Operations: Page 60
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Starbucks builds energy-efficient, modular store in 6 days
Designed to reduce energy needs for heating and cooling compared to standard construction, the store was built with insulated panels coated with a proprietary cement alternative.
By Jennifer Goodman • Feb. 4, 2021 -
McDonald's will pay employees to get vaccinated
The chain will give four hours of paid time to corporate employees and workers at its corporate-owned restaurants, but will not make vaccination mandatory.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 3, 2021 -
Nearly 60% of casual operators have added outdoor dining since March, report says
Outdoor dining has limitations, however, as most diners said the lowest temperature they will tolerate to eat outside, on average, is 60.5 degrees.
By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 2, 2021 -
Brinker integrates with Google for pickup of It's Just Wings
Patrons can now search for the virtual brand using Google Search and Google Maps, place their orders, pay and pick up at Chili's restaurants.
By Alicia Kelso , Julie Littman • Updated March 24, 2021 -
Albert Hu. (2020). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Unsplash.Deep Dive
How restaurants are bringing tech to the table in 2021
Much of the industry's in-store tech investments have gone toward contactless payment solutions or tableside, but operators are also experimenting with cutting-edge air filtration to make diners comfortable.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 28, 2021 -
Retrieved from Starbucks on January 27, 2021
Starbucks eyes drive-thru-only, smaller footprint stores
The company is working to boost productivity, testing handheld POS devices and renovating 150 drive-thru stores that have fallen behind target metrics.
By Julie Littman • Jan. 28, 2021 -
Chipotle pilots carside pickup
The chain will test the service at 29 California restaurants, building on its growing suite of digital ordering options.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 28, 2021 -
Cicis emerges from bankruptcy, finalizes sale
The pizza chain agreed to sell itself to D&G Investors, a newly formed affiliate of SSCP Management and Gala Capital Partners, as part of its reorganization.
By Julie Littman • Updated March 16, 2021 -
Tracking restaurant industry priority for the COVID-19 vaccine
President Joe Biden announced a deadline of April 19 for all adults in every state to be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated April 7, 2021 -
Wow Bao to reach 1K locations through its host kitchen program
The fast casual brand, which currently has 150 locations, is using this initiative to expand into new markets while also providing outside restaurant partners additional revenue.
By Julie Littman • Jan. 26, 2021 -
Ward, Billie Grace. (2020). "Stylish Outdoor Dining, Tacombi" [photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
NRA: Restaurant sales will rise 11% in 2021 after 24% dip last year
Bars and taverns suffered the most in 2020 with a sales decline of 65%, while full-service decreased 30%, according to the National Restaurant Association's 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report.
By Julie Littman • Jan. 26, 2021 -
Subway to bring branded products to food retail
After launching Subway Grocery in April, the sandwich chain ventures further into the supermarket space as it partners with Broad Street Licensing Group.
By Catherine Douglas Moran • Jan. 22, 2021 -
Dunkin' is testing salads in 6 locations
This pilot with Farmer's Fridge could be a play for both off-premise demand and stronger lunch traffic, an area rival Starbucks has also been investing in.
By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 22, 2021 -
Retrieved from Starbucks on May 22, 2020
Starbucks partners with Washington for state's vaccine distribution
The coffee chain will lend its expertise in operational efficiency, scalable modeling and human-centered design and support.
By Julie Littman • Jan. 19, 2021 -
How Fogo de Chao, STK balance off-premise with experience
The challenge for both brands was developing solutions that would be robust enough to withstand the pandemic environment without compromising the reason diners visit them in the first place: experience.
By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Jan. 19, 2021 -
Why Chipotle is still hiring while other restaurants shutter
Chipotle has hired thousands during the pandemic thanks to digital growth and a focus on employee benefits, promotions and inclusion.
By Sheryl Estrada • Jan. 15, 2021 -
Panera takes its catering business virtual
The chain's Virtual Catering program allows companies to buy digital, timestamped vouchers to send to remote employees or clients ahead of an online meeting or event.
By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 14, 2021 -
Kitchen United to open 16 centers this year
The company is doubling down on existing high-value markets like Chicago and Los Angeles while it plans to expand into new ones like New York City and the Bay Area later this year.
By Julie Littman • Jan. 14, 2021 -
Noodles & Company opens first ghost kitchen in Chicago
The Humboldt Park location will allow customers to order meals through the company's loyalty app, as well as third-party partners, for pickup and delivery.
By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Updated May 20, 2021 -
Denny's diversifies with rollout of 2 virtual brands
The Burger Den will open in February, while The Melt Down, which will focus on sandwiches, launches in the spring.
By Julie Littman • Jan. 12, 2021 -
Restaurants will see transition, not recovery, in 2021, experts say
Though 2021's performance will still be marred by dining room closures and capacity restrictions, there is still opportunity for the industry to take steps toward market improvement, panelists shared at ICR Monday.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 12, 2021 -
Alabama Extension. (2020). "The image" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Major gap exists between casual and QSR recovery, per NPD data
The full-service category experienced transaction declines of 30% in December versus an 8% decrease for quick-service restaurants.
By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 11, 2021 -
Retrieved from Chipotle on January 11, 2021
Chipotle aims to fill 15K new positions during national hiring event
The company's "Coast to Coast Career Day" will be held on Jan. 14 and comes as the company plans to open 200 restaurants in the future.
By Julie Littman • Jan. 11, 2021 -
Checkers & Rally's parent lands $20M in private equity funding
The capital injection from Oak Hill Capital Partners will fuel the chain's five-year expansion plans, which includes 72 new restaurants in its development pipeline.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 11, 2021 -
Sponsored by Perdue Foodservice
Menu claims help increase profit
Consumers are still interested in premium ingredients and transparency when choosing where to go and what to order when dining out.
Jan. 11, 2021