Weekly Global News Wrap: Yum Brands makes second tech acquisition this month; Chipotle invests in autonomous delivery company; Doordash named most-downloaded F&B app in U.S.
Here is a summary of the most interesting news stories of the week from around the world.
Yum Brands made its second technology acquisition in less than a month. As reported by CNBC, the group bought Israeli company Tictuk, which allows customers to order food whilst on social media and messaging apps. Read more here.
Chipotle has invested in autonomous delivery company Nuro as part of the startup's latest funding round. The chain said it is now “exploring disruptive opportunities outside of traditional partnerships.” Read more here.
In the U.S., Krispy Kreme said it would give its vaccinated customers a free glazed doughnut by simply showing their vaccination card. Restaurant Business reports that customers can get a single free glazed doughnut every day for the rest of 2021. Read more here.
Cordia, a U.S.-based group planning to launch a series of celebrity-driven virtual restaurant brands starting this June, is looking to use non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other crypto-rewards to generate buzz and drive consumer interest, Nation’s Restaurant News reports. NFTs are digital media, such as artistic works that are verified as authentic using blockchain technology. Read more here.
DoorDash is the most-downloaded food and drink app for the second straight year in the U.S., according to a report cited by Restaurant Business. Whilst third-party apps continued to dominate in terms of total downloads, restaurants’ branded apps also grew at a greater rate in 2020. Read more here.
