Best Carl & Stack Podcasts (2025)

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Is First Party Ordering Losing the Fight? 29:36

Play Pause

4h ago29:36

29:36

Send us a text This week, Carl welcomes special guest host Markus Pineyro of Oomi Kitchen to dive into five major stories shaping restaurants and technology. Is first-party delivery really the answer? We explore the economics, customer experience, and hidden costs behind running your own fleet. Burger King’s security scare: An ethical hacker expose…

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Why Agile Marketing is the Essential Restaurant Skill in the Digital Age 27:33

7d ago27:33

27:33

Send us a text This week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Jennifer Kern, CMO of Qu, for a fast-moving conversation about the headlines shaping restaurants, technology, and consumer behavior. We kick off with a surprising stat: half of adults are ordering kids meals. (01:00) What does this say about QSR value wars, portion sizes, and how…

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Beware, Be Kind of Viral Influencers 45:45

30d ago45:45

45:45

Send us a text In this episode of The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Emmy Award–winning storyteller Mike Duffy of Yum Crunch. Together they break down five timely stories shaping restaurants and tech: McDonald’s bets on web ordering through DoorDash—does convenience outweigh control? Yum Brands’ Byte platform fuels $9B in digital sales and r…

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AEO is the new SEO: How AI is rewriting the digital playbook 22:32

2M ago22:32

22:32

Send us a text Carl returns from a July break with Bernadette Heier of Food on Demand to unpack five stories that signal where restaurant tech is heading next. 01:00 – Olo acquired by Thoma Bravo • $2B all-cash deal • A chance to reset outside the public markets • Could this unlock faster innovation? 04:30 – OpenTable’s AI Concierge • Built with Op…

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Who sells $1 Billion of Ads to Restaurants? 23:33

3M ago23:33

23:33

Send us a text This week on The Digital Restaurant, I’m joined by a new co-host — Alex, an AI avatar — as we break down five headlines showing how delivery, automation, and AI are shaping the next wave of restaurant operations: 01:10 – Olive Garden’s off-premise engine is humming Uber Direct integration, buy-one-take-one offers, and nearly 7% same-…

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Rethinking the Restaurant Tech Stack 29:54

3M ago29:54

29:54

Send us a text What’s Inside This Episode? 00:00 – Live from the National Restaurant Show Carl visits Chicago and joins Rich Faltot at Point B’s new Restaurant Technology Innovation Center. “We're stood in a room with 70 screens — and not one is for show.” 01:00 – Why restaurant tech stacks are broken Legacy systems, data silos, fragmented integrat…

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Will Autolane be the future for pickup? 27:47

4M ago27:47

27:47

Send us a text This week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by restaurant real estate expert and 10Rep founder Kyle Inserra. Together they explore the rise of kitchen automation, curbside robotics, and why DoorDash is pausing its Voice AI. Packed with insights from the National Restaurant Show, this episode covers the latest in tech, data, a…

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Who wins the Super App Race? - with Guest Host Alayna Sullivan 27:29

4M ago27:29

27:29

Send us a text In this week’s episode of The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Alayna Sullivan, Senior Director of Corporate Comms at Olo, fresh from Food on Demand. Together, they cover five big stories shaping the restaurant and off-premise landscape, including DoorDash’s mega acquisitions, Chipotle's new catering pilot with Olo, and the risi…

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From Smart Kitchens to Smart Menus with Guest Host Jason Berkowtiz 30:20

5M ago30:20

30:20

Send us a text This week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl and guest co-host Jason Berkowitz dive into: Qu's move toward smart kitchens with integrated IoT systems (0m 50s) A sharp reflection on the restaurant "disruptors" that weren't — from Zume Pizza to Ghost Kitchens (4m 35) Why Chipotle's negative sales aren't just about the economy — and how tr…

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How will Tariffs affect Restaurants? - with Guest Host Deborah Matteliano from AWS 26:20

5M ago26:20

26:20

Send us a text This week, Carl is joined by Deborah Matteliano, the Global Head of Restaurants at AWS, for a wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from tariffs and avocados to AI strategy, Seamless’s surprising comeback, and the limits of restaurant robotics. Drawing from her experience at Uber Eats and now at Amazon, Deborah offers shar…

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Is Bolt Coming for Uber in America? - with Guest Host Yaro Tsyhanenko 24:57

6M ago24:57

24:57

Send us a text This week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Yaro Tsyhanenko, founder of PickPad, to break down the headlines shaping restaurants and tech: ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Meet guest host Yaro, CEO of PickPad 01:00 – Why did Yum Brands partner with Nvidia? 05:37 – What does Qu’s State of Digital 2025 Report reveal? 13:06 – Why…

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Are Restaurants Getting Tired of Tech? - with Guest Host Bernadette Heier 24:50

6M ago24:50

24:50

Send us a text Welcome to The Digital Restaurant! Carl is joined by Bernadette Heier, Managing Editor from Food on Demand, marking the first time a professional broadcaster joins the show. [00:01:07] Planes, (Trains?) & Automobiles – A New Kind of Off-Premise? Shake Shack is expanding its partnership with Delta Airlines, bringing its brand to first…

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Just Eat, Just Sold - The Global Marketplace Consolidation Continues 25:38

6M ago25:38

25:38

Send us a text Welcome to this week’s episode of The Digital Restaurant Podcast! Carl is joined by special guest Olga Lopategui, a leading expert in restaurant loyalty and digital engagement, to break down the latest innovations shaping the restaurant industry. ⏱ [01:07] – Just Salad Gets $200M Investment What makes Just Salad’s tech stack unique? …

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Why does Yum want to own the tech stack - with guest host Cijoy Olickal 33:35

7M ago33:35

33:35

Send us a text Carl welcomes guest host Cijoy Olickal, a restaurant tech expert, to break down key industry trends. 🔹 2025 Restaurant Industry Outlook – $1.5T in sales, shifting consumer habits, tech’s impact on profitability, and labor challenges. Articles One, Two, and Three 🔹 Yum! Brands' Tech Strategy – Is building a proprietary tech stack the …

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Our 100th episode, one host down but Chain of Thought Reasoning top of mind 21:20

7M ago21:20

21:20

Send us a text 🚀 The Digital Restaurant Podcast - 100th Episode Special! 🎉 Welcome to a milestone episode of The Digital Restaurant! This is our 100th episode, and while it's a moment of celebration, it also comes with a bittersweet note—Meredith is off to Seattle to take on an exciting EVP role at Starbucks. We’ll miss her insights, but the show m…

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The 2025 Prediction Show 25:28

8M ago25:28

25:28

Send us a text On today's episode of The Digital Restaurant, we dive into bold predictions for the year ahead, including the rise of Indian cuisine in delivery, the growing role of automated restaurant technology, and speculation on potential acquisitions and IPOs in the year ahead. We also reflect on last year’s forecasts to see how they held up. …

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Tony Delivers takes on the marketplaces 19:38

9M ago19:38

19:38

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…

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Data, Data Everywhere...Are Restaurants Finally Ready to Use It? 17:28

9M ago17:28

17:28

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…

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Are Restaurants Ready to Lead with AI? 26:58

10M ago26:58

26:58

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 do…

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Why Wonder Brought Grubhub 20:20

10M ago20:20

20:20

Send us a text In this episode of the Digital Restaurant Podcast, we dive into several key industry trends and developments. We discuss Wonder's surprising acquisition of Grubhub at a steep 91% discount, exploring how this deal could bolster Wonder's vision of a "super app" for mealtime. The conversation shifts to the growing impact of Ozempic on t…

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Doordash hits profitability while TGI's hits Ch. 11 30:11

10M ago30:11

30:11

Send us a text 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 come and speak …

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What Can Restaurants Learn from Retail? 19:46

11M ago19:46

19:46

Send us a text Articles mentioned in the video: DoorDash and Toast are quietly becoming Shopify Related Article: DoorDash Debuts Commerce Platform, Mobile App Support for Merchants Instacart is likewise wrapping around its B&M clients Related Articles: Instacart focuses on diversifying tech, brand partners to fuel growth Instacart adds games, perso…

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Is Delivery A Luxury? Or A Public Service? 25:25

12M ago25:25

25:25

Send us a text Is drone delivery the future of dining convenience, or simply a fleeting trend? Let's unveil the groundbreaking partnership between Serve's robot delivery and Wing's drone technology, poised to revolutionize how food finds its way to your doorstep. By synergizing Serve's short-distance, heavy-load capabilities with Wing's high-speed,…

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How To Do Delivery Better - According To Your Customers 30:08

12M ago30:08

30:08

Send us a text What if your food delivery arrived late 98% of the time? Join us as we explore staggering statistics from InTouch Insights on the current state of the digital restaurant landscape. Meredith and Carl reveal why younger consumers under 45 are setting the trend in delivery orders and discuss the intricate challenges of ensuring on-time …

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What Can Restaurants Learn from Travel Loyalty? 30:01

1y ago30:01

30:01

Send us a text Can the restaurant industry learn from airlines and hotels when it comes to loyalty programs? In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Irvi Patel, who shares her remarkable transition from the finance sector to her current role leading customer experience and engagement at GoToFoods. Irvi provides a fascinating comparison of ind…

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What will Brian Niccol take from Chipotle to Starbucks? 27:24

1y ago27:24

27:24

Send us a text 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 come and speak …

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Will restaurant traffic ever grow again? 25:54

1y ago25:54

25:54

Send us a text Can technology enhance your dining experience, or is it slowly eroding the personal touch that makes dining special? Join us as we dissect Pete Wells' provocative retirement essay and engage in a lively debate between Meredith and Carl on whether technological innovations like kiosks and mobile ordering are a blessing or a curse for …

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What can restaurants learn from the Crowdstrike crisis? 26:51

1y ago26:51

26:51

Send us a text How would your restaurant handle a massive global outage affecting millions of devices and services? On this episode of the Digital Restaurant, we dissect the recent CrowdStrike crisis, shedding light on how it exposed critical vulnerabilities across various industries, including restaurants. Learn how businesses like Starbucks took …

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Will dashboard dining take off? 25:46

1y ago25:46

25:46

Send us a text What if a new law could make your favorite takeout significantly more expensive? Join us on this week's The Digital Restaurant as we unravel the profound impacts of Seattle's new delivery driver wage laws on local eateries. You'll uncover how a $26.40 minimum wage and additional mileage fees have led platforms like DoorDash and Uber …

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Will Local Kitchens succeed where others have failed? 23:10

1y ago23:10

23:10

Send us a text 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 come and speak …

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Can music makeup the shortfall in restaurant sales in 2024? 24:13

1+ y ago24:13

24:13

Send us a text What if the restaurant industry isn't just facing a temporary downturn, but a fundamental shift in how it operates? Join us on this thought-provoking episode of The Digital Restaurant as we scrutinize Technomic's bearish forecast for 2024, digging into the reasons behind sluggish traffic and rising price sensitivity among consumers. …

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Is restaurant delivery dying? It's for sure matured into the late stage partnerships world. 23:42

1+ y ago23:42

23:42

Send us a text What happens when two industry giants like Amazon and Grubhub join forces? This episode unpacks the latest integration that allows Amazon customers to order directly from Grubhub via Amazon's platform. We'll explore the ripple effects this move could have on competitors like DoorDash and Uber Eats, and speculate on further collaborat…

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How will junk fee legislation affect food delivery? 25:57

1+ y ago25:57

25:57

Send us a text Discover the future of eating out without stepping foot outside your door as Meredith and I slice into the digital dining revolution. We kick off with the surprisingly sophisticated world of pizza trackers, examining whether these real-time updates truly enhance customer satisfaction or if they're just a tech gimmick. But it's not al…

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Unlocking the Deficiencies of Delivery with Travis Kalanick at the Food on Demand conference 24:55

1+ y ago24:55

24:55

Send us a text Join us in this insightful episode of The Digital Restaurant Podcast from the Food on Demand Conference at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Dive into the discussions with industry experts like Andrew Custage from Medallia and Deena DePhillips from Red Robin, as they explore pivotal topics ranging from the impacts of delivery versus pickup …

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What can we learn from the struggles at Starbucks? 28:44

1+ y ago28:44

28:44

Send us a text Discover the future of dining with us as we unravel the latest technological marvels transforming the restaurant industry. You'll get an insider's look at how digital advancements like kiosk ordering and mobile pickups are reshaping the customer journey, yet sometimes leave us tapping our feet with longer wait times. Hold onto your f…

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Why do guests prefer ordering direct for pickup? 26:01

1+ y ago26:01

26:01

Send us a text Discover the future of restaurant delivery and technology in our latest episode, where Meredith and I dissect Deliveroo's earnings, the shift towards first-party pickup channels, and how senators are scrutinizing junk fees. If you're in the restaurant business or just a food delivery aficionado, this discussion is packed with insight…

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Alternative Strategies to Growing your Digital Sales w/ James Buell from World of Beer Bar & Kitchen 38:23

1+ y ago38:23

38:23

Send us a text This special edition of The Digital Restaurant podcast features James Buell COO of World of Beer Bar & Kitchen, discussing the innovative approaches to digital customer acquisition. The conversation revolves around how the integration of technology, particularly through partnerships with companies like Nift, plays a crucial role in d…

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Will driverless deliveries reduce prices? 24:45

1+ y ago24:45

24:45

Send us a text Imagine your dinner zooming to your doorstep, no driver in sight - that's the future we're unpacking as Waymo and Uber blaze trails with driverless deliveries right here in Arizona. The roads to cost reduction and safety enhancements are mapped out in a captivating discussion, where we navigate through the impact on tipping culture a…

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Inclusive Innovation: Lauren Fernandez Ushers a New Era for Women and Minority Entrepreneurs in Dining 19:51

1+ y ago19:51

19:51

Send us a text In this insightful episode, we're thrilled to welcome Lauren Fernandez, the visionary behind Full Course, a groundbreaking initiative reshaping the landscape of the food industry. Lauren joins host Meredith to share the exciting journey and purpose of Full Course, an organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs…

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Will AI take 10%-40% of restaurant jobs? 24:45

1+ y ago24:45

24:45

Send us a text Could your next meal be crafted by artificial intelligence? Tune in as we unwrap the layers of a tech-charged restaurant revolution, where NVIDIA's silicon brains may soon whisk up your dinner while unified commerce cooks up a seamlessly interconnected dining experience. We've sliced into the heart of the pizza-making world at the Ve…

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The Restaurant of the Future - A Panel at Cornell University 1:13:04

1+ y ago1:13:04

1:13:04

Send us a text In a recent captivating episode, industry visionaries Carl Orsbourn, Meredith Sandland, Dan Londono, and moderator Kristen Hawley dove deep into the transformative wave sweeping across the restaurant and hospitality sector. Amidst a backdrop of relentless change propelled by digital innovation, consumer preferences, and the global pa…

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Is 100% digital good for guests? 32:39

1+ y ago32:39

32:39

Send us a text Is the clink of cutlery against plates soon to be replaced by the silent tap of digital orders? Join Meredith and me as we venture into the world of 100% digital restaurants, weighing the pros and cons of this tech-driven frontier. In the bustling realm of quick-service eateries, touch screens and kiosks are quickly becoming more tha…

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How to make Food Safety Easier through Tech - with Christine Schindler of Pathspot 13:26

1+ y ago13:26

13:26

Send us a text Embark on an enlightening journey through the intricacies of food safety with Christine Schindler, the innovative mind behind Pathspot. As the founder and CEO, Christine brings her background in biomedical engineering and global public health into the bustling world of food service, ensuring diners enjoy meals that are just as safe a…

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Restaurants platforms - are chains going to follow the hotel model? 24:44

1+ y ago24:44

24:44

Send us a text Explore the pulsating heart of the restaurant industry with us as we dissect DoorDash's latest earnings and the seismic shifts in food prices that have reached a 30-year summit. As we navigate through the financial intricacies, we shine a spotlight on the subtle strategies at play in this fiercely competitive market. From Focus Brand…

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Sizzling Success: Culinary Content Giants Mike Duffy and Matt Holloway Serve Up a Digital Marketing Feast 24:56

1+ y ago24:56

24:56

Send us a text Unlock the secrets of culinary content kings Mike Duffy of Yum Crunch and Matt Holloway from Bad Manners. Our kitchen conversation sizzles with their innovative strategies for captivating the palates of digital audiences. From selfie marketing triumphs to the subtle art of social media algorithms, they dish out anecdotes of their jou…

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How is spatial computing going to affect restaurants? 25:20

1+ y ago25:20

25:20

Send us a text Get ready to explore the seismic shifts affecting your favorite dining spots as Meredith and I, Carl, guide you through the evolving landscape of the restaurant industry. As Google repositions itself, stepping away from being a middleman in online food ordering, we unlock the repercussions for restaurants and their relationship with …

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Revolutionizing Pizza Delivery: Stellar Pizza's Robotic Trucks Speed into the Future 12:31

1+ y ago12:31

12:31

Send us a text Step aside, traditional pizza delivery—there's a new slice in town, and it’s rolling your way. Join us as we sit down with the visionary Benson Tsai of Stellar Pizza, whose fully automated mobile food trucks are dishing out pizzas faster than you can say "extra cheese, please." Benson, who's traversed from the electric vehicle indust…

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Will the Rabbit R1 impact restaurants? 26:41

1+ y ago26:41

26:41

Send us a text Unlock the future of dining as Meredith and Carl dissect the evolving tastes of the restaurant industry, analyzing shifts in customer ordering habits and the ingenious ways full-service venues are adapting. As off-premise sales maintain their stronghold, with delivery dwindling and takeout holding firm, we bring to light the rise of …

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Holistic Technology: Build Digital Ecosystems for Growth - An Investor's Perspective with Anand Gala 19:06

1+ y ago19:06

19:06

Send us a text Join Carl and Meredith in a fascinating discussion with Anand from Gala Enterprises, recorded at the CREATE conference for Nation's Restaurant News. This episode delves into the critical path to digital maturity for restaurants and the role of technology in this evolution. Anand shares his unique perspective, having grown up in the r…

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Drone Delivery Is Happening Now 24:21

1+ y ago24:21

24:21

Send us a text Ready to envision the future of dining? This week, we're slicing into how Walmart's cutting-edge drone delivery could be a game-changer for the restaurant industry. Imagine your favorite meals flying to your doorstep! We dissect Walmart's innovative approach, servicing 1.8 million households, and its ripple effect on everything from …