Operations: Page 43

  • Chipotle began testing radio-frequency identification technology in 2022 to trace meat, dairy and avocados from five suppliers.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Chipotle tests RFID technology to improve food traceability

    The tech will trace meat, dairy and avocados from five of the company's suppliers at about 200 Chicago-area restaurants.

    By • March 31, 2022
  • Students walking on campus during the summer
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    sshepard/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
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    Sodexo will use robotic delivery to offer virtual brands on college campuses

    The foodservice giant will offer brands from Virtual Dining Concepts, which includes brands like MrBeast Burger, to its Bite mobile app.

    By • March 29, 2022
  • 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
  • drive thru painted on street for directions
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    booker5m via Getty Images
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    4 casual, fast casual drive-thru innovations in Q1

    With digital sales booming during the pandemic, chains like Smokey Bones, Jimmy John's, Sweetgreen and Famous Dave's are eyeing drive-thru formats.

    By • March 29, 2022
  • McDonald's McPlant
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    BTIG: Nationwide McPlant rollout highly unlikely this year

    A recent check-in with franchisees revealed sales of McDonald’s plant-based burger in its California and Texas test markets are coming in at or below low-end sales projections.

    By • Updated June 16, 2022
  • An image of a Sweetgreen restaurant with a drive-thru
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen to open first drive-thru in Chicago suburb

    The fast casual's first drive-thru for digital pickup orders, dubbed "Sweetlane," is part of its strategy to test new store concepts and bolster online sales.

    By • Updated Nov. 14, 2022
  • WoWorks logo
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    Courtesy of WoWorks
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    WOWorks creates new CIO role as it updates its tech stack

    Kyle Mark will lead the company's tech operations across its four brands as it makes upgrades, including a new POS system and loyalty program.

    By Alicia Kelso • March 18, 2022
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    Courtesy of Uber
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    Uber Eats customers must pay fuel surcharges starting tomorrow

    An additional $0.35 to $0.45 will be added on delivery orders in nearly every national market through May to help couriers manage spiking gas prices.

    By • March 15, 2022
  • Sweetgreen opened a location at World Trade Center Tower 3 in NYC in October 2021.
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen's digital sales made up 67% of Q4 2021 revenue

    By capturing the majority of its online orders through proprietary platforms, the salad chain has been able to collect valuable consumer data that informs digital-exclusive offerings. 

    By • March 7, 2022
  • The new Saladworks in-store restaurant, in a Cincinnati Kroger
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    Courtesy of Saladworks
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    Saladworks to offer delivery from 20 host kitchens through Combo Kitchen deal

    The partnership allows Saladworks to experiment with its menu and offerings in a large market without significant investment in labor, capital or real estate.

    By • March 4, 2022
  • IHOP delivery
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    Retrieved from IHOP on March 09, 2020
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    IHOP tests 2 virtual brands in 50 stores

    Parent company Dine Brands has expanded Thrilled Cheese and Super Mega Dilla from nine restaurants last quarter to 50.

    By Alicia Kelso • March 3, 2022
  • Reef Kitchens and Wendy's have signed a deal to open hundreds of units together
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    Courtesy of REEF Technology
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    Reef Technology's expansion

    Wendy's CFO: Ghost kitchens, nontraditional units will make up half of 2022 store growth

    The burger chain, which has opened 30 kitchens with Reef so far, plans to open up to 200 more units with the ghost kitchen platform this year.

    By • March 2, 2022
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Yelp: About 18K restaurants added outdoor dining since pandemic's start

    Consumer searches for places that offer meals al fresco have risen 292% in the second year of COVID-19 compared to before the crisis.

    By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 28, 2022
  • Wendy's
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Wendy’s creates development fund, new store formats to grow franchise diversity

    The burger chain's "Own Your Opportunity" recruitment initiative is designed to increase restaurant ownership among women and people of color.

    By • Feb. 28, 2022
  • Target tests Starbucks orders and returns at curbside pickup.
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    Courtesy of Target
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    Target to test Starbucks orders, returns with curbside pickup

    The retailer will debut the features this fall in select cities as its same-day services continue to expand.

    By Kaarin Moore • Feb. 23, 2022
  • Miso Robotics' 2nd iteration of the Flippy robot.
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    Courtesy of Miso Robotics
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    White Castle brings cooking robot to 100 more restaurants

    The burger chain will soon use Miso Robotics' Flippy 2 robot, which can perform the work of a whole fry station, at nearly one-third of its units. 

    By • Feb. 15, 2022
  • A remodeled McDonald's.
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    garett_mosher via Getty Images
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    Slower McDonald's units may see higher DoorDash fees

    The delivery company lowered standard commissions on orders to 11.6% as part of a November deal, but that charge jumps to 17.6% if a driver has to wait over seven minutes.

    By • Feb. 14, 2022
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    Retrieved from Native Grill & Wings on November 22, 2021
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    Q&A

    Fat Brands' CEO on developing supply chain, labor strategies for the Super Bowl

    Andy Wiederhorn talks how shortages and price hikes of the past few years have informed contingency plans ahead of the big game. 

    By • Feb. 10, 2022
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    Robert Mora via Getty Images
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    C3 takes over in-room dining at The Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa

    This marks the ghost kitchen company's latest hotel deal as it works to diversify its offerings through partnerships and its own brick-and-mortar concepts. 

    By • Feb. 9, 2022
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    Stephanie Keith / Stringer via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    How to prepare your restaurant for Valentine's Day crowds amid COVID-19

    Personalization, limited menus and social media engagement can be a recipe for success despite labor struggles on this high-traffic day, writes Jennifer Simmons, director of marketing at Restaurant365.

    By Jennifer Simmons • Feb. 9, 2022
  • Brinker partnered with Google to offer pickup for It's Just Wings in March 2021
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    Courtesy of Brinker International
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    Brinker plans more off-premise-only kitchens, virtual brand expansion

    The chain opened an off-premise kitchen in Manhattan last month and plans to open similar units near universities in Dallas and Columbus, Ohio, CEO Wyman Roberts said during the company's Q2 earnings call. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 4, 2022
  • Jimmy John's drive-thru-only
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    Courtesy of Jimmy John's
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    Jimmy John's opens its first drive-thru-only restaurant

    The chain's new format includes a dual-sided drive-thru with a designated pickup lane for mobile and online orders, as well as carryout lockers.

    By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 3, 2022
  • A Kitchen United worker carrying off-premise orders as part of the company's Grab Go Eat concept.
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    Permission granted by Hannah Allred, Kitchen United
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    Kitchen United teams with Simon Property Group to bring off-premise eating to malls

    The ghost kitchen's "Grab Go Eat" concept lets diners order from mall restaurants for on-premise pickup, delivery to tables or stores and off-premise takeaway, CEO Michael Montagano said.

    By • Feb. 3, 2022
  • Wingstop's new Dallas location will serve as a laboratory for new restaurant layouts.
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop opens digital-focused prototype with no seating

    The Dallas store will function as an innovation lab for new restaurant configurations and equipment as the chain pursues 100% digital transactions. 

    By • Feb. 3, 2022
  • Buffalo Wild Wings is testing Miso Robotics' robotic chicken fryer, Flippy Wings.
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    Permission granted by Miso Robotics
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    Opinion

    Rise of the robots: How restaurants can automate without losing the human touch

    Instead of adopting technology to replace human beings, employers should embrace digital tools that make jobs more satisfying, writes Raju Malhotra, chief product and technology officer at PAR Technology Corporation.

    By Raju Malhotra • Feb. 2, 2022
  • Panera Bread storefront
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    Permission granted by Panera Bread
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    Panera diners can now order at the table through mobile app

    The digital dine-in feature lets diners skip lines for cashiers and kiosks and may save employees time, Chief Digital Officer George Hanson said.

    By • Feb. 1, 2022