Today in Restaurant and Grocery Tech: QSRs Rethink Loyalty as FSRs Adopt Digital Strategies 

Today in restaurant and grocery tech news, PYMNTS research reveals that quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are not in tune with the expectations of their consumers and that foodservice businesses could benefit from adopting subscription models. Plus, Paul Macaluso, CEO of full-service chain Another Broken Egg Cafe, discusses how dine-in restaurants can learn from the digital gains made by QSRs.  

The QSR Industry Has a Loyalty-Rewards Problem   

The Restaurant Readiness Index, a PYMNTS and Paytronix collaboration, talked with 514 managers of QSRs and full-service restaurants in the U.S. to reveal a significant difference of opinion among customers and restaurant managers regarding the ordering features they believe are key to success in the digital-first restaurant ecosystem.  

Wholesalers Woo Independent Grocers with On-Demand eCommerce Solutions 

On Thursday (Oct. 14), United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) became the first wholesaler to partner with DoorDash, integrating the service into its existing suite of eCommerce solutions. Through the partnership, independent grocers can offer grocery delivery through the food ordering and delivery platform and can appear on the DoorDash marketplace. 

Chick-fil-A Lawsuit Highlights Delivery Tensions; Del Taco Boosts Loyalty Engagement  

This week in restaurant news, Chick-fil-A gets sued over alleged delivery price hikes, and Del Taco brings in new loyalty users with a rewards program refresh.  

Deep Dive: How Consumers’ Growing Appetite for Subscription Services Can Help Sustain the Food and Restaurant Industries 

This Deep Dive examines the most recent developments in food and restaurant subscriptions. It also explores how the model’s various forms — including meal kit, direct-to-consumer (D2C) and restaurant subscriptions — are poised to help sustain the sector long into the future. 

Full-Service Restaurants Adopt QSR Strategies to Retain Omnichannel Customers 

As consumers’ digital ordering habits have remained even as mobility has returned, FSRs are forced to rethink what role they will play in the post-pandemic future. Paul Macaluso, CEO of Orlando, Florida-based breakfast, brunch and lunch FSR chain Another Broken Egg Café, which has with 75 locations in 14 states and dozens more on the way, spoke with PYMNTS about the decisions facing table-service restaurants in this year of change.