solutions to help them drive online orders without any marketing fees:

  • Direct Order Link: An ordering link for restaurants to use in their email marketing or to post on their social media accounts
  • Direct Order Button: A customizable “Order Now” button for restaurants to put on their own websites
  • Direct Order QR Code: A unique QR code for restaurants to include in printed materials like mailers or signs<

 

Above: Direct Order Toolkit available within the Grubhub for Restaurants Dashboard

Grubhub does not charge any marketing fees to restaurants on these orders – just an order processing fee, which the restaurant would face regardless for credit card processing, and a delivery fee if the restaurant wants to use our drivers for delivery. Leveraging our drivers – for these direct order solutions or on our marketplace – is always optional, and tens of thousands of our restaurant partners choose to do their own deliveries with no delivery charge by Grubhub.

“It’s never been more important than right now for Grubhub to find and develop ways for our independent restaurant partners to serve their customers and drive online orders,” said Seth Priebatsch, Grubhub’s chief revenue officer. “The Direct Order Toolkit delivers on that commitment and makes it easy for restaurant owners to offer takeout and delivery on their own channels by adding these commission-free online ordering capabilities.”

Above left: Customizations for the Direct Order Button. Above right: Download options for the Direct Order QR Code

The Direct Order Toolkit is available to restaurants directly on their Grubhub for Restaurants Dashboard. These solutions improve upon Grubhub’s previous online ordering link solutions, offered since 2013 and used for millions of marketing commission-free orders to restaurants.

This is just one step of many to enable restaurants to build loyalty and drive orders in the best way for their unique business. With deep experience through our in-house agency LevelUp, we power websites, apps, loyalty programs and ordering platforms for restaurants. And in the coming months and beyond, we’re committed to providing even more solutions to give restaurants options to drive more orders and serve their communities.

Grubhub And Restaurant Strong Fund Announce New Program To Provide $2 Million In Restaurant Support This Winter

Program offers independent restaurants in Chicago, New York City, Boston and Philadelphia $10,000 Restaurant Winterization Grants

CHICAGO and BOSTON, Nov. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Grubhub, a leading food-ordering and delivery marketplace, and The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund announced the Restaurant Winterization Grant program, a new initiative to provide $10,000 grants to eligible independent restaurants. With indoor dining limited in many cities to combat a resurgence of COVID-19, this financial support will help restaurants prepare for winter, including by helping restaurants address needs for additional infrastructure and equipment to extend outdoor dining, increased personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect their employees, and other necessities to get them through the cold-weather months.

The program will be supported with a $2 million grant recommended from Grubhub Community Relief Fund (GCRF), a donor-advised fund created in March by Grubhub to support charitable organizations helping restaurants, drivers and those in need impacted by COVID-19. Restaurant Strong Fund will also be accepting donations for the Restaurant Winterization Grant program, helping extend the program beyond the initial launch.

“What Grubhub has done already to support thousands of restaurant owners and their employees has been instrumental in helping them make it through work interruptions during the pandemic,” said Greg Hill, Founder of The Greg Hill Foundation.” With this next phase, they will ensure that countless restaurants have a fighting chance to make it through winter. We can’t thank them enough for their initiative and drive to help.”

“This winter will be different than any one before, with the restaurants we know and love needing more support to get through the season,” said Seth Priebatsch, chief revenue officer at Grubhub. “Our partnership with the Restaurant Strong Fund – already instrumental in providing grants for restaurant employee relief earlier in the pandemic – is now responding to the needs of restaurants and providing valuable support to help them survive the challenging months ahead.”

Starting November 9 through November 21, the Restaurant Strong Fund will accept grant applications from all restaurants located in Chicago, New York City, Boston or Philadelphia with five or fewer locations. The application period will close on November 21 and grants will be fully distributed to restaurants before the end of November. Interested restaurants can learn more about the Restaurant Winterization Grant program and the full application process at https://www.restaurantstrong.org/winterize/.

Throughout the pandemic, Grubhub has raised more than $13 million through Grubhub’s Donate the Change program, where diners are able to round up their total at checkout and donate the difference to fund the Grubhub Community Relief Fund. Grubhub matches eligible donations of Grubhub+ members that are opted in to Donate the Change. A snapshot of organizations supported include:

  • Boys & Girls Club of America: Grubhub’s on-going support has helped Clubs reopen their doors across the country, providing a safe environment for parents to bring their children while they are working on the frontlines, whether as healthcare workers, restaurant workers, and delivery personnel. Reopening Club doors supports an array of needs within the community, including helping kids with academics, virtual learning opportunities and providing access to meals for families in need.
  • MEANS Database: Through MEANS Database, Grubhub’s support is used to purchase leftover food from independent restaurants in cities across the country to provide to local nonprofits, including Open Door Missionary Church, World Harvest Food Bank, Common Pantry and Providence Rescue Mission.
  • Rescuing Leftover Cuisine (RLC): With support from the GCRF, RLC purchases meals from Black-owned restaurants that are then donated to food insecure students and their families who need it most. With our restaurant partners also facing hardships due to COVID-19 and reduced in-person dining capacity, this program also provides local restaurants an opportunity to remain active and receive revenue from the meals purchased by RLC.
  • The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund: In addition to the current Restaurant Winterization Grant program, Grubhub also supported the Restaurant Strong Fund’s grant program earlier this year, providing micro-grants to independent restaurants and their employees across the country.

About The Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund
The Greg Hill Foundation responds to the immediate needs of families that have been touched by tragedy. Since its inception in 2010, the foundation has provided over $10,000,000 in grants to families and individuals in need. With more than 1 million restaurants in the U.S. employing over 15 million people nationwide the foundation created the Restaurant Strong Fund to be able to assist restaurant owners and employees who have been impacted by Covid-19.

About Grubhub
Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) is a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace with the largest and most comprehensive network of restaurant partners, as well as nearly 30 million active diners. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features over 300,000 restaurants and is proud to partner with approximately 245,000 of these restaurants in over 4,000 U.S. cities. The Grubhub portfolio of brands includes Grubhub, Seamless, LevelUp, AllMenus and MenuPages.

Statement in support of indoor dining in NYC

“Grubhub strongly supports efforts to allow indoor dining in New York City. Opening doors to local restaurants opens doors to our communities. This step will have a positive and lasting economic ripple effect across the city – helping restaurant workers and families in every community. Equally as important, allowing indoor dining will give New York City nightlife a major shot in the arm. It’s the right policy at the right time.”

Grubhub CEO letter to congressional leaders in support of The RESTAURANTS Act of 2020

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker of the House of Representatives

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy

Republican Leader, House of Representatives

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Majority Leader, US Senate

The Honorable Chuck Schumer

Minority Leader, US Senate

Dear Congressional Leaders:

Grubhub is the leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace with the largest network of restaurant partners in the United States, as well as more than 27 million active diners. With over 225,000 restaurant partnerships in more than 4,000 cities, we are proud of our ability to help drive local revenue by connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants.

These are uncertain times, and while we can’t predict what tomorrow will bring, we recognize our responsibility to do all we can to help keep restaurant doors open. Our business is based on restaurants like the local coffee shop, the burrito joint, the sandwich place, or that great wing spot thriving. And over the last six months, we’ve also seen restaurant owners and delivery drivers fill an essential need in their communities. As a result,we’ve made it our mission to support restaurants and spent $100 million in the second quarter alone to support restaurants, drivers and the communities they live in.

However, the plight of restaurants is of such a magnitude that it requires federal intervention. Now is the time to show these struggling restaurants support by passing the bi-partisan RESTAURANTS Act of 2020. Grubhub stands ever-appreciative of the leadership of Representative Blumenauer and Senator Wicker for introducing this important legislation in both the House and Senate and strongly urges all members of Congress and the Senate to sponsor and pass this critical proposal.

According to the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC), the food service industry directly employs over 11 million people across the country, and indirectly supports 5 million more workers up and down the supply chain. Now, up to 85% of independent restaurants face the grim reality that they may have to close their doors permanently. This important legislation provides for a $120 billion Revitalization Fund that will immediately infuse desperately needed capital into local economies and will help small independent restaurants and the broader restaurant community rebuild after months of closure and what will be months of reduced revenue as a result of social distancing. The Revitalization Fund would generate $248 billion in net economic benefit, and save the jobs of millions of workers in the service industry. It is estimated that one in four jobs lost during the pandemic was from the food and beverage industry, disproportionately impacting people of color and single mothers.

Grubhub again encourages all members of Congress to support The RESTAURANTS Act, and looks forward to working together to protect our restaurants and re-open our country.

Thank you for your continued leadership.

Sincerely,

Matt Maloney

Founder and CEO

Supporting Restaurants and Communities Through COVID-19 and Beyond

These are uncertain times, and while we can’t predict what tomorrow will bring, we recognize our responsibility to do all we can to help keep restaurant doors open. Our business depends on restaurants like the local coffee shop, the burrito joint, the sandwich place, or that great wing spot. And over the last six months, we’ve seen restaurant owners and delivery drivers fill an essential need in their communities.

Put simply: We’ve made it our mission to support restaurants. That’s why we’re sharing an update on our efforts to help our restaurants and communities during this challenging time.

We spent $100 million to support restaurants, drivers and diners.

It became clear early in the pandemic that restaurants needed our support, first as a bridge to federal aid and then to help them survive this time through delivery and pickup orders. In early May, we committed to funding what we anticipated would be $50 million – from the start of April through the end of June – toward driving orders and keeping communities safe. When June came to a close, we had spent twice that amount.

  • $85 million went to driving more orders to restaurants through coupons we funded, reduced diner fees, and increased advertising. This investment stimulated more than $200 million of incremental sales for our restaurant partners.
  • $15 million went to protecting restaurants, drivers and diners. We sent 250,000 personal protective equipment kits to drivers and recognized their efforts with increased pay and more bonuses. We also provided restaurants with tamper-evident stickers giving peace of mind to restaurants and diners that their food would stay secure and untouched in transit.

We gave restaurants more flexibility.

As a demand-generation engine first and a delivery service second, Grubhub is rooted in products and features for restaurants to drive and fulfill orders in the ways that make the most sense for their business. Our established technologies have never been more important, and we complemented them with new offerings that serve restaurants, drivers and diners.

  • Offered since 2013, online ordering links make it easy for restaurants to add online ordering directly to their website. Grubhub does not charge a marketing fee on these orders because the restaurant generated the demand and they should keep the revenue. We’ve facilitated millions of orders to restaurants through these online ordering links.
  • We power websites, apps, loyalty programs and ordering platforms for restaurants through our in-house agency, LevelUp. These products showcase the restaurant’s brand, enabling them to build loyalty and drive delivery and takeout orders however is best for them. In the coming months, with our Grubhub Direct web product, we will also pilot white-label capabilities for SMBs to reach restaurants that previously didn’t have the resources to devote to a customized direct-order website.
  • Grubhub Ultimate now lets diners place in-person orders from start to finish on their smartphone via a QR code instead of touching a kiosk. We’re extending this feature to SMB restaurants without Ultimate by offering a free, custom window sign that includes a QR code for a contact-free pickup ordering experience without any marketing fees. We’ve already sent signs to hundreds of SMB restaurants.
  • Smart Promotions use data to help restaurants grow their orders. Restaurants use the Grubhub for Restaurants portal to specify goals and a monthly Smart Promotions budget, then Grubhub recommends and implements the most effective promotions for their business. We’ve also matched Smart Promotions budgets, allowing restaurants’ investments in these promotions to go twice as far.
    • We continually put data in the hands of restaurant owners through our Insights Dashboard on the Grubhub for Restaurants portal. The dashboard gives a detailed look at daily and weekly sales, orders, menu item performance metrics and trends, all in one place, with new data points frequently added to the dashboard based on feedback from restaurant partners.
  • We implemented contact-free delivery and curbside pickup to keep our restaurants, drivers and diners safe during the pandemic. Contact-free delivery is the default option for diners at check-out, and restaurants can offer curbside pickup to diners and drivers to prevent groups from gathering in the restaurant.

We dedicated more than $7 million and counting to local communities.

Since 2018, our Donate the Change product feature has allowed diners to support organizations that help those in need across the nation by rounding up their total to the nearest dollar. Our diners have collectively donated over $1 million per month through Donate the Change, enabling our charitable partners to make a big impact.

We established the Grubhub Community Relief Fund to provide financial relief for our community, including restaurant partners and drivers. More than $7 million donated by Grubhub and our diners is going to charitable organizations that support communities impacted by COVID-19. These include:

  • The Restaurant Strong Fund gives direct financial support to independently-owned SMB restaurants and their employees. Our donation goes to restaurants and their employees in Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, New York City and Detroit.
  • MEANS makes it possible to donate food from independent restaurants that would have gone to waste to local emergency feeding services. Grubhub’s donation will be used to purchase left-over food from restaurants in Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Providence.
  • World Central Kitchen has activated a network of restaurants and food service providers to safely produce individually packaged fresh meals that are delivered to those in need. Grubhub’s donation paid restaurants for these meals and handled delivery logistics in New York City.
  • The Food Bank of New York City provides emergency meals to vulnerable New Yorkers impacted by the economic downturn and COVID pandemic.
  • The Boys and Girls Club of America offers critical services for young people across the country and much-needed childcare services for essential workers. Grubhub’s donation is supporting the costs of re-opening key childcare centers in New York City.

We also took steps to feed frontline workers through partnerships with Verizon and Hellmann’s Food Relief Fund. Tens of thousands of meals, prepared by local restaurants, were given to healthcare workers in New York City hospitals free of charge. These programs helped both restaurant workers and hospital staff, and leveraged Grubhub’s delivery network to get food from restaurants to the hospitals.

Our work is not done. We’re committed to continuing to add features, products and resources that help our restaurants weather this crisis and support their communities. Restaurants have trusted us as a partner for more than 20 years – we look forward to serving them for the next 20.

Chipotle Announces Partnership With Grubhub To Expand Delivery Footprint

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) announced today that it is partnering with Grubhub, the nation’s leading pickup and delivery marketplace with the largest network of restaurant partners, to expand its delivery footprint in the U.S. Chipotle and Grubhub have established a fully-integrated partnership to provide efficient operations and a seamless diner experience, ensuring food arrives as fresh and fast as possible. Available now, customers can order from Chipotle locations through the Grubhub app or Grubhub.com.

Digital orders from Chipotle are customized via the brand’s Digital Kitchens, which are comprised of a dedicated ingredient station and operated by a special team in nearly all Chipotle locations. Chipotle deliveries also feature a tamper evident packaging seal to help ensure food is untouched during delivery. Grubhub users will also default into contact-free delivery, which allows diners to request their food be left in the lobby or at the doorstep to avoid a direct handoff for their safety and the safety of their driver.

“We are working tirelessly to ensure our network of delivery aggregators can reach as many consumers as possible to deliver real food directly to their doorstep,” said Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer at Chipotle. “We’re happy to utilize Grubhub’s expansive network to reach more Chipotle fans across the country.”

“While more people are staying home in today’s environment, we want to ensure we’re giving our diners the best options and making the experience as safe as possible,” said Seth Priebatsch, Head of Enterprise at Grubhub. “Chipotle is a beloved brand, and we’re thrilled to extend their fresh menu to our millions of diners across the country.”

Investing in digital and increasing access are primary focuses for the business. Chipotle grew its digital sales by 80.8% year over year as of the Company’s Q1 earnings.

ABOUT CHIPOTLE
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle had over 2,600 restaurants as of March 31, 2020, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants. With more than 85,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. Steve Ells, founder and former executive chairman, first opened Chipotle with a single restaurant in Denver, Colorado in 1993. For more information or to place an order online, visit WWW.CHIPOTLE.COM

About Grubhub
Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) is a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace with the largest and most comprehensive network of restaurant partners, as well as nearly 24 million active diners. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features nearly 300,000 restaurants and is proud to partner with more than 200,000 of these restaurants in over 4,000 U.S. cities. The Grubhub portfolio of brands includes Grubhub, Seamless, LevelUp, AllMenus and MenuPages.

Related Links

https://www.chipotle.com

Grubhub and Major Cities Across the U.S. Launch Economic Relief Effort up to $100 Million for Independent Restaurants and Delivery Partners Impacted by COVID-19

Mayors of Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Boston and Portland Team with Grubhub to Suspend Fees from Independent Restaurants
Grubhub Sets up Charitable Fund for Impacted Drivers and Restaurants

CHICAGO, March 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In collaboration with the mayors of large cities across the United States who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 response efforts, Grubhub today announced it is temporarily suspending collection of up to $100 million in commission payments from impacted independent restaurants nationwide.

Grubhub’s initiative will provide immediate and substantial cash flowrelief to qualified independent restaurants — restaurants that make up the majority of Grubhub’s 350,000+ restaurant community and drive more than 80 percent of the company’s orders.

Matt Maloney, Grubhub Founder and CEO said: “Independent restaurants are the lifeblood of our cities and feed our communities. They have been amazing long-term partners for us, and we wanted to help them in their time of need. Our business is their business — so this was an easy decision for us to make.”

Grubhub has also created a fund that will enable proceeds from its Donate the Change program to go toward charitable organizations that support restaurants and drivers impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis. The program will allow diners to round up the change from every order and donate it to the Grubhub Community Relief Fund — with donations from Grubhub+ (and Seamless+) members matched by the company. Grubhub has been raising more than $1 million dollars per month through Donate the Change.

Grubhub will work with local city officials to identify the organizations that can utilize the funds and to consider other support programs during the pandemic.

“The City of Chicago is deeply concerned about the risk COVID-19 is placing on the health of our residents and communities, as well as the impact it’s having on our working families and neighborhood economies and restaurants,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “That is why we applaud corporate leaders like Grubhub who are stepping up with practical measures to support small businesses and their employees. Now more than ever, we must work together to ensure hardworking Chicagoans receive the support they need to thrive while also staying safe, secure, and healthy.”

In Chicago, where Grubhub was founded in 2004 and is headquartered today, there are more than 10,000 restaurants on the platform, and thousands of drivers bringing delicious food from these restaurants to hungry diners. This relief fund will provide support for food industry workers, which are anticipated to become among some of the most impacted by the economic losses due to coronavirus and social distancing practices. This includes residents at small, neighborhood-based businesses like Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles, based in Bronzeville.

As dine-in traffic is expected to slow up to 75 percent over the next few weeks, restaurants will rely on pickup and delivery orders to stay in business. “We have seen revenue decrease in the past week as a direct result of our customers staying home,” said Darnell Johnson, owner of Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles. “Grubhub has helped us generate more delivery and takeout orders as our customers’ dining habits have changed. This has helped us continue serving our loyal customers and our employees can continue living a sustainable lifestyle.”

“Banding together during hard times, putting people over profit, and supporting our local businesses is a model we should all follow, and I thank Grubhub for leading the way,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Restaurants are a pillar of the San Francisco small business economy and so important to the culture of this city,” said Joaquin Torres, Director of San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “We are committed to doing everything in our power to support them in this time of crisis, but if we want to come through this public health emergency intact, we’ll need more private sector partners to follow Grubhub’s lead, do the right thing and invest locally to mitigate this crisis.”

These initiatives follow a series of measures taken by Grubhub to keep restaurants, diners, and drivers safe during the outbreak – including contact-free delivery and health and safety guidance to drivers, restaurants and diners. Additionally, Grubhub offers pickup from the largest restaurant network in the country, which helps individuals who might feel safer acquiring food on their own.

About Grubhub
Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) is a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace with the largest and most comprehensive network of restaurant partners, as well as more than 22 million active diners. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features over 350,000 restaurants and is proud to partner with more than 165,000 of these restaurants in over 3,200 U.S. cities and London. The Grubhub portfolio of brands includes Grubhub, Seamless, LevelUp, AllMenus and MenuPages.

Grubhub Kicks Off Third Year Of RestaurantHER, Continuing Support For Women In The Restaurant Industry

Funded by the more than $1 million raised by diners during 2019 RestaurantHER, James Beard Foundation announces new platform for women in leadership

CHICAGO, March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Grubhub, the nation’s leading pickup and delivery marketplace with the largest restaurant network, is continuing its commitment in supporting women-led restaurants during the third year of its RestaurantHER initiative.

Last year Grubhub diners donated more than $1 million to the James Beard Foundation’s women’s initiatives, and in 2020 the organization is putting those funds to work. With the assistance of Grubhub, the James Beard Foundation will be launching a new digital platform to provide women in the industry with accessible resources, substantially broadening its impact beyond the nearly 400 women the program now supports annually. The platform will provide educational guides on financing and best practices for business planning, as well as opportunities for members to network and connect with potential mentors through local community meet-ups and relevant industry events. Grubhub will also continue supporting local restaurant communities through RestaurantHER, encouraging diners to order from the growing, first-of-its-kind map of women-led restaurants, which now features nearly 50,000 restaurants.

“Thanks to partnerships with leaders like Grubhub, we’ve been able to make a positive impact in supporting women-led restaurants in the industry,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation. “We’ve seen women executive chefs grow in representation within the industry, and although we have a long way to go to achieve gender parity, we’re certainly heading in the right direction.”

“Having access to tangible resources like the James Beard Foundation’s programming is invaluable, and extending these to even more women with support from Grubhub is very exciting. The organization’s ‘Owning It’ workshop was incredibly impactful, giving us the opportunity to network and connect with other women in the industry and provided real tools to help define, shape, and better our business,” said Valerie Zweig, co-founder of Prescription Chicken. “From writing down the vision for our companies to hearing from and interacting with varied industry experts and even doing a live pitch to a panel of investors, we left with practical tools that we have already started implementing into our business.”

Since its inception in 2018, RestaurantHER has helped raise awareness about the long-standing issues impacting women in today’s restaurant industry. In a partnership with Women Chefs & Restaurateurs (WCR), Grubhub supported the development of “Sharpen Your Skills,” a toolkit for aspiring female chefs and culinary leaders to help women navigate and address the challenges they face in the restaurant industry. Additionally, Grubhub contributed to WCR’s scholarship and mentorship programs, assisting and connecting over a dozen women in the culinary industry through formal apprenticeships.

“We’re proud to continue our efforts to drive change in the restaurant industry. Gender equality is important to us, and it’s important to our diners, too,” said Jessica Burns, Vice President of Brand Marketing and Creative at Grubhub. “While there’s still progress to be made, women now make up 22% of all chefs and head cooks, a rise from just over 19% in 2017. At the end of the day, we have a responsibility to raise awareness and give a voice to women in today’s industry, and with partners like the James Beard Foundation we’re able to do just that.”

For more information on Grubhub’s RestaurantHER initiative or to check out the map of women-led restaurants, visit RestaurantHER.com. To find out more about the James Beard Foundation’s women’s initiatives, visit JamesBeard.org.

About Grubhub
Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) is a leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace with the largest and most comprehensive network of restaurant partners, as well as more than 22 million active diners. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features over 300,000 restaurants and is proud to partner with more than 155,000 of these restaurants in over 3,200 U.S. cities and London. The Grubhub portfolio of brands includes Grubhub, Seamless, LevelUp, AllMenus and MenuPages.

 

Grubhub Launches Ultimate Technology For Restaurants To Address $250+ Billion U.S. Takeout Market

– Diners to enjoy order transparency and time savings –
– Restaurants to see increased order volume, revenue and staff efficiency –

CHICAGO, Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Grubhub, the nation’s leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, today launched its Ultimate technology, a revolutionary, first-of-its-kind proprietary hardware and software solution that integrates all restaurant ordering channels into one system. Replacing error-prone handwritten scribbles and shouts, Ultimate is a digital workflow solution, connecting the front- and back-of-the house directly with diners and creating a transparent view into their order status – whether diners order for pickup or delivery on Grubhub, at an in-store kiosk, or directly with a cashier.

There are four components that make up the Ultimate technology:

  • Lightweight point of sale (POS) with direct integration to the Grubhub web and mobile app
  • Heads-up customer displays to show real-time order estimates across all channels
  • In-store self-ordering kiosks to complement the Grubhub app
  • Kitchen display system (KDS)

“Diners have come to expect ordering ahead for pickup to breeze through busy rush hour crowds and grab their morning coffee or lunch, but currently they can only enjoy this convenience at large QSRs. Ultimate now gives restaurants of any size this ability to please diners with an easy, digital pickup experience,” said Matt Maloney, Grubhub founder & CEO. “With Ultimate, we went even further by building integrated kiosks and a digital queue – in person and online – so diners can see the exact status of their order at any time. Most people do not want to order in person or by calling if they have an alternative, and by integrating pickup with delivery orders our restaurant partners have a complete picture to more efficiently manage their operations.”

Pickup, which composes more than half of the over $250 billion U.S. takeout market, is a massive and growing opportunity that has not yet been transformed by digital ordering. The Ultimate technology accelerates adoption of digital pickup and improves capacity management for restaurants of all sizes, giving unique line of sight into all ETAs regardless of the ordering channel. Whether ordering on-the-go or in-person from the cashier or a kiosk, diners get complete visibility in the app and on the displays at the storefront through the Ultimate technology.

“Ultimate is exactly what I was looking for but didn’t know it,” said David Morton, co-owner of Chicago-based DMK restaurant group. “We have designed our new restaurants around this technology because it allows us to provide better service to our customers with less effort and cost. This is a game changer in quick-serve and fast casual restaurants.”

With more than five years of research and development, Ultimate began as an in-app queue where college students could order ahead while sitting in class and have a real-time view of exactly how many orders were ahead of them. They could continue to monitor their order status and would be notified when their order was ready. This transparency allowed students to manage their schedules and avoid skipping meals or eating at other restaurants because of unexpected long lines at their favorites – and still get to their next class on time.

“Students enjoy the convenience of self-ordering opportunities, and we’ve seen demand for our food service operations increase since installation across our campus. It increased the efficiency of our operation while providing a service that is highly desired by our students,” said Zia Ahmed, Senior Director, Dining Services at The Ohio State University.

In addition to ordering ahead via Grubhub, in-store ordering kiosks allow restaurants to migrate employees away from the cash register and back to food prep lines and fulfilment areas, expediting and ensuring accuracy of orders and increasing throughput. Real-time ETAs appear once an order is placed, allowing customers and delivery drivers to precisely time their arrival, avoiding unnecessary and frustrating waiting. Driving further efficiency, the queue seen by customers is identical to that seen by all employees throughout the restaurant, sharing automatic updates at each stage of the order process.

The Ultimate technology also unlocks the potential for stadiums and food halls to join the next generation of restaurants, opening up a new experience for today’s digitally-savvy diner. Instead of standing in never-ending lines, sports fans and concert-goers can order ahead directly from their seat via Grubhub, watching their place from the in-app queue for the exact moment the order is ready. Food halls are able to provide diners a real-time view into wait times for a variety of restaurants, giving the diner control of balancing the choice between restaurant selection and time to food pickup.

Restaurant owners and staff now have access to a custom-built solution, smoothing out process and demand during daily rushes. Currently in over 100 locations, the Ultimate pilot rollout has focused on New York City and Chicago where restaurants have seen pickup demand impact their bottom line. “Since installing Ultimate, I’ve seen sales increase by 10% and employee costs decrease by 15%. I have staff preparing food instead of taking orders and my customers love the kiosks and transparency. This is a millennials’ dream come true,” said Joe Germonatta of Art Bird & Whiskey Bar in Grand Central Station.

For more information, visit ultimate.grubhub.com.

About Grubhub

Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) is the nation’s leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace with the largest and most comprehensive network of restaurant partners, as well as the largest diner base. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub strives to elevate food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub is proud to work with more than 140,000 restaurant partners in over 2,700 U.S. cities and London. The Grubhub portfolio of brands includes Grubhub, Seamless, LevelUp, Tapingo, AllMenus and MenuPages.