Technology: Page 2


  • A McDonald's store is shown in Houston, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s, NielsenIQ team for Cultural Relevance ad-testing module

    By analyzing the role and effectiveness of cultural factors in content, this solution can help advertisers deliver more impactful and inclusive ads.

    By Jessica Deyo • March 27, 2024
  • A Wing drone used by DoorDash delivers a Wendy's package.
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    Courtesy of DoorDash
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    DoorDash to deliver by drone from a VA Wendy’s

    Wing drones will deliver meals from the fast food location to nearby customers within about 30 minutes, the company said.

    By Updated March 22, 2024
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline
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    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Back-of-house Technology

    From voice AI at the drive-thru to robot-powered makelines, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • Graphic image of drive-thru system
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    Permission granted by Presto Automation Inc.
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    Presto lays off 18% of staff 4 months after most recent cuts

    Following a pivot away from its tablet business to drive-thru artificial intelligence, the company eliminated 24 corporate roles.

    By March 19, 2024
  • A promotional image for Starbucks NFT marketplace, Starbucks Odyssey.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks shutters NFT beta test

    On March 31, Starbucks Odyssey Beta — a major restaurant effort to capitalize on Web3 hype — will end 18 months after it was announced.

    By March 18, 2024
  • A photos of &pizza CEO Mike Burns
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    Permission granted by &pizza
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    How &pizza’s new CEO is transforming the chain’s loyalty program, operations

    Burns, who has held the position for over two months, is leading a major tech overhaul at the chain, including a new rewards scheme, app and website.

    By March 14, 2024
  • Sam Nazarian, C3 founder and CEO
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    Permission granted by C3
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    Sam Nazarian buys Kitchen United IP, forms new virtual brand platform

    Nazarian will combine these unspecified components with Nextbite and C3 to support the new concept, Everybody Eats, which has goals that echo the growth plans of failed ghost kitchen pioneers.

    By March 14, 2024
  • The exterior of Chick-fil-A's digital pickup-only restaurant in New York City
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    Permission granted by Chick-fil-A
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    Chick-fil-A to open first digital-only pickup restaurant in NYC

    The 3,500-square-foot walk-up restaurant is the first of two digital-focused locations to open this year, with an elevated drive-thru expected to follow.

    By March 13, 2024
  • A DoorDash delivery worker walks his bike along the road in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco, California.
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    DoorDash adds AI to chat feature to detect harassment between workers and customers

    The aggregator is replacing an old chat monitoring tool with SafeChat+, which can detect inappropriate content without keyword matching.

    By March 12, 2024
  • An image of a woman ordering at a drive-thru speaker box.
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    MartinPrescott via Getty Images
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    Presto Automation is risking its business on drive-thru voice AI

    The tech firm wants to spin off its tablet payment business, which generates roughly 90% of its revenue and is losing major clients, to focus on its fledgling drive-thru voice automation tool.

    By March 7, 2024
  • Golden Corral faces class-action suit over 2023 data breach

    If recent years have made anything clear to HR, it’s that employer databases are prime targets for cybercrime.

    By Ryan Golden • March 4, 2024
  • A person in a coat rides a bicycle holding a red DoorDash bag.
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    Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    DoorDash shifts pay scheme, cuts flexibility in New York City

    DoorDash says its fees in The Big Apple have driven down delivery sales, but the city says data from delivery firms shows steady sales.

    By Updated March 5, 2024
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    These 4 restaurant companies totaled $50B in 2023 digital sales

    Yum, Restaurant Brands International, Wendy’s and Chipotle continue to invest in consumer-facing features including app enhancements, loyalty offerings and kiosks to grow their digital mixes.

    By March 1, 2024
  • An image of sweetgreen's automated kitchen in Naperville, Illinois
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen’s robot kitchens yield 10% higher tickets in test

    The salad chain plans to add its Infinite Kitchen to seven new builds and three to four retrofit units in 2024, after two pilot stores yielded improvements in throughput and labor turnover.

    By March 1, 2024
  • Wendy’s cups made with 20% ISCC-certified, recycled plastic (on a mass balance basis)
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    Permission granted by Berry Global
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    Wendy’s backtracks on dynamic pricing

    The company said Tuesday that it would not charge higher prices during peak hours. This statement follows widespread consumer backlash on social media in response to mention of a dynamic pricing test in its Q4 earnings call. 

    By Feb. 28, 2024
  • A still from Chipotle's promotional automated makeline shows corn bouncing in a bowl.
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    Retrieved from Chipotle on October 03, 2023
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    Chipotle doubles tech venture fund spending to $100M

    The chain’s second round of $50 million for its Cultivate Next fund comes less than two years after the project was announced, and as Chipotle tests equipment developed by partner companies.

    By Feb. 28, 2024
  • Dutch Bros
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    Courtesy of Dutch Bros
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    Dutch Bros begins testing mobile orders

    The coffee brand is studying the operational changes needed to support a widespread deployment of digital ordering tech.

    By Feb. 26, 2024
  • A Grubhub courier. Grubhub and Sonesta will offer delivery to 120 extended stay hotels.
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    The image by Elvert Barnes is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Los Angeles County sues Grubhub over ‘bait and switch’ fees

    The county calls for an injunction against alleged deceptive business practices and for Grubhub to pay fines for possible violations of California’s unfair competition and false advertising laws. 

    By Feb. 23, 2024
  • Toast for Hotel Restaurants
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    Permission granted by Toast
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    Toast to cut 550 employees

    The company’s CEO acknowledged during an earnings call that “we grew our team too quickly in some areas,” while reporting a presence in 106,000 locations as of the end of 2023.

    By Lynne Marek • Feb. 16, 2024
  • A picture of Burger King signs.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Burger King, Popeyes lean into kiosks, remodels to spur speedy service

    Parent company Restaurant Brands International is focusing on improving speed and convenience as drivers of customer satisfaction.

    By Bryan Wassel • Feb. 15, 2024
  • A man holds a starbucks drink next to a phone with a Bank of America card onscreen.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks, Bank of America tie up loyalty programs

    Eligible Bank of America card holders can link their Starbucks rewards account to earn 2% cashback on qualifying purchases and one star for every $2 spent at the coffee chain. 

    By Feb. 15, 2024
  • Wendy's is adding English muffin sandwiches to its breakfast menu on Aug. 22.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s to spend $55M on breakfast ads

    The burger chain hopes the marketing push will boost North American sales in the daypart to $6,000 a week per restaurant.

    By Feb. 15, 2024
  • Inspire Brands Alliance Kitchen
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    Permission granted by Inspire Brands
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    Inspire Brands buys delivery tech firm Vromo

    The parent company of Dunkin’ and Buffalo Wild Wings bought the firm for an undisclosed sum, marking its first deal since its $11.3 billion Dunkin’ buy. 

    By Feb. 13, 2024
  • A man carrying orange bags with the word Grubhub on the side.
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    Courtesy of Grubhub
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    My Place Hotels of America taps Grubhub for food delivery

    The hotel franchisor aims to enhance the guest experience through the partnership, as hotel dining becomes increasingly digital.

    By Jenna Walters • Feb. 12, 2024
  • Taco Bell exterior
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    4 ways Yum accelerated tech deployment in 2023

    From kiosks to automation, the company debuted proprietary systems across thousands of locations to improve operations and grow sales.

    By Feb. 8, 2024
  • McDonald's drive thru sign
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s sets sights on $45B in loyalty sales

    A larger loyalty member pool will provide more customer data for the fast-food chain to improve personalization.

    By Bryan Wassel • Feb. 7, 2024