Third-party delivery company DoorDash is partnering with the National Restaurant Association to host a virtual conference for restaurants.
The Oct. 8 event, called Main Street Strong, will bring together independent restaurants to learn from one another as they navigate the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
It will consist of keynotes, breakout sessions and smaller roundtable discussions of 12-20 participants, with multiple content tracks to choose from. Topics will include strategies for off-premise, outdoor dining, reopening, pantry programs and more.
Speakers will include DoorDash CEO Tony Xu, David Nayfield of Che Fico in San Francisco, Stephanie Izard of Girl & the Goat in Chicago and Oakland-based chef Tanya Holland, among others.
“The restaurant industry, more than any other industry in the nation, has suffered the most significant sales and job losses since the COVID-19 outbreak began,” said Perry Quinn, senior vice president, business innovation development for the National Restaurant Association. “Events like these are important for restaurateurs to know that they are not alone, and we’ve found that engagement at this level can help inspire other businesses to change course, pivot and adapt in new ways while fostering a deeper sense of community.”
Main Street Strong is free and open to DoorDash restaurant partners.
The delivery company has been busy recently expanding its suite of products and platforms for restaurants. In May, it rolled out a tool that allows restaurants to create online storefronts. Last month, DoorDash launched contactless pickup via QR code, and on Wednesday it introduced DashMart, a channel for delivering groceries, household goods and restaurant retail items.
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