May 26, 2021 | GroceryGeniuses Blog

Australian firm Zip acquires Middle Eastern fintech platform Spotii for $20M

GroceryGeniuses May 26, 2021

Zip, a Sydney-based BNPL fintech platform, has acquired Spotii, a Middle Eastern buy now pay later firm for $20M and eyes expansion into the Middle Eastern region. The financial deal between the two firms includes an additional payment of $15 million to be made to Spotii shareholders if certain performance milestones are achieved. Spotii had expanded its BNPL services to Saudi Arabia last year.

Sharebite raises $15M Series A funding round to expand its Get and Give initiative

GroceryGeniuses May 26, 2021

Sharebite, a startup offering corporate catering services, has raised $15M in a Series A funding round led by Grubhub and Delivery Hero amongst numerous other investors. The firm’s online platform offers delivery of meals for corporate employees from nearby restaurants and also lets firms choose the meal to be delivered under a given budget. Sharebite’s Get and Give unique approach donates money earned from restaurants as a commission to charity organizations.

Grocers are spicing things up to amplify customers’ dining experience post-pandemic

GroceryGeniuses May 26, 2021

As the restaurants and grocers are opening their door to customers post-pandemic, they have a lot more to offer to captivate shoppers. Lucky California opened a restaurant, The Eatery, and a bar named The Drinkery alongside the grocery section. Restauranteurs and grocers are toying with creative concepts such as outdoor patios to dine, live cooking demos, custom cheese meal platters, and wide eatery and beverage options to keep the customers linger in the grocery store longer and spend more eventually.

A Robotics startup aims to detect user’s food preferences without violating privacy

GroceryGeniuses May 26, 2021

Wings, a robotic startup brand of Let’s Butterfly, is piloting robots to gauge a consumer’s diet change and offer contactless food delivery. This firm will not violate the consumer’s privacy and the changed diet preferences will be embedded in the robot’s system using AI. The AI will also be able to track customers if they change their table in a restaurant and their order will be delivered there. The robots will take the service industry to a whole new level, as CEO Al-Beik said.

GoPuff acquires Fancy, a UK-based delivery firm, to operate outside of U.S.

GroceryGeniuses May 26, 2021

A U.S. based delivery firm GoPuff has added a UK-based last-mile delivery solution named Fancy to its company infrastructure and jumpstart international expansion. Through this acquisition, British consumers shop from the comfort of their home and get delivery of everyday essentials swiftly within 30 minutes. As per GoPuff’s spokesperson, this acquisition represents a $30B market opportunity and the U.S. based firm wishes to continue expansion in the European market in the future.

Shipt and CVS Pharmacy collaborate to offer free same-day prescription delivery

GroceryGeniuses May 26, 2021

CVS pharmacy is working with Shipt, a delivery platform, to upgrade its CarePass membership program. The retail division of CVS Health is offering its CarePass members free same-day delivery of prescribed medicines, along with a 20% discount on all the medicines and a monthly $10 reward. Members can also add products from categories like grocery, first aid, and vitamins to their prescription cart and get free Shipt delivery.

GrubMarket acquires Vaccaro & Sons, a produce and dairy provider, and continues expansion

GroceryGeniuses May 26, 2021

Food Tech and e-commerce startup, Grub Market has acquired the second-biggest produce and dairy products provider in St. Louis, Vaccaro & Sons. Vaccaro & Sons will benefit from using GrubMarket’s software that offers a digital financial and inventory management platform to food suppliers and vendors. Seamless digital CRM tools provided by GrubMarket will upgrade the vendor’s business model and expedite its market expansion.

MeaTech 3D to produce cultured meat in its pilot facility in 2022

GroceryGeniuses May 26, 2021

MeaTech 3D, an Israeli bioprinting startup, is soon going to produce cultured fat and will use the facility of Peace of Meat, a Belgian firm acquired by MeaTech. The firm’s pilot facility will start the production of meat from cells directly and will be operational in 2022. MeaTech’s biotechnology will improve the flavour and texture of meat without slaughtering livestock. Consumers can still enjoy the taste of real meat.

Kellogg’s partners with Chowbotics to pilot cereal distributing robots at universities

GroceryGeniuses May 26, 2021

Kellogg’s Away From Home, a subdivision of Kellogg’s, has partnered with Chowbotics, a division of DoorDash, to pilot cereal dispersing robots at two universities. Students and staff can choose from the menu and enjoy different flavours of milk, yoghurt and cereal bowls to grab a quick bite. The bots are currently placed at Florida State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in an effort to limit human contact.

Canadian rapper Drake helps Daring raise $40M in an investment round

GroceryGeniuses May 26, 2021

Daring, a firm offering plant-based chicken, has secured $40M in a Series B investment round. This round was led by D1 Capital Partners, Maveron, and Canadian rapper Drake. The firm announced to utilize this investment to work on product development, focus on foodservice and retail channels and hire more employees. Daring currently offers four plant-based chicken flavours and will be launching more soon.