What role will third-party delivery play in your business in 2026, and why is that important?

A little more than a decade ago, food delivery was almost always limited to takeout pizza. In recent years, fueled by the pandemic, third-party delivery services such as DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats have become household names. These services have opened a new source of revenue for many fast-food and QSR brands that don’t have the vehicles or employees for food delivery.

Franchise Update spoke with several multi-unit franchisees about the impact third-party delivery services will have on their restaurants this year. Depending on the concept, these services play varying roles in their businesses. Although delivery is a smaller part of a coffee brand, for restaurants serving lunch or dinner, having the service has almost become a necessity.

Incorporating third-party delivery has become a big part of a food franchise’s operation. It has opened up business to more customers as people prefer to eat at home or enjoy the convenience of having their meals come to them rather than going out. With the increased use of these services, several franchisees have stressed the importance of ensuring the food stays warm, remains intact, and is visually appealing upon arrival.

In this week’s Franchisee Bytes section, we asked several multi-unit restaurant franchisees about some of the top things people do to get into their proverbial doghouse. We all have lines that people can’t cross, and when they do, there will be consequences. For restaurant operators, those people are often the large number of employees and managers they oversee, as well as vendors and business partners. Their responses included people who lie, have a poor work ethic, fail to see things through, and treat customers poorly. Read their responses below and be sure to stay on their good side.

Raj Patel

Company: The Hari Group
Brands: 101 Dunkin’, 22 Dave’s Hot Chicken, 6 McAlister’s Deli, 2 Tide Dry Cleaners, 1 Currito
Years in Franchising: 16

Third-party delivery has become a core part of the business for several of our brands. At Dunkin’, it continues to grow every year, and I fully expect that trend to continue. We’ve invested in delivery-specific packaging that ensures the product travels well and shows up looking great for the guest.

At Dave’s Hot Chicken, third-party delivery is an even bigger part of the business. Chicken is one of the hottest delivery categories, and we truly have one of the best-traveling products in the industry. From a numbers standpoint, the focus is on optimizing the channel, driving trial through third-party delivery, and pushing for strong double-digit growth.

Kelly Dunn Hart

Company: PB New Jersey LLC
Brands: 3 Wendy’s. Previous operating experience with Tijuana Flats, Wahlburgers, Guy Fiery's All American Restaurants, Honest John’s. Signed a new franchise agreement for 15 Potbelly shops.
Years in Franchising: 23

It is amazing how third-party delivery has evolved in the world of QSR and fast casual since the pandemic. Third-party delivery has opened an additional channel for guests to access our businesses, which attracts new guests and repeat visits. If executed properly (packaging and accuracy being paramount), this channel is essential to growing sales and transactions as well as brand relevance in 2026. When the guest experience is met and exceeded, it’s a win-win-win for our guests, our shops, and our delivery partners.

Greg Costley

Company: Costley Enterprises Inc.
Brands: 14 Cicis Pizza
Years in Franchising: 28

Third-party delivery will continue to play a supporting, but important, role in our business in 2026. Cicis has always been rooted in value, and that mindset guided how we approached delivery from the very beginning. Early on, franchisees were understandably cautious about pricing and fees, so we were intentional about controlling the experience: limiting the menu to our most popular, travel-friendly items and ensuring pricing stayed competitive without compromising what guests expect from Cicis.

At its core, third-party delivery is about convenience. Our guests turn to these platforms because they genuinely enjoy the food and want easy access to it. Our responsibility is to meet them where they are while protecting the brand’s value proposition.

Stephen Anderson

Brands: 6 Ziggi’s Coffee
Years in Franchising: 10

Third-party delivery will remain a “nice-to-have,” not the driver of our business. Coffee is still best experienced fresh, fast, and face-to-face, but delivery can play a supporting role when convenience matters most to customers. When used thoughtfully, it allows us to extend reach without compromising quality, brand experience, or margins.

Franchisee Bytes

Fastest way into your doghouse?

I don’t like being kept in the dark, and I don’t like surprises.
-Alex Karcher, Operating Principal, JCK Restaurants, 61 Carl’s Jr., 11 Jersey Mike’s Subs, 8 The Human Bean, 8 Dave’s Hot Chicken, 1 Hawaiian Bros Island Grill

Lying, cheating, or stealing. Everything else is given grace.
-Tamra Kennedy, Franchise Operator, Twin City T.J.’s, 6 Taco John’s

Cutting corners on quality or guest experience. Those are non-negotiables for me. We’re known for excellence, and I expect every truck to reflect that.
-Yunus Shahul, Franchise Owner, Smartfoods Group, 24 Cousins Maine Lobster, 1 German Doner Kebab

Lying is a hard line for me as trust is essential in any team dynamic. I also can't stand having to remind someone repeatedly to complete a task. Mistakes are fine as we all make them, but repeated inaction is a quick way to erode my patience.
-Jacob Webb, Franchise Owner, MPUT Holdings LLC, 22 Marco's Pizza, 4 Tropical Smoothie Cafe

By overpromising and underdelivering.
-Amol Kohli, Managing Partner, Legacy Brands International/Chairman of the Board, Brix Holdings, Franchisee: 63 Orange Leaf, 60 Clean Juice, 36 Red Mango, 6 Humble Donut Co., 3 Souper Salad, 1 Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Franchisor: 61 Friendly’s

Not following through to the finish line with a project.
-James Brajdic, President, Customer Maniacs and Green Bay A Dub, 13 A&W

Any breach of trust or integrity.
-Michael Kulp, CEO, KBP Brands, 828 KFC, 119 Arby’s, 85 Sonic, 56 Taco Bell

Treating a customer poorly.
-Carrie Ayers, Owner/Operator, 6 Playa Bowls

Dishonesty and laziness.
-Tom Lovelace, Owner/President, Tom Lovelace Group, 96 Papa Murphy’s

Punctuality, poor attitude, and excuses. We are optimistic leaders. When you are in a leadership role, you need to set a high-energy and positive atmosphere for everyone and help show a clear path to a successful outcome. Showing up on time and prepared for each situation is the start to a good experience for everyone involved.
-Nick Crouch, Co-CEO, Dyne Hospitality Group, 118 Tropical Smoothie Cafe