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Expect more delivery-only virtual restaurant brands, says Olo CEO Noah GlassExpect more delivery-only virtual restaurant brands, says Olo CEO Noah Glass

Platform adds new 100% digital concepts as it posts earnings growth in first quarter since March IPO

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

May 12, 2021

3 Min Read
olo guy fieri flavortown kitchen virtual brand 700
Chef Guy Fieri entered the virtual kitchen space in February with the debut of the delivery-only Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen.Paul Archuleta / Stringer / FilmMagic

Olo Inc., the on-demand commerce platform for multi-location restaurants, sees a robust future for virtual brands such as celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen and actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Kitchen, CEO Noah Glass said Tuesday.

New York City-based Olo, which released its first earnings Tuesday after its March initial public offering, said it added Bloomin’ Brands’ Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba’s Italian Grill to its roster in the first quarter as well as Culver’s and Nando’s US. It also and expanded its relationship with New York-based Union Square Hospitality Group, the operator of Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern and other brands.

While those established companies had moved onto the software-as-a-service platform, Olo in...

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About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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