Uber Eats adds voice ordering, pilots autonomous delivery

The food delivery provider rolled out several delivery products on Monday, as well as in-stadium ordering and vouchers for events.

By Julie Littman • May 16, 2022

Alaska seafood satisfies today's consumer preferences

Restaurant consumers are seeking menu items that meet a variety of demands, including the use of sustainable and healthful ingredients, inventive recipes and experiences they can’t easily recreate at home.

May 16, 2022

Explore the 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

McDonald's franchisees reportedly worried new grading system will hurt retention

Operations PACE would mandate a further six to 10 visits by assessors and company representatives to every location, the chain's operators told CNBC.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne , Emma Liem Beckett • May 13, 2022

Chipotle CFO doesn't rule out more food inflation despite pause

Finance chief Jack Hartung said the chain has raised prices about 10% for the 12 months through Q1 compared to 2% in a typical year.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • May 12, 2022

Wing Zone, Wavemaker Labs launch automated restaurant pilot

Wing Zone Labs plans to open up to 20 units, which will deploy Miso's Flippy 2 to handle frying stations with a goal of eventually becoming fully automated.

By Alicia Kelso • May 11, 2022

Gopuff launches first restaurant brand under its Kitchen division

The Mean Tomato will offer New York City-style pizzas that customers can add to their orders of snacks, drinks and other impulse buys.

By Jeff Wells • May 11, 2022

Bakers Square to triple locations using ghost kitchens

The BBQ Holdings concept is expected to grow from 18 locations to 55 by the end of the year, and all of these new units will operate inside other restaurants. 

By Julie Littman • May 11, 2022

How Papa Johns is weathering the driver shortage

As labor challenges weigh on Domino’s and Pizza Hut, Papa Johns’ third-party delivery partnerships are helping the chain fulfill demand during peak hours.

By Julie Littman • May 10, 2022

Sweetgreen to open first pickup-only location in DC

The dining room-free format features grab-and-go shelves and will only take orders placed on its website, app or third-party marketplaces. 

By Julie Littman • May 6, 2022

Starbucks' denial of new benefits to union workers is a legal gray area, labor experts say

Starbucks claims it can't legally extend new benefits and wage increases to organizing stores, and experts say this exclusion could discourage baristas from voting pro-union.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • May 5, 2022

90% of new Starbucks stores will have drive-thrus

This move is part of a $1 billion investment, which includes tech upgrades such as handheld devices and equipment upgrades to improve efficiency, service and profitability.

By Julie Littman • May 4, 2022

DoorDash expands its shared kitchen concept to NYC

DoorDash Kitchens will offer a dine-in option from five concepts in addition to late-night takeout and delivery at its Brooklyn location.

By Alicia Kelso • May 3, 2022

Reef pursues ownership stake in pizza concept

Reef's EVP for Kitchens and Brands, Kenneth Rourke, will join the board of 800 Degrees Go, a joint venture between 800 Degrees and robotics company Piestro.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 29, 2022

McDonald’s hikes menu prices 8% as visits fall 1%

CEO Chris Kempczinski told investors the chain is closely monitoring lower income consumers, who he predicts will have "increased value sensitivity" as gas costs and rent rates surge.

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 29, 2022

Chipotle CEO: Chain nearly halfway to goal of 7K North American stores

The fast casual chain continues its expansion tear despite labor shortage challenges, construction delays and inflation, and 80% of new units built in 2022 will feature a Chipotlane. 

By Julie Littman • April 27, 2022

Detour ahead: How restaurants are evolving (and what that means for marketers)

No one is craving a return to old habits as much as your local restaurant owner. And the easing of pandemic restrictions along with the arrival of warmer weather may be setting the stage for just that.

April 25, 2022

Panera expands beverage subscription to include all self-serve drinks

For $10.99 per month, customers can access free self-serve drinks. To help inaugurate the program, the company is debuting caffeinated lemonades.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 19, 2022

Popeyes to open 200-plus units in US and Canada in 2022

Over half of these planned locations will have double drive-thrus, and the chain will test a new back-of-house design to streamline operations.

By Julie Littman • April 19, 2022

Chili's to deploy Rita the Robot at 51 more locations

Chili's has tested the Bear Robotics tech, which can lead guests to tables, run food and sing a birthday song, at 10 locations over the past 18 months.

By Julie Littman • Updated April 18, 2022

McDonald's Canada to test Volvo electric truck for restaurant delivery

The company plans to transition its fleet to lower-emission vehicles "where feasible" to service its more than 1,400 restaurants.

By Max Garland • April 14, 2022

DOL: 7 Little Caesars franchises fined $161K for allowing teens to perform unsafe work

Tennessee franchises allowed 15-year-olds to prepare food for baking, remove it from ovens and operate a vertical stand-up mixing machine, investigators found.

By Laurel Kalser • April 13, 2022

Panera tests Miso Robotics coffee monitoring system

CookRight Coffee, a new AI-enabled coffee monitoring system, combines time, temperature and volume data with predictive analytics to alert employees when to brew a new batch.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 12, 2022

Study: One-third of diners don't want to see robots preparing their food

While consumers understand the benefits of automation, 32% would prefer not to see the technology in action, new research from Big Red Rooster finds.

By Alicia Kelso • April 11, 2022

Kroger launches restaurant supply business

The grocer now offers next-day delivery in the greater Dallas area aimed at small and independent establishments.

By Jeff Wells • April 6, 2022

Surging inflation compelling small businesses to raise prices

Inflation is broad based — flaring in every sector — and will probably persist longer than initially expected, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said.

By Jim Tyson • April 1, 2022