Today in Restaurant and Grocery Tech: RBI Announces Sandwich Chain Acquisition; Ahold Delhaize to Double eCommerce

Today in restaurant and grocery tech news: RBI announces that it is acquiring sandwich chain Firehouse Subs, and Ahold Delhaize aims to double its digital sales. Karl Goodhew, chief technology officer at BurgerFi, speaks with PYMNTS about how delivery is changing how consumers eat — and what they eat.

Grocery Stores Get Creative to Hide Item Shortages

The ongoing supply chain shortage is leading grocery stores to look for ways to cover up gaps on the shelves, The Wall Street Journal reported. In the U.K., shoppers have found bulky crates of beer in the aisles for prepackaged meals and boxes of chocolate filling crates on aisles usually for vegetables — a tactic one spokesperson said is used to hide empty racks, according to the report.

UK’s Deliveroo Signs Delivery Agreement With French Food Chain

The U.K. delivery service Deliveroo has formed an agreement with the French frozen food company Picard Groupe SAS to provide countrywide express deliveries. As Bloomberg News reported on Monday (Nov. 15), the deal will see Deliveroo’s express delivery service offered in more than 100 cities throughout France.

RBI Announces Acquisition of Firehouse Subs as QSRs Turn Focus to Takeout-Friendly Foods

With the rise in takeout-friendly foods that brands have been seeing since the start of the pandemic, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Popeyes, Burger King and Tim Hortons, is going all-in on sandwiches. The company announced on Monday (Nov. 15) that it is acquiring Firehouse Subs, a sandwich chain with a focus on first responders and public safety.

As Grocery Shortages Rise, Ahold Delhaize Moves to Double Digital Sales

Ahold Delhaize, the parent of Giant Food and Stop & Shop chains that operates more than 2,000 stores in the U.S. and abroad, is looking to double its digital gains with major investments in its online platforms. On Monday (Nov. 15), the Zaandam, Netherlands-based global grocery giant announced its intentions to double its net consumer online sales and reach eCommerce profitability by 2025.

Digital Ordering Is Changing the Way Consumers Eat

The rise in mobile and desktop ordering is not only changing how consumers get their food—it is also changing which foods they get. Karl Goodhew, Chief Technology Officer at BurgerFi, speaks with PYMNTS about how consumers’ digital shift is transforming restaurants from the outside in.