Send us a text

This episode of The Digital Restaurant features Tony Illes, founder of Tony Delivers, a new food delivery service disrupting the Seattle market. The conversation delves into the impact of Seattle’s “Pay Up” legislation, which has reshaped the food delivery landscape, reducing delivery volumes for platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Tony shares his journey from a side hustle as a delivery driver to creating a business aimed at empowering drivers and improving customer experiences.

Key Discussion Points:

• Origins of Tony Delivers: Tony describes his entrepreneurial journey, inspired by dissatisfaction with existing platforms and conversations with friends. He highlights the importance of empowering drivers to run independent businesses.

• Impact of Pay Up Legislation: The ordinance significantly reduced delivery volumes, driving up prices and prompting customers to shift to pickup.

• Empowerment Model: Tony Delivers aims to give drivers autonomy, allowing them to innovate and deliver via any means they choose. It contrasts with traditional platforms that control economic terms.

• Challenges and Growth: Tony outlines his app development, challenges in competing with established marketplaces, and his vision to disrupt the delivery model by cutting overhead and focusing on fairness.

• Future Goals: Tony aspires to redefine the delivery ecosystem, integrating logistics beyond food delivery, and fostering trust among customers, drivers, and restaurants.

The episode highlights Tony’s unique approach to the delivery space, emphasizing autonomy and fairness over profit maximization, and positions him as a rising innovator in a highly competitive industry.

Support Tony through his GoFund me page here: https://gofund.me/74e92b46

Support the show

🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!

📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎤 Have Carl or Meredith come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl & Meredith's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a text

In this festive episode, Carl and Meredith explore five transformative trends in the restaurant industry as we wrap up 2024. They kick things off by discussing how personalization is finally becoming a reality for big brands like McDonald’s and Yum! Brands, leveraging data to craft tailored offers for customers. The conversation then moves to the latest Toast Trend Report, revealing intriguing shifts in dining habits, such as the growing popularity of early-week and same-day reservations, reshaping how restaurants plan and operate.

The discussion continues with DoorDash's proactive efforts to tackle fake Dasher accounts, a move with wide-ranging implications for delivery costs and gig economy efficiency. They also highlight Fresho, an Australian startup revolutionizing the wholesale food supply chain with a $17M funding boost. Finally, the hosts examine how smart technology is integrating with restaurant operations, from POS-connected kitchen equipment to predictive maintenance tools. This episode is packed with insights into how innovation is driving change across the industry.

Support the show

🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!

📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎤 Have Carl or Meredith come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl & Meredith's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a text

In this episode of The Digital Restaurant, Carl and Meredith dive into the hottest topics shaping the future of the restaurant industry. From Touch Bistro’s bold 2025 State of Restaurants Report to the resurgence of ghost kitchens, the conversation explores how technology and innovation are redefining dining trends. The duo breaks down why AI adoption is critical for restaurants of all sizes and examines the latest advancements in electric kitchen technology, including the intriguing concept of battery-powered stoves. Wrapping up the episode, they explore how Google Maps’ AI-driven enhancements are revolutionizing restaurant discovery and customer engagement.

Packed with insights and actionable takeaways, this discussion is a must-watch for restaurant operators, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of dining. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments—whether it’s about ghost kitchens, AI tools, or your views on the electrification of kitchens. Subscribe for more episodes packed with expert insights, and check out the links in the description to dive deeper into the topics discussed!

Timestamp:
0:00 Introduction
02:00 Touch Bistro Restaurants 2025
09:00 Will Ghost Kitchens Make a Comeback? Or Evolove into Software?
12:00 Are Restaurants Ready to Lead with AI?
19:00 Should your next stove have a battery?
22:00 Google Shatters Expectations for Restaurant Discovery
26:00 Closing remarks

Articles mentioned:
1. Touch Bistro Restaurants 2025 https://bit.ly/3LGeVWs

2. Will Ghost Kitchens Make a Comeback? Or Evolve into Software https://bit.ly/3FwLn42
UrbanPiper Aims 10x Growth in US Market: https://bit.ly/3YjvGV8

3. Are Restaurants Ready to Lead with AI?https://bit.ly/3Fa7kbW
How Yum Brands Serves Up Digital Innovation: https://bit.ly/3LY8bpK
Even Mom-and-Pops Are Investing in Artificial Intelligence: https://bit.ly/3YGoeOf

4. Should Your Next Stove Have a Battery? https://bit.ly/3M7s3O2

5. Google Maps Will Use AI to Answer Questions About New Restaurants: https://bit.ly/3M75Qpd

Support the show

🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!

📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎤 Have Carl or Meredith come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant

🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl & Meredith's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.