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Restaurants cutting delivery fees to promote social distancing

As restaurants across the United States shutter dine-in locations and switch to carry-out and delivery-only options, many fast casuals are discounting or totally waiving delivery fees in an effort to not only help keep their businesses alive but to do also make it easier for Americans to access food.

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March 17, 2020

As restaurants across the United States shutter dine-in locations and switch to carry-out and delivery-only options, many fast casuals are discounting or totally waiving delivery fees in an effort to not only help keep their businesses alive but to also make it easier for Americans to access food.

Texas-based Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes is one of those chains; it's offering free delivery to customers ordering from its app and order.mooyah.com now through March 31. President Tony Darden hopes the decision will help the business, his workers and customers.

"While our delivery and carry out business has increased dramatically due to recent events, we are still seeing a decrease in overall sales and traffic, and expect that to continue for the near term," he said during an interview with FastCasual. "We responded quickly and are offering free delivery from our rewards app and online ordering site through at least March 31st, and our guests are taking advantage of it. We appreciate their business, now more than ever."

Another chain offering a similar promotion is Edible, a franchisor of stores offering all-natural fruit snacks, dipped treats and fresh fruit arrangements with more than 1,100 locations. It has eliminated fees for same-day delivery, and many locations are also offering free home delivery of fresh fruit and produce, Edible President Cheikh Mboup said in a company press release.

"Even though large gatherings are not happening, we recognize that many smaller events and celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries are still going on," he said. "We want to make it as easy as possible for people to continue celebrating special occasions, even during this stressful time."

The ability to order fresh fruit and produce in bulk is designed to alleviate concerns in several areas.

"There are many people who are not able to go to their local supermarket, may be afraid to go out, or may have a loved-one somewhere who is sick or stuck at home. This will help alleviate those issues by allowing people to order fresh fruit and other produce and have it delivered directly to their home," Mboup said.

Varieties of fruit and other produce available for delivery will vary from store to store depending on what is available in each market.

"Right now we are like everyone else," Mboup said. "We are monitoring the situation, remaining flexible and doing what we can to help our friends and neighbors lead as normal a life as possible."

Other restaurants waiving or discounting delivery fees are below:

Brown Bag Seafood Company
Brown Bag Seafood Company, a seven-unit chain in Chicago, hascut delivery fees on all online orders and launched the "Brown Bag Care Package," a family-sized meal including the Lobster Roll with Truffle-Parm Tots and the Grilled Salmon Powerbox.

Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill is offering free delivery through March 31. All orders are customized via Chipotle's Delivery Kitchen, which has a dedicated ingredient line operated by a special team.

The chain has also introduced a delivery tracker to provide step-by-step real-time updates, allowing customers to follow their meals from the restaurant to their locations. To limit direct contact, customers may leave special instructions for drivers in the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com. Also, all orders now feature a tamper-evident packaging seal to help ensure food is untouched during delivery.

"Our Delivery Kitchen is like a Chipotle within a Chipotle, preparing real, fresh, personalized bowls and burritos solely for digital guests," CMO Chris Brandt said in the release. "Chipotle is the first brand to scale this concept nationally with over 2,500 restaurants featuring the unique set-up for digital orders, and our March Free Delivery offer is the perfect opportunity to experience the Delivery Kitchen."

Chipotle is offering free delivery on any Chipotle order $10 or more via the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com.

Cousins Subs
Cousins Subs is offering free delivery on online orders placed through the end of the month. Customers can place their orders through the Cousins Subs website or the Cousins Subs app, and those enrolled in Cousins Club — Cousins Subs' app-based loyalty program —  will receive 1 point for every $1 spent on their delivery orders, according to a company press release.

Wisconsin-based Cousins Subs operates nearly 100 sub sandwich shops in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

Cowboy Chicken
Dallas-based Cowboy Chicken is offering free delivery and curbside pick-up at locations nationwide, according to a company press release. It's also launched Pronto Pick-up, allowing guests to place orders online or via app and pick up from the designated Pronto Pick-Up shelf inside restaurants, according to a company press release.For additional safety, all restaurants are using tamper-proof bags for all takeout and delivery orders.

El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco is offering free delivery on Grubhub orders at participating locations from March 25 to April 7, the company said in a news release. 

Famous Dave's
Famous Dave's corporate store locations are offering free delivery on any purchase $25 or more, using code: FREEDELIVERY at checkout online at famousdaves.com/togo. The All-American BBQ Feast costs $49.99 or a Feast for 2 for $29.99.

Customers may use code BBQ1 for All-American BBQ Feast ($49.99) or code BBQ2 for Feast for 2 ($29.99) at checkout.

Joella's Hot Chicken 
Joella's Hot Chicken, a Louisville-based fast casual restaurant serving hot chicken and made-from-scratch Southern sides, is offering free kids meals and delivery through March 31  in its Ohio and Kentucky locations while it transitions to a carryout, delivery and drive-thru only model in compliance with government orders in each state. All Joella's locations — including those in Georgia and Florida — will change daily operating hours to 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. EDT and offer free kids meals to children 10 and under from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday with no purchase necessary. 

"Our team is taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our guests and our employees," Christina Happel, RVP of Operations for Joella's Hot Chicken, said in a company press release. "We know many children face food insecurities and we want to help school districts and families ensure that every child has a good meal while we work through this difficult time together. For Joella's, doing whatever we can to help is doing the right thing."

Joella's is also offering a gift card bonus enabling guests to save while also showing their support for local employees by purchasing a $25 card for $20, or a $50 card for $40.

Lastly, it is showing its appreciation for hospital and healthcare workers at the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic by offering complimentary catering to hospitals and healthcare facilities near each Joella's location.

Founded in 2015, the company now includes 16 locations throughout Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio and will have 17 stores by Spring 2020. 

Sweetcatch Poke
New York City's five Sweetcatch Poke locations will remain open for no-contact takeout and delivery and are offering 20% off all online orders.

Led by Chef Kohei Kashida, Sweetcatch Poke said it was committed to serving an authentic Hawaiian representation of poke — sustainably-caught fish, cut into chunks, pre-marinated in traditional Hawaiian marinades, such as sweet sesame shoyu — that enhances the texture by making the fish firmer and keeping it moist, and served over a bed of warm rice, marinated kale or vegetable noodles.

Each location will be available for no contact delivery from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will have designated pick-up tables in each restaurant from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Taco Cabana
Taco Cabana is offering free delivery now through April 3 on all orders placed through the brand's My TC! App, www.tacocabana.com/orderonline and Uber Eats.

There is no minimum and no code or coupon is required to redeem the $0-delivery fee offer, according to a company press release.

Taco Cabana, a subsidiary of Fiesta Restaurant Group, has closed all the dining rooms in its nearly 150 units, but the front counters and drive-thrus will remain open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Wing Zone
Wing Zone is offering zero delivery fees on any online orders of $10 or more now through April 6 via wingzone.com, according to the company. Customers may Enter code "DIRECT6" at checkout.
 

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