Today in Food Commerce: Uber Launches Bill-Splitting Tools; Instacart Announces New Shopper Features

Today in food commerce, Uber Eats announces new features for group orders, and Instacart aims to provide more support to its in-store shoppers. Plus, grocers and restaurants deal with the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Aggregators Compete to Offer Most Frictionless, Flexible Payment Experience

At the core of restaurant aggregators’ value proposition for consumers is the instant, on-demand convenience they offer, promising to provide what customers want, when they want it. As such, to maximize value, aggregators must provide the most seamless and flexible experience. Uber Eats, for its part, has announced a range of group ordering features, including bill splitting, checkout deadlines, and automatic reminders to get orders in before said deadlines.

Instacart Rolls Out New Shopper Support Features as Gig Model Faces Scrutiny

Amid ongoing reports of the difficult conditions faced by gig workers, aggregators are making moves to create more positive perceptions of the labor model. Instacart, for one, has announced the beginning of the rollout of a range of features meant to provide support to its in-store pickers.

McDonald’s Estimates Russian Eatery Shutdown Will Cost $50M Monthly

While McDonald’s is still calculating the actual cost of temporarily shuttering its eateries in Russia, the world’s largest fast-food restaurant chain estimates it will lose around $50 million per month, or roughly 5 cents to 6 cents per share.

Restaurant Marketplace Launches B2B Payment Platform notchPay

Restaurant supply chain marketplace notch has launched notchPay, the first payment platform for its customers. The notchPay platform is powered by Balance, a B2B payments company described as offering the first online checkout designed for businesses.

Square Launches Loyalty, Marketing Products in Ireland

Square has launched a pair of software products that will help businesses in Ireland increase their sales and build customer loyalty in a few clicks. Square Marketing and Square Loyalty are now available as separate subscriptions for Irish businesses.

Grocery Roundup: Ultrafast Grocers Hit Hard by Russia Sanctions

With Russia’s heavy involvement in the ultrafast grocery space around the world, U.S. 15-minute eGrocers are being heavily impacted by the sanctions placed on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.