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November 19, 2024 16 mins
Stay informed with the latest updates in the food delivery industry. This episode kicks off with a welcome and introduction, followed by an overview of top stories. Discover Amazon Alexa's new partnerships with Instacart and Uber Eats, enhancing voice-activated shopping experiences. Learn about DoorDash's latest updates, including grocery list import features and a collaboration with Bon Appétit. Explore Uber Eats' teaming up with Stew Leonard's and Instacart's debut of the Express Lane service. The episode also covers Grubhub's acquisition by Wonder Group and its future expansion plans. It wraps up with concluding remarks and a reminder to subscribe for more updates in the tech-driven food delivery landscape.
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Episode Transcript

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(00:00):
Welcome back to Food Delivery Industry News,bringing you the latest trends, innovations,
and business updates in the United States fooddelivery market.
I’m your host, AI Michelle, and this is aMagicPod production by PodcastAI.
Here are our top stories today…
First, Amazon held talks with Instacart, Uber,and others on an AI-powered Alexa.

(00:26):
Second, DoorDash's app can now import yourgrocery list for faster shopping.

Third, craveable groceries, delivered (00:31):
Stew Leonard's is now available on Uber Eats.
Fourth, Instacart's Express Lane offers zerodollar delivery on small orders.
And finally, how will Grubhub elevate Wonder'splatform?
Let's dive into our first story.
Amazon has been in discussions with severalmajor companies, including Instacart and Uber,

(00:55):
about integrating their services into a newAI-powered version of Alexa.
This information comes from an internaldocument that Business Insider obtained.
The upgraded Alexa, internally referred to as"Banyan" or "Remarkable Alexa," aims to be more
than just a voice assistant.
By incorporating advanced AI features similarto ChatGPT, the new Alexa is expected to handle

(01:20):
a broader range of tasks, from ride-hailing togrocery shopping and restaurant reservations.
Amazon's vision is to transform Alexa into theworld's best personal assistant, as stated by
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.
The company hopes to integrate roughly 200partners within three years of launching this

(01:40):
new version.
This move could significantly enhance Alexa'scapabilities, making it a central hub for
managing daily activities through a singleinterface.
Amazon's approach reflects a broader industrytrend towards personalization and seamless
service integration, which is becomingincreasingly important in the tech-driven food

(02:02):
delivery space.
The potential partnerships with companies likeInstacart and Uber signify a strategic effort
by Amazon to diversify Alexa's functionalities.
These companies are set to become the primaryproviders for specific tasks on the platform,
which would distinguish them from the existingAlexa Skills that are essentially third-party

(02:24):
applications.
This initiative aligns with Amazon's efforts toreinvigorate interest in Alexa, particularly
after previous challenges in monetizing theplatform.
However, the success of these integrations willdepend on overcoming technical challenges such
as latency and inaccuracy, which have beenissues in the early stages of development.

(02:47):
Amazon's spokesperson emphasized that whilemany ideas are being explored, they may not all
be part of the final product.
Nevertheless, the integration of generative AIinto Alexa represents a significant opportunity
to enhance user experience and could redefinehow consumers interact with voice-enabled
devices in their daily routines.

(03:11):
Our next story highlights a new feature fromDoorDash that promises to streamline your
online grocery shopping experience.
DoorDash has introduced an innovative update toits app, allowing users to import their grocery
lists directly into the platform.
This feature aims to simplify the oftencumbersome task of adding items to your cart

(03:31):
individually, enhancing the overall convenienceof online shopping.
The process is straightforward.
Once you select the store where you want toshop within the DoorDash app, you can either
create a list or import one.
For iOS users, there's a direct integrationwith Apple's Reminders app, making it easy to

(03:51):
sync your existing lists.
The "Create a list" option allows you to copyand paste lists from various sources on your
phone or manually type items.
This feature is designed to help users quicklysearch and add multiple items to their cart
simultaneously.
While currently the import option is limited toiOS, DoorDash has plans to expand this

(04:12):
functionality to Android devices in the future.
This move not only boosts user convenience butalso helps DoorDash differentiate itself from
other major players in the U.S.
food delivery market, such as Grubhub,Instacart, and Uber Eats.
By offering a more seamless shoppingexperience, DoorDash aims to increase user

(04:32):
engagement and loyalty.
Additionally, DoorDash has announced otherexciting updates just in time for the holiday
season.
They're teaming up with Bon Appétit magazine tooffer users free recipes, with an option to
have ingredients delivered directly from nearbystores.
This partnership further enhances the app'sutility, making it a one-stop solution for meal

(04:55):
planning and ingredient sourcing.
Another significant update involves an overhaulof the app's search functionality.
Users can now search for items across differentmerchants, viewing prices and estimated
delivery times all in one place.
Although this feature is currently availableonly for alcohol, DoorDash plans to extend it

(05:16):
to other categories like beauty and electronicsin the coming months.
These enhancements underscore DoorDash'scommitment to leveraging technology to improve
user experience and stay ahead in thecompetitive food delivery industry.
Our next story is about the exciting newpartnership between Uber Eats and Stew

(05:36):
Leonard's.
This collaboration is set to bring a uniqueshopping experience right to your doorstep,
delivering the farm-fresh and high-qualityproducts that Stew Leonard's is known for.
The partnership allows customers in New York,New Jersey, and Connecticut to order from all
of Stew Leonard's iconic locations through theUber Eats and Uber apps.

(05:59):
Stew Leonard's has long been celebrated for itsexceptional in-store experience and unique
selection of products.
Now, with this partnership, customers have theconvenience of accessing everything from
everyday grocery items to exclusivecult-favorites like dairy-fresh Christmas
Cookie Milk and chef-made chunky guacamole.
This marks a significant step in bringing thebrand's renowned shopping experience into the

(06:24):
digital age, aligning with the increasingdemand for online grocery shopping.
As part of the launch, Uber Eats is offeringspecial promotions to entice customers to try
out the new service.
Uber One members can enjoy zero dollar deliveryfees and a five percent discount on all Stew
Leonard's orders with a minimum purchase ofthirty-five dollars.

(06:46):
Additionally, all customers can receive up tofifty percent off their next Stew Leonard's
order of fifty dollars or more through Novembertwenty-fifth.
These promotions are designed to encourage bothnew and existing customers to explore the
diverse offerings available through the app.
Beryl Sanders, Director of Grocery and RetailPartnerships at Uber, expressed her enthusiasm

(07:08):
for the partnership, emphasizing how it bringsa taste of Stew Leonard's iconic shopping
experience directly to people's homes.
This initiative is not only about conveniencebut also about allowing customers to discover
new items from a beloved brand, enhancing theoverall value of Uber Eats' grocery delivery
service.
Jake Tavello, Chief Operating Officer at StewLeonard's, shared a sentimental connection to

(07:33):
the partnership, recalling how his grandfatheroriginally delivered milk from the family's
dairy to local customers.
This historical tie to delivery makes thepartnership with Uber Eats a natural evolution
of their service, offering online shopping andhome delivery of products such as farm-fresh
milk, chef-prepared meals, and freshly bakedcookies.

(07:55):
The collaboration with Uber Eats allowscustomers to browse a wide range of exclusive
products on the app, including heat and serveitems like parmesan-crusted chicken and
handmade meatballs, gameday favorites such ashot pizzas and spicy chicken wings, and treats
from Bethy's Bakery.
The ability to order these items for immediatedelivery or schedule them for a future time

(08:17):
adds a layer of flexibility and conveniencethat modern consumers increasingly seek.
This partnership is a reflection of the broadertrend in the food delivery industry, where
companies are leveraging technology to offermore personalized and convenient shopping
experiences.
By integrating Stew Leonard's into itsplatform, Uber Eats is expanding its reach and

(08:40):
enhancing its service offerings, making it amore attractive option for consumers who are
looking for quality and convenience in theirgrocery shopping.
Our next story examines Instacart's latestoffering, Express Lane, which is set to enhance
the holiday shopping experience for itsInstacart+ members.

(09:00):
Launched on November eighteenth, this newfeature provides members with zero dollar
delivery fees on grocery and retail orders aslow as ten dollars, a significant reduction
from the usual thirty-five dollar minimum.
This initiative is particularly timely as italigns with the surge in demand for small
orders during the holiday season.
Instacart has identified a trend during theholidays where consumers frequently find

(09:24):
themselves in need of last-minute items,whether it's decorations, gifts, or just a
couple of ingredients for baking.
According to Instacart's 2023 holiday shoppingdata, orders between ten and twenty dollars
increased up to threefold around Thanksgivingand Christmas compared to the rest of the year.
This data underscores a shift in consumerbehavior towards smaller, more frequent

(09:47):
purchases during the festive season.
The Express Lane feature is designed to caterto these needs, enabling Instacart+ members to
have small basket items delivered right totheir doorstep without the burden of delivery
fees.
This is particularly appealing for thosemoments when you realize you need a pinch of
nutmeg for eggnog or have forgotten a keyingredient for Thanksgiving dinner.

(10:10):
The ability to quickly order and receive theseitems without extra delivery costs is a
game-changer for holiday preparations.
Available through the Instacart app andwebsite, Express Lane is positioned as a
holiday-specific perk, reflecting Instacart'sstrategic focus on enhancing user experience
and catering to evolving consumer demands.

(10:32):
By reducing barriers to small order deliveries,Instacart is not only improving convenience but
also potentially increasing user engagement andretention during a peak shopping period.
This initiative is part of a broader industrytrend towards personalization and flexibility
in service offerings.
As the food delivery market becomesincreasingly competitive, companies like

(10:55):
Instacart are leveraging technology andconsumer insights to deliver more tailored
solutions.
The introduction of Express Lane highlights theimportance of understanding and adapting to
consumer behavior, particularly duringhigh-demand periods like the holidays.
Overall, Instacart's Express Lane underscoresthe company's commitment to innovation and

(11:17):
customer satisfaction.
By addressing the unique challenges of holidayshopping, Instacart is not only meeting
immediate consumer needs but also setting aprecedent for future service enhancements.
As the landscape of food delivery continues toevolve, initiatives like these will likely
become more prevalent, driving further growthand transformation in the industry.

(11:42):
Our final story today delves into the strategicacquisition of Grubhub by Wonder Group, the
innovative ghost kitchen food hall founded byMarc Lore, who also founded Jet.com.
Wonder has been making waves in the fooddelivery industry with its unique business
model that allows customers to order dishesfrom multiple restaurants in a single
transaction for delivery, dine-in, or pickup.

(12:05):
This acquisition marks a significant milestonein Wonder's journey to becoming the "super app
for mealtime."
Launched in 2018, Wonder has alreadyestablished 28 locations, primarily in the New
York City area, with aspirations to expand to90 locations by the end of next year.
The company's offerings are diverse, featuringrecipes developed by renowned chefs like Bobby

(12:29):
Flay, Jose Andres, and Marcus Samuelsson,alongside meals from prestigious restaurants
such as Tejas Barbeque and Di Fara Pizza.
In a strategic move last year, Wonder acquiredthe meal kit service Blue Apron, further
broadening its range of culinary options.
What sets Wonder apart is its ability toprovide a wide variety of dishes that are

(12:52):
"par-cooked" at a central kitchen and finishedat local outlets using minimal equipment.
This innovative approach allows Wonder tomaintain high-quality standards while offering
a vast selection of up to 500 items across 28distinct menus at any given location.
The model capitalizes on the premise that whileindividual city blocks might not support

(13:17):
multiple restaurants, they can sustain a singlelocation offering multiple cuisines.
The acquisition of Grubhub not only enhancesWonder's delivery capabilities but also
provides access to Grubhub's extensive networkof delivery drivers and advanced delivery
technology.
This integration will augment Wonder's existingdelivery operations, which already saw an

(13:40):
expansion with the acquisition of the NYC-basedbike-delivery company Relay.
Grubhub's platform, with its over 375,000merchants and 200,000 delivery partners across
the U.S., complements Wonder's mission toprovide a seamless and comprehensive dining
experience.
This acquisition comes at a price of 650million dollars, a notable decrease from the

(14:05):
over 7 billion dollars paid for Grubhub by itsprevious owner, Just Eat Takeaway.com, during
the pandemic's peak.
This price adjustment reflects the currentmarket conditions, where competition from
DoorDash and Uber Eats has intensified, leadingto a decline in Grubhub's market share.
However, with this acquisition, Wonder aims torevitalize Grubhub's operations and integrate

(14:30):
its services into a unified platform thatoffers first-party and third-party restaurant,
grocery, and meal kit options.
Wonder has also secured an additional 250million dollars in funding, bringing its total
capital raised to 1.5 billion dollars.
This financial backing will support Wonder'sambitious expansion plans and further

(14:52):
development of its super app.
Marc Lore, CEO of Wonder, expressed hisexcitement about the acquisition, highlighting
the potential to enhance Wonder's offeringswith Grubhub's established network and
technological capabilities, ultimatelyproviding consumers with a more personalized
and convenient meal ordering experience.

(15:14):
The Grubhub acquisition is set to finalize inthe first quarter of 2025, marking a
transformative step for Wonder.
By integrating Grubhub's resources, Wonder ispoised to redefine the food delivery landscape,
offering a unique blend of curated,multi-restaurant ordering with an emphasis on
personalization.
This move not only strengthens Wonder'sposition in the competitive food delivery

(15:37):
market but also sets a precedent for futureinnovations in how consumers engage with food
delivery services.
That’s a wrap on today’s Food Delivery Daily.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure tosubscribe or follow so you don’t miss out on
the latest in food delivery—industry news, keyupdates, and everything in between.

(15:58):
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