Focus Brands rolls out on-demand deliveryFocus Brands rolls out on-demand delivery

Focus Brands Inc. is rolling out on-demand delivery service for all six foodservice chains in its portfolio, including Auntie Anne's pretzels, Carvel, Cinnabon, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky's, the company said Tuesday.

Atlanta-based Focus Brands has partnered with San Francisco-based Postmates, a four-year-old delivery service that has signed such other big-name chains as Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., McDonald’s Corp. and Starbucks Corp.

Postmates offers delivery in less than 60 minutes in designated markets.

Focus Brands will kick off delivery service at 34 select locations in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Portland and San Francisco.

“If the test goes as planned, additional markets will be added throughout the year, providing delivery in all high-density markets by early 2016,” Focus Brands said in a statement.

“‘On-Demand' is another way to bring our fans' favorite brands to them where they are," Kat Cole, Focus Brands group president, said in a statement.

“A few clicks on the Postmates mobile app or online browser offers a quick and convenient opportunity for fans to savor the products they crave, when they crave it,” she said.

Cole noted that several Focus Brands chains already offer their products in retail and other channels, such as Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s products in supermarkets, and Cinnabon items at such chains as Taco Bell.

Focus Brands CEO Steve DeSutter added, “We see on-demand services as a market disrupter with big potential as an innovative tool to help our franchisees grow their businesses.”

DeSutter said the company was “delighted with the traction” it had seen in Postmates’ service.

Postmates also works with dozens of independent and other foodservice brands and franchisees in local markets, including Chick-fil-A, KFC, Smashburger, Whataburger and Zoës Kitchen.

To visit any Focus Brands digital storefronts via Postmates, customers can download the Postmates app for Apple or Android devices.

Focus Brands has more than 4,000 units in the United States and abroad.

Postmates, founded in 2011, has nearly 14,000 active delivery operators in 30 major U.S. metropolitan markets.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless