Streamline Delivery and Takeout with These Winning Strategies

Digital ordering has fundamentally reshaped the restaurant landscape, with the U.S. online food delivery market poised to surge from $34.9 billion in 2025 to $75.4 billion by 2034.¹ At the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, this seismic shift took center stage as operators, technology providers and industry leaders converged around a single question: How can restaurants capture more of this growth while improving profitability and guest experience?

The answer proved multifaceted. From smart locker technology that eliminates pickup bottlenecks to food products engineered to survive the delivery journey, many solutions revealed that success in digital ordering requires a holistic strategy.

Operators must now optimize not just the transaction, but every touchpoint: the technology infrastructure, the value proposition, the visual storytelling and even the molecular integrity of the food itself. Combined, these elements form a roadmap for the next era of foodservice.

Technology to the rescue

As digital orders flood foodservice kitchens, getting food into customers' hands efficiently has become a critical pain point. Orders get mixed up. An already skeletal staff have more to juggle. And space is a high commodity.

At the NRA show, several innovations stood out to address operational challenges created by surging digital demand. That included robotic equipment eliminating constant upkeep with self-cleaning designs, smart locker solutions for pick-up and delivery orders, and AI-powered management systems that coordinate dine-in, takeout and delivery simultaneously.

Some of the products received the show’s highly coveted Kitchen Innovations awards, according to Tom Cindric, president of exhibitions, Informa Connect Foodservice Group. "Operators are no longer experimenting with technology, they are relying on it,” he said. “This year's recipients reflect how kitchens are using equipment and technology that support consistent execution, faster workflows and better decision-making under real operating conditions."

Incentivizing online orders in a value-conscious market

While emerging technology may streamline delivery and takeout operations, operators face yet another challenge: consumers dining out less often and scrutinizing every dollar they spend. According to Technomic, today's diners are "spending more carefully and expecting every meal to deliver something special."²

This value-driven mindset is reshaping operator strategies. While 37% of American diners report eating out less frequently than they did a year ago, 58% say that buy-one-get-one (BOGO) promotions or limited-time offerings (LTOs) would incentivize them to visit more often.³ Every dollar must now justify itself across price, portion, quality and experience.

That’s when an incentivized opportunity may make a difference. For example, Taco Bell’s “Tuesday Drops” program is an opportunity for rewards members who sign up on the app to access free meals, deep discounts and LTOs on popular items.

Smart operators are deepening customer relationships through these types of loyalty programs (update to new loyalty blog link), and the data shows this approach works. Research from Incisiv's Loyalty Program Index reveals that 66% of consumers order more frequently from restaurants where they're active loyalty members, while 70% of customers engage more frequently with brands where they're enrolled in a loyalty program.⁴ This could signal an untapped opportunity for operators who haven't yet prioritized this channel.

Getting customers’ attention with an LTO you can be proud of is a great start. Here are some recipe ideas for inspiration:

Beer Cheese, Brat and Caramelized Onion Pretzel Pizza. Ideal for game nights, this loaded sensation is topped with Simplot Simple Goodness™ RTE Caramelized-Style Onions.

Mango Peach Daiquiri. Add a little tropical flavor to happy hour with this fruity cocktail enhanced by the clean ingredients of Simplot Simple Goodness™ Peaches, IQF Sliced, Simplot Simple Goodness™ Mango Cubes and Simplot Simple Goodness™ Sliced Strawberries with Sugar.

Roasted Sweet Potato Hash. Early risers will appreciate this special dish that’s hearty and textured with Simplot RoastWorks® Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Simplot RoastWorks® RTE Flame-Roasted Simply Sweet® Cut Corn.

Social media and sensory influence

At the National Restaurant Association Show, it was emphasized that taste alone isn’t enough because “consumers are choosing what to order based on all the senses.”⁵ For example, Gen Z and Gen Alpha diners, who are mostly fans of #CrunchTok on the TikTok social media platform, want to replicate the sizzles and snaps they hear on screen and experience unexpected textures and flavors in real life.⁶

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that 78% of Gen Z and Millennials consider a restaurant's “Instagram/TikTok-worthiness” when deciding whether to dine there. Another point to consider, according to the National Restaurant Association, 62% of restaurant menus include the word “crispy” or “crunchy.”

Here’s a good example of such trending menu items:

Crispy Mushroom Fried Rice Balls. These are served with a creamy avocado sauce, made from Simplot Harvest Fresh® Avocados Avocado Pulp, Frozen, for dipping.

Short Rib Lettuce Wraps. Textured handhelds are crispy, swicy and filled with Simplot Good Grains™ Thai Style Red Quinoa & Vegetable Blend.

Strawberry Avocado Quinoa Bowl. Toasted sliced almonds give this dish the crunch; Simplot Good Grains™ Red Quinoa offer a nutty finish.

Edible solutions ideal for kitchen operations

One of the most challenging menu items to maintain crispiness is an order of fries. Simplot’s Conquest® Delivery+® line can withstand delivery service without getting soggy. That includes:

• Clear Coated Crinkle Cut Fries

• Clear Coated Tin Roof™ Fries

• Clear Coated Lattice Cut Fries, Skin On

• Junior Cut Clear Coated Sidewinders™ Fries

These innovations ensure that the sensory experience customers crave (the crunch, the texture, the visual appeal) survives the journey from kitchen to doorstep, completing the digital ordering ecosystem.