Today in Food Commerce: Amazon Leverages Grocery Deals; Chick-fil-A Tests Mobile Drive-Thru

Today in food commerce, major retailers look to drive grocery sales during deal days, and Chick-fil-A tests an express drive-thru lane. Plus, DoorDash partners with Canadian grocery chain Loblaws for on-demand delivery.

Amazon, Target Leverage Deal Days to Drive Grocery Sales

As food at home prices continue to soar, grocery shoppers are looking for deals and discounts more than ever. Noting this demand, major retailers are incorporating food and beverage offers into their usual deal day promotions. Amazon, for one, has shared that Prime members will get 20% off “select everyday essentials” from U.S. Amazon Fresh stores year-round starting Wednesday (June 29).

Chick-fil-A Joins in on Efficiency-Boosting Mobile Order Drive-Thru Lane Trend

As restaurants look to boost the efficiency of their drive-thru lanes with digital technologies, Chick-fil-A has taken inspiration from competitors with its new test of a drive-thru lane dedicated to mobile order pickup. The new express lane is live at about 60 locations, with more to come next year depending on how these initial tests go.

DoorDash Inks Deal With Grocery Chain to Boost Delivery

DoorDash has inked an exclusive arrangement with Canadian grocery chain Loblaws, under which the delivery company will build warehouses for the latter. The warehouses will facilitate 30 minutes-or-less delivery for between 5,000 and 8,000 Loblaws’ President’s Choice products. That brand has been licensed to a new DoorDash subsidiary.

Connected Travelers Get a Side Order of Restaurant Reservations

San Francisco-based hospitality industry reservation platform OpenTable is taking its offerings global, looking to provide dining experiences that extend beyond booking tables at local restaurants. The Booking Holdings subsidiary has announced that it has reached a strategic partnership with Inline, a software provider offering a suite of tools, including online reservation booking and table management, to eateries in East Asia.