In this week’s episode of The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Alayna Sullivan, Senior Director of Corporate Comms at Olo, fresh from Food on Demand. Together, they cover five big stories shaping the restaurant and off-premise landscape, including DoorDash’s mega acquisitions, Chipotle's new catering pilot with Olo, and the rising footprint of Wonder.
Timestamps:
00:01:30 – Chipotle x Olo Catering Partnership
- Chipotle pilots Olo’s Catering Plus with promising early features
- Average catering check size = $350+
🗨️ “We are going to see more and more improvements when it comes to the digital interface for catering.” — Carl
00:05:00 – DoorDash Acquires Deliveroo & SevenRooms
- $5B+ in acquisitions as DoorDash shifts toward platform dominance
- SevenRooms' CRM tools broaden DoorDash’s value prop
🗨️ “DoorDash is betting the next wave of restaurant tech is about owning the guest journey.” — Carl
00:10:20 – Huddle House’s Off-Premise Reboot
- Three new footprints designed for off-premise and drive-thru
- Even breakfast gets a modern makeover
🗨️ “This is a blueprint for aging brands to boost frequency and convenience.” — Alayna
00:13:20 – Black Box Data: Industry Outlook
- Traffic down, oversaturation looming, value now a critical consumer trigger
🗨️ “When joy is greater than fear, economic growth begins.” — Lisa Miller (via Carl)
00:21:35 – Wonder Raises $600M, Hits $7B Valuation
- Rapid expansion plans, full-stack food experience, and smart acquisitions
🗨️ “Wonder is playing in spaces like ghost kitchens that haven’t worked for others—yet investors are all in.” — Alayna
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