UK Café Market, Social Media, Takeaways, Virtual Brands, Potbelly, EMS, Wingstop & More...
🔪 The top F&B industry news from the past week
UK café market set to exceed 2019 value in 2022
📍 UK | James McAllister | Big Hospitality
Data suggests that cafés are in a strong position for covid recovery.
Nearly half of consumers use social media for food and drink recommendations, study finds
📍 UK | Jungmin Seo | The Caterer
5,000 British diners confirm the inevitable; social media cannot be ignored.
Delivery and takeaway sales slip as consumers return to eating out
📍 UK | James McAllister | Big Hospitality
In the UK, dine-out eating picks up steam.
Report: 41% of independent restaurants operate virtual brands
📍 USA | Aneurin Canham-Clyne | Restaurant Dive
Additionally, “68% of survey respondents report their virtual restaurants are permanent additions, and 46% plan to open three or more virtual concepts in the next 12 months.”
Potbelly initiates virtual restaurant partnership with Reef
📍 USA | Nation’s Restaurant News | Photo Source
The toasted sandwich top-dogs Potbelly has “partnered with Reef, the largest operator of virtual restaurants, logistics and proximity hubs in North America.”
Can’t Get Into Eleven Madison Park? Order a $150 Vegan Meal Kit.
📍 New York | Luke Fortney | Eater
Chef Daniel Humm is hoping there is an appetite in NYC for premium vegan eating at home. “A starting price for subscriptions is $150, for a small box that claims to feed one, with a $285 larger option for two.”
Wingstop doubles its expansion plans in Indonesia
📍 Indonesia | Heather Lalley | Restaurant Business Online | Photo Source
“The wing chain on Wednesday said its franchisee will double its commitment in the Southeast Asian country, from 60 to 120 restaurants, by 2028.”
Digital Foodhall Operator and Food Technology Company, ZING, Secures Lead Investor for its USD10 Million Series A Funding Round to Fuel Regional Expansion
📍 Southeast Asia | PR Newswire
ZING’s foodhalls span the gap between physical and virtual marketplaces and are ready for big expansions.
ChowNow founder on rethinking food delivery to serve local restaurants first
📍 Global | Maggie Stamets | TechCrunch
Chris Webb of Chow Now talks restaurant friendly delivery apps.