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ASAP.com Launches Home, Office Food Delivery in NYC

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ASAP.com, the on-demand delivery brand for Waitr Holdings Inc., has launched home and office food delivery in New York City.

Beginning home delivery service in New York is the latest substantial step for the company, as it builds its brand in the Tri-State area. Earlier, ASAP.com secured the exclusive mobile ordering rights with MetLife Stadium, the New York Giants and the New York Jets, and started food delivery in multiple cities in New Jersey.

“The debut of home and office restaurant delivery in New York City marks an important step for ASAP as customers get more acquainted with the brand in the Tri-State area,” said Carl Grimstad, CEO and chairman of the board of ASAP, Inc. “Fans tell us they love using ASAP at MetLife Stadium, and they’re now excited to be able to experience the same excellent standard of service in the comfort of their own homes.”

ASAP.com is known for community outreach and giving back to the cities that it serves.

“We are very fortunate to be the official mobile ordering partner for the Jets and Giants, as it has allowed us to establish and support local grassroots efforts through the Jets and United Way’s Hometown Huddle; and the Giants’ Adopt A Firehouse program,” Grimstad said.

Just last month, in honor of Sept. 11, the New York Giants in partnership with ASAP.com visited a local firehouse as part of the Adopt A Firehouse program. Players from the Giants met with the local firefighters of FDNY Engine 24 Ladder 5, while ASAP dropped off a special food delivery to the station, located at 227 6th Ave. in New York. Giants players had a chance to visit and talk with the firefighters before sitting down to eat with them. ASAP delivered the meals straight to the firehouse from Virgil’s Real Barbecue.

In addition to food delivery, ASAP.com offers delivery of a wide variety of items, utilizing its “deliver anything ASAP” model. Products available for delivery include alcohol, grocery, convenience and retail.

Whole Foods Releases Popular Food Trends List

Whole Foods Market’s Trends Council unveiled its top 10 anticipated food trends for 2023 in the retailer’s eighth-annual Trends predictions. Yaupon-infused beverages, produce packed pastas, repurposed pulp and climate-conscious callouts are among the food trends expected to rise in popularity in the next year.

Each year, the Trends Council – a collective of more than 50 Whole Foods Market team members, including local foragers, regional and global buyers, and culinary experts – compile trend predictions based on decades of experience and expertise in product sourcing and studying consumer preferences, as well as in-depth workshopping with emerging and existing brands.

Whole Foods Market is also bringing back the Trends Discovery Box, a curated assortment of 10 products to represent each of the 10 trends in the forecast. The boxes, available for $30 (estimated value at over $50) allow consumers the chance to taste all the trends at once.

“Our trends predictions are an exciting look at where we believe both product innovation and customer preferences are headed in the coming year. We anticipate seeing these trends in the food industry at large, on dinner tables, in lunch boxes and on our store shelves,” said Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, chief marketing officer at Whole Foods Market. “We’re thrilled to see things like baked goods with upcycled pulp from plant-based milks and ingredients like farmed kelp continue to gain popularity. From product labels that include sustainability efforts to poultry and egg suppliers that are leading the way in animal welfare, many of this year’s trends predictions showcase brands on a mission to make a true impact. We look forward to watching these trends come to life in our aisles in 2023.”

Whole Foods Market’s top 10 food trend predictions for 2023:

New Brew: Yaupon

Yaupon is a holly bush found in the southeastern United States and happens to be North America’s only known native caffeinated plant. Indigenous Americans brewed it into herbal tea and prepared it as a “black drink” consumed during purification rituals. With its mild, earthy flavor and unique benefits, yaupon has become increasingly popular—in Austin, home of Whole Foods Market headquarters, bartenders are even experimenting with yaupon on cocktail menus.

Pulp with Purpose

One in three consumers uses a nondairy milk alternative at least once a week according to a recent poll from Morning Consult. But what about the often-wasted by-products of their production? TikTok creators are exploring ways to use leftover nut and oat pulp at home, and we’re now seeing an influx of brands begin to innovate in the space too. By upcycling by-products like oat, soy and almond pulp, brands are creating new products for the modern baker — think alternative flours, baking mixes and ready-to-eat sweets.

Produce Meets Pasta

First it was chickpea pasta, then cauliflower gnocchi. And who could forget zoodles? Now there’s a new crop of plant-based pasta alternatives to help us all up our veggie and fruit intake, with ingredients like spaghetti squash, hearts of palm and even green bananas. Whether you’re looking for a special diet substitute, a way to incorporate more produce into your diet, or simply want to try something new—these new plant-powered pasta alternatives offer something for everyone.

The Great Date

In spring 2022, dates went viral on TikTok when a creator shared a Snickers-like recipe using the fruit. But the craze for dates isn’t new—they’ve been cultivated and enjoyed since the days of ancient Mesopotamia. Now, thousands of years later, the dehydrated fruit often referred to as “nature’s candy” is having a major renaissance as a sweetener—not only for at-home bakers, but also in the form of pastes and syrups, and hidden in everything from ketchup to overnight oats. With a classic caramel note we can all get behind, dates are having their moment.

A Poultry Revolution

More and more consumers believe chickens should be able to act like chickens, so they’re prioritizing welfare when shopping for both poultry and eggs. Global Animal Partnership (G.A.P.) is implementing a new initiative, The Better Chicken Project, to help improve the birds’ lives as well as the quality of the chicken we eat. Additionally, animal welfare is continuing to trend in chicken eggs, and we are here for it. Egg producers in the dairy case at Whole Foods Market are stretching beyond our better-than-cage-free Animal Welfare Standards for Laying Hens, with even more focus on outdoor time.

Help From Kelp

In its original form, kelp can absorb carbon in the atmosphere, making kelp farming more important than ever in the age of climate consciousness. Kelp grows quickly, doesn’t require freshwater or added nutrients, and is nutritious and versatile in food products—we’re seeing it in noodles, chips, fish-free “fish” sauce and beyond. As consumers seek out alternative ingredients and experiment with new flavors, kelp-inspired foods are gaining popularity.

Climate-Conscious Callouts

Climate consciousness is more relevant than ever, and as a result, brands are working to improve the impact of food and beverage production. Across our aisles, products are taking to their labels to talk about sustainability efforts in a time when consumers expect brands and retailers to do more related to carbon and climate. At Whole Foods Market, we have a team of experts who take the lead on setting our rigorous Quality Standards, providing guidance around this ever-evolving topic to help customers have confidence in what they see on product labels.

Retro Remix

Mac and cheese, pizza bites, classic old-school cereals and more—we all crave the occasional comfort of a meal from our childhood. According to Mintel Global Consumer research, 73% of U.S. consumers enjoy things that remind them of their past, setting the stage for these nostalgic treats to go mainstream. The twist? Retro products are being reinvented with consideration for the wellness-conscious customer, creating the ultimate mash-up of throwback indulgences with better ingredients and special diets in mind.

Only the Finest for Fido

More than 23 million American households adopted a pet during the pandemic, according to the ASPCA. Now, with a return to the office for many pet parents, a focus on Fido’s wellness and palate is more important than ever. Pet supplements like bone broth have exploded onto the scene, and pet food recipes are dialing up the deliciousness. Plus, all pet food and supplements at Whole Foods Market are required to meet our industry-leading Quality Standards for ingredients, making well-being easy for our furry friends.

Avocado Oil Craze

A staple on our shelves for years, avocado oil is finally going mainstream in packaged products across the board. It has some big positive attributes—including high oleic fatty acid content and a high smoke point—to thank for its popularity. Taking the place of other oils like canola and safflower oil in snacks, mayonnaise, ready-to-eat meals and more, avocado oil is sure to stick around.

More details will be included in the December issue of Gourmet News. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a thing!

Starbucks to Sell Seattle’s Best Coffee to Nestlé

Starbucks plans to sell the Seattle’s Best Coffee brand to Nestlé, with which the company established the Global Coffee Alliance in 2018. This transaction will further strengthen the Global Coffee Alliance by allowing both companies to focus on their core strengths.

“We continue to deepen our partnership with Nestlé to deliver the best of the Starbucks Experience to our customers in channels outside of our retail stores,” said Michael Conway, group president, Starbucks International and Channel Development. “We’re confident that Nestlé will continue to grow the Seattle’s Best Coffee brand as we focus on our strategy to elevate the premium coffee experience for consumers through the Starbucks brand.”

Since forming the Global Coffee Alliance in 2018, Nestlé and Starbucks have introduced a wide range of premium coffee products to new markets at a fast pace – including whole bean coffee, roast and ground coffee as well as Starbucks capsules for Nespresso and Nescafé Dolce Gusto proprietary systems. Today, Nestlé distributes Starbucks consumer products and foodservice beverages across more than 80 markets outside Starbucks retail stores under the Global Coffee Alliance.

“Our partnership with Starbucks has confirmed Nestlé’s leading position in the dynamic and growing global coffee market,” said David Rennie, head of Nestlé Coffee Brands. “With the well-known Seattle’s Best Coffee brand, we will continue to build our leadership in coffee by offering consumers more choice for their everyday coffee.”

Through the Global Coffee Alliance, Nestlé and Starbucks will continue to closely work together to develop new, innovative products and go-to market strategies to amplify the reach and expand the unique experience of the Starbucks brand locally and globally.

The transaction is expected to close by end of 2022, subject to respective board and customary regulatory approvals. Both companies have agreed to keep the terms of this transaction confidential.

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