Today in restaurant and grocery tech news, Amazon tests out its Just Walk Out cashierless checkout at two Whole Foods Market locations, while Walmart moves further into contextual grocery commerce. Plus, drive-thru coffee chain Dutch Bros. is going for a $3.3 billion valuation.
Amazon to Pilot ‘Just Walk Out’ Tech at Whole Foods Locations
Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology will be trialed at Whole Foods locations in Washington, D.C.’s Glover Park neighborhood and Sherman Oaks, California, giving shoppers the option of skipping the checkout line, according to a blog post on Wednesday (Sept. 8).
Shake Shack Bets on Food, Fun and Connected Consumers with New Casino Partnership
In Boston, Shake Shack is opening a location in a casino. The restaurant will be at the Encore Boston Harbor resort, and it will open its doors Saturday (Sept. 11) at the resort’s WynnBET Sports Bar. Customers will be able to order at the sports bar and to bring their meals to the gaming tables and machines.
Walmart Partners With Meredith for AI-Informed Contextual Grocery Commerce
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Walmart, the world’s largest grocer, continues to be an industry leader in contextual commerce. The retailer announced on Wednesday (Sept. 8) that it is partnering with media giant Meredith Corporation to create shoppable ads that allow consumers who interact with the media company’s content to add ingredients directly into their Walmart e-carts.
Dutch Bros Seeks $3.3B IPO Valuation amid Drive-Thru Growth
Consumers increasingly want their morning caffeine fix from the comfort of their car. Coffee quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain Dutch Bros. is aiming to raise over $421 million in its initial public offering (IPO), going for a valuation of more than $3.3 billion, per a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday (Sept. 7).
