Ordermark Scores Funding and New Additions to Philly Dining Scene

This edition of MRM’s News Bites features Ordermark, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center, Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck, Ingenico Group, FAT, and  ParTech and Mobiry.

Ordermark Secures $18M in Funding Round

 Ordermark raised $18 million in Series B funding to continue to scale its growth, perfect new products and features, and integrate with existing restaurant technologies.

The round was led by Boulder-based Foundry Group. All of Ordermark’s previous investors participated in the new round, including TenOneTen Ventures, Vertical Venture Partners, Mucker Capital, Act One Ventures, and Nosara Capital, which led the Series A funding. 

“I co-founded Ordermark to help my family’s restaurant adapt and thrive in the mobile delivery era, and then realized that as a company, we could help other restaurants experiencing the same challenges. We’ve been gratified to see positive results come in from our restaurant customers nationwide,” said Alex Canter, Ordermark CEO and Co-Founder, and fourth-generation owner of world-famous Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles. “So we are thrilled to have the backing of Foundry Group to fuel our growth. We have some incredibly cool innovations in the pipeline, and look forward to bringing them to restaurants everywhere.”

Ordermark is the only online ordering management company that was “born in the kitchen” to help restaurants work with multiple delivery platforms. Ordermark was built, tested, and refined from the perspective of a restaurant operator instead of just forcing a new technology on the already-overwhelmed restaurant market. Ordermark’s thousands of customers include small, single-location restaurants as well as national chains, and they report higher revenues and happier staff, regardless of size.

“Foundry Group has a long history of investing in companies that glue together disparate systems over diverse platforms — and that’s exactly what Ordermark is doing in the restaurant industry: connecting third-party ordering solutions, point-of-sale systems, and other cool innovations to help restaurants consolidate,  grow, and understand their delivery business,” said Chris Moody, Foundry Group partner. “We were initially introduced to Ordermark via three of our partner funds: Techstars Ventures, Matchstick Ventures, and TenOneTen Ventures. All three were incredibly excited about what the Ordermark team is building and the tremendous progress they've made since their Series A investment. The more we got to know Alex and the team, the more we realized what an incredible platform they're building.  Their products work in part because Alex is a fourth-generation restaurant owner and he and his team truly understand the needs of the restaurant industry. "

Ordermark expects to use the funds to integrate its service with existing restaurant technologies, including Point of Sale (POS) systems, kitchen display systems, accounting tools, last mile delivery companies and more. Additionally, Ordermark looks forward to powering the next generation of restaurants — including virtual restaurants.

“Ordermark has dramatically exceeded our expectations and we are excited to continue supporting the business in this round,” said Ian Loizeaux, Founding Partner of, Nosara Capital which led Ordermark’s earlier funding. “The team has grown even stronger and the product remains best-in-class with new innovations driving additional revenue opportunities for its loyal restaurant customers.” 

Philly's Four New Additions

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center has partnered with two renowned chefs to offer four distinct dining experiences in Center City, all scheduled to open on August 12:

• Jean-Georges Philadelphia and JG SkyHigh from Michelin starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
• Vernick Fish and Vernick Coffee Bar from James Beard Award winner Chef Greg Vernick.

“With Jean-Georges and Greg Vernick, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia will offer one of the most distinguished hotel offerings in the nation, and I’m looking forward to adding to Philadelphia’s amazing culinary scene,” adds Ben Shank, the Hotel’s General Manager, whose Four Seasons career began in the city 20 years ago.

Designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, star Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, on the 59th floor, Jean-Georges Philadelphia will offer  new dishes uniquely developed for Philadelphia, along with some must-have classics from his flagship New York restaurant. With 40-foot-high (12 metre) floor-to-ceiling windows, the panoramic city views set a dramatic backdrop to a dynamic menu. The restaurant will offer power breakfast, and à la carte and prix-fixe menus for lunch. Dinner options will include à la carte, prix-fixe and tasting menus.

“This is a menu that I am very excited to bring to Philadelphians. I am thrilled to be joining this culinary community, and am delighted to make Four Seasons my home in Philadelphia,” says Vongerichten.

A grand staircase flanked by waterfall features leads to Philadelphia’s new premier cocktail destination, JG SkyHigh. Here the menu features a selection of small plates meant to compliment the bar offerings. In this modern, comfortable space, enjoy Jean-Georges’ greatest hits as the mirrored ceilings flood the space with sunset colours followed by sparkling skies. In addition to wines by the glass and craft beers on tap, the cocktail menu features an exciting selection of JG classics and new creations. 

Chef de Cuisine Nicholas Ugliarolo helms the kitchen at Jean-Georges Philadelphia. A native New Englander, Ugliarolo has been a part of the Jean-Georges team since 2012. He worked at Four Seasons in Los Angeles before beginning his work at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia.

Bookending the dining experience is Vernick Fish on the ground floor. The 3,400 square foot (315 square metre) space created by Tihany Design will seat 200 guests across a main dining area, private dining room, an extensive bar, chef’s counter, and seasonal outdoor patio. Guests will be transformed as they step past a cool zinc bar towards the Mediterranean blue tiles and plush banquette seating.

Vernick Fish, helmed by Philadelphia’s own Chef Greg Vernick working alongside Chef de Cuisine Drew Parassio, will highlight a seasonally inspired and seafood-focused menu. Similar to his flagship restaurant, Vernick Food & Drink, Vernick Fish will also feature global ingredients and flavours with ample vegetable options and well-selected meat entrees. Greg refers to Vernick Fish as his take on an American oyster bar, where diners enjoy pristinely raw offerings and whole-fish preparations.

“To be a part of Four Seasons Philadelphia with Jean-Georges, who I spent the early part of my culinary career with, is exactly where I belong for my next endeavour,” explains Greg Vernick. “It feels full-circle, and I look forward to welcoming Four Seasons guests in my hometown.”

Vernick Coffee Bar, also a partnership between Chef Vernick and Four Seasons, has been welcoming guests on the second floor lobby of the Comcast Technology Center since opening in October 2018. This coffee bar and restaurant has already distinguished itself among Philadelphia’s vast breakfast and lunch options with its elevated offerings. 

Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Greg Vernick worked together over a five-year span and they are the latest in a group of acclaimed chefs, including Marcus Samuelsson and Mauro Colagreco, who are partnering with Four Seasons to present extraordinary dining experiences around the world.

Willow by Charlie Palmer to Debut

When Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck opens this fall, it will introduce a culinary titan to the Hudson Valley food scene with Willow by Charlie Palmer. The chef will consult on all food and beverage operations at the 50-room resort, managed by Mirbeau Hospitality Services. In addition to Willow, that includes Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck’s in-room dining, Aqua Terrace light fare, Willow Bar and catering programs.

“Fine cuisine has always been an integral part of the Mirbeau experience, and as we prepare to open our third resort, we’re thrilled to partner with one of the culinary world’s true legends,” said Michael Dal Pos, chief executive officer of Mirbeau Hospitality Services. “Willow will feature the Progressive American Cuisine for which Chef Palmer is renowned, executed at a level that is a hallmark of the Charlie Palmer collective. At the same time, the restaurant will stay true to the Mirbeau food and beverage concept and our guests will recognize several signature items, like grilled oysters and the Mirbeau burger, from the menus of our Skaneateles and Plymouth resort."

“We are putting together a great team for this project and are thrilled to become part of this community. We look forward to showcasing all that the Hudson Valley’s farms have to offer,” said Palmer.

Willow will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily to the public as well as resort guests. 

Ingenico Gets EDGE

Ingenico Group  launch a partner marketing platform, Marketing EDGE. Designed to provide access to a suite of marketing tools and collateral, Marketing EDGE helps Ingenico’s partners gain marketplace visibility and drive business growth.

“Ingenico values the success of our partners and understands the importance of providing the tools necessary to connect and engage with their audiences,” said Bradford Giles, SVP of marketing and sales enablement, Ingenico Group. “Through Marketing EDGE, partners gain access to a toolkit of marketing resources to expand their reach and effectively communicate with the merchants they serve, regardless of their marketing expertise, resources or budget. We are excited to roll out this initiative and work with our partners as they benefit from this robust platform.”

“Our goal is to support partners as they grow their business. Marketing EDGE provides world-class marketing assets without the burden or overhead of creating them,” continued Giles. “Ingenico has taken the time to develop thoughtful content that delivers on thought leadership, sales enablement strategies and demand generation assets so partners employing the platform can focus on other aspects of growing their business rather than dedicating time and resources to marketing efforts.”

Fatburger to Grow in Texas

FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger, The Last Great Hamburger Stand™,  is partnering up with Dallas-based Croft Ventures LLC parent company of Famous Franchises LLC for the development of 25 Fatburger concepts throughout Texas. The first stores will open in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. The new stores will mark the debut of Fatburgers in Texas and add to more than 200 Fatburger locations worldwide.

“The great state of Texas has spoken, and we are answering by developing 25 new Fatburger locations for the market,” said Andy Wiederhorn, CEO of FAT Brands. “We are thrilled to offer our delicious, homemade burgers to Texans for many years to come.” 

“Texas is one of the fastest growing states in the country and we can’t wait to turn Fatburger into its new staple burger joint. We are ready to expand Fatburger to the state where everything is bigger.” said Curtis Croft CEO of Croft Ventures “This is the next BIG chapter for FAT Brands and Famous Franchises.” 

ParTech Partners with Mobiry on AI

ParTech, Inc. (PAR), formed  a new partnership with Mobiry, which delivers specifically tailored incentives and loyalty rewards to customers based on unique buying habits and preferences. Integrating across POS, social, mobile and ad networks, Mobiry quickly cultivates and retains customer loyalty by delivering incentives/rewards to customers for those items customers most want to buy at the time that are most likely to complete a transaction, while simultaneously building a comprehensive user profile of each individual customers preferences.

“Mobiry is eager to bring its proven AI data analysis and recommendation solution to QSR and fast casual providers as a partner with Brink POS software, an established and trusted leader in the POS industry,” said Cameron Morris, CEO, Mobiry.

“We are pleased to add Mobiry to the large and growing Brink integration ecosystem,” said Stephen Lee, Manager, Strategic Partnerships, ParTech, Inc. “Mobiry will allow Brink users to better understand their customers and offer the incentives and products they desire the most, creating a loyal customer following. We are excited to be working with the Mobiry team and know this will be a solid addition to our impressive list of integration partners.”