Today in Restaurant and Grocery Tech: TikTok to Open Ghost Kitchens; RBI Expands Digital Efforts

Today in restaurant and grocery tech news, TikTok teams up with Virtual Dining Concepts to open 1,000 virtual kitchens in the next year, and Burger King’s parent company steps up its digital initiatives. Plus, funding pours in for online grocery.

Restaurant Brands International Inc. Teams with Ant Group to Expedite Digital Shift Across Asia Pacific

Quick-service restaurant (QSR) company Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI), has joined forces with Ant Group to undertake a digital transformation in 1,500 restaurants across eight selected markets in Asia Pacific, according to a Sunday (Dec. 19) press release.

TikTok Takes on QSR Giants with 1,000 Virtual Kitchens

TikTok is entering into competition with major quick service restaurants (QSRs). As Bloomberg first reported Friday (Dec. 17), the video-sharing social network is partnering with ghost kitchen solution Virtual Dining Concepts to open 300 virtual kitchens in March, aiming to reach 1,000 by the end of 2022.

Korean eGrocer Kurly Raises $210M in Pre-IPO Round as Global Competition Heats Up

Around the world, investors remain hungry for food ecommerce solutions. Seoul, South Korea-based grocery delivery startup Kurly has raised 250 billion won, or about $210 million, in a funding round in advance of its initial public offering (IPO), Korea JoongAng Daily reported Monday (Dec. 20), bringing the company’s valuation to more than $3.3 billion.

Grocers Can Leverage Contagion Concerns to Boost Digital Adoption

As contagion concerns rise once again with the rapid spread of new variants, grocers have the opportunity to seize on the resultant shift away from restaurants. By highlighting their digital options and contactless in-store technologies, they can drive adoptions much as they were able to in the early months of the outbreak.