Virtual Dining Concepts
{{Short description|American virtual restaurant company}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Virtual Dining Concepts, LLC
| logo = Virtual Dining Concepts icon 2022.svg
| logo_alt = Logo of Virtual Dining concepts, a V with an acute accent on a purple background
| type = Private
| industry = Virtual restaurants
| founded = {{Start date and age|2020}}
| founder = {{Ubl|Robert Earl|Robbie Earl|Trish Giordano}}
| hq_location_city = Orlando, Florida
| hq_location_country = United States
| key_people = {{Ubl|Robert Earl (president)}}
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
Virtual Dining Concepts, LLC{{Cite web |title=Florida Department of State Business Search |url=https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&searchNameOrder=VIRTUALDININGCONCEPTS%20L190001264970&aggregateId=flal-l19000126497-1eaa0e84-f0b0-49be-af47-616a56ca7e41&searchTerm=Virtual%20Dining%20Concepts&listNameOrder=VIRTUALDININGCONCEPTS%20L190001264970 |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=search.sunbiz.org}} (VDC) is an American company specializing in virtual restaurants. It was founded in 2020 and has produced independent concepts and celebrity collaborations. In 2023, VDC was sued by American YouTuber MrBeast, alleging a breach of contract and failing to uphold the quality of the virtual restaurant MrBeast Burger. VDC denied MrBeast's allegations and counter-sued against him.
History
VDC was co-founded by English-American businessman and Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl,{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl builds virtual restaurant empire of delivery-only brands |url=https://www.restaurant-hospitality.com/new-restaurant-concepts/planet-hollywood-founder-robert-earl-build-s-virtual-restaurant-empire |access-date=August 13, 2023 |website=Restaurant Hospitality }} his son Robbie,{{Cite news |last=Carman |first=Tim |date=February 18, 2021 |title=Guy Fieri's new chain of virtual kitchens aims to help independent restaurants — but will compete with them, too |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/02/18/guy-fieri-virtual-restaurants/ |access-date=August 14, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} and Trish Giordano{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://joinvdc.com/about/ |access-date=August 13, 2023 |website=Virtual Dining Concepts }} in 2020. Its first CEO{{Cite web |last=Bitter |first=Alex |title=You can now order from MrBeast Burger through your Xbox while gaming — here's how to do it |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/you-can-order-mrbeast-burger-video-game-liifer-fortnite2023-4 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |website=Business Insider }} and current president{{Cite web |title=Robbie Earl - President & VDC Co-Founder at Virtual Dining Concepts |url=https://theorg.com/org/virtual-dining-concepts/org-chart/robbie-earl-1 |access-date=August 24, 2023 |website=The Org }} was Robert Earl. In 2022, he was replaced as CEO with former DoorDash enterprise partnerships lead Stephanie Sollers, who stepped down as a board executive in January 2024.{{Cite web |last=Guszkowski |first=Joe |title=Company behind MrBeast Burger hires Stephanie Sollers as 1st CEO |url=https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/leadership/company-behind-mrbeastburger-hires-stephanie-sollers-1st-ceo |website=Restaurant Business |access-date=August 14, 2023 }} Their headquarters are in Orlando, Florida, United States.{{Cite web |title=Virtual Dining Concepts – Moments beyond food, Delivered |url=https://joinvdc.com/ |website=Virtual Dining Concepts |access-date=August 18, 2023 }}
Products
VDC has produced concepts such as Wing Squad, P.Za Kitchen, Midtown Salads, and City Burger Co. as well as celebrity collaborations such as FaZe Subs,{{Cite web |title=FaZe Clan, Virtual Dining Concepts Create Sandwich Brand {{!}} QSR magazine |url=https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/faze-clan-virtual-dining-concepts-create-sandwich-brand |access-date=August 13, 2023 |website=www.qsrmagazine.com }} MrBeast Burger, Pauly D's Italian Subs,{{Cite web |last=Guszkowski |first=Joe |title='Jersey Shore' Star Pauly D Is Latest Celeb with a Virtual Concept |url=https://restaurantbusinessonline.com/technology/jersey-shore-star-pauly-d-latest-celeb-virtual-concept |access-date=August 13, 2023 |website=Restaurant Business }} Tyga Bites,{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2020 |title=Robert Earl launches Tyga Bites, first in a series of celebrity-fueled virtual restaurant brands |url=https://www.nrn.com/delivery-takeout-solutions/robert-earl-launches-tyga-bites-first-series-celebrity-fueled-virtual |website=Nation's Restaurant News |access-date=August 13, 2023 }} and NASCAR Refuel.{{Cite web |title=NASCAR Refuel Wings |url=https://joinvdc.com/brands/nascar-refuel/ |website=Virtual Dining Concepts |access-date=August 14, 2023 }}
MrBeast Burger lawsuit
{{transcluded section|MrBeast Burger#Lawsuit}}
{{#section:MrBeast Burger|Lawsuit}}
References
{{Reflist}}