Technology: Page 2

  • A photograph of a man wearing a navy suit.
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    Permission granted by First Watch
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    First Watch appoints CIO

    Rob Conti, who previously served as SVP of information technology, has been instrumental in the company’s rollout of business intelligence, pay-at-table technology and other systems.

    By • Sept. 4, 2024
  • A portrait photo of Heather Neary, Taco John's new CEO.
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    Permission granted by Taco John's
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    Q&A // Meet the exec

    How Taco John’s CEO is developing a people-first culture

    Heather Neary, who joined the chain earlier this year, is developing a culture of communication as the restaurant grows beyond its Midwestern roots.

    By • Sept. 3, 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
  • Google's headquarters
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Yelp files antitrust lawsuit against Google

    Google’s massive search market share “starves” competitors of traffic and therefore revenue, the reviews platform alleged in a federal suit.

    By • Aug. 30, 2024
  • An image of a sidewalk robot with pink and orange painting.
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    Courtesy of Coco
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    Uber expands robotic delivery

    Beginning this week, Coco will start delivering for Uber Eats in Los Angeles with additional cities forthcoming.

    By • Aug. 27, 2024
  • A white sign that says Cava in front of a glassed facade building.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava’s new loyalty program to go national in October

     A new rewards structure is expected to drive traffic and spending, and give the chain access to valuable first-party data.

    By • Aug. 26, 2024
  • Friends paying contactlessly in restaurant
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    SouthWorks via iStock

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    Sponsored by Givex

    Contactless technology that is here to stay

    In just a few short years, contactless ordering and payment software has transformed the way restaurants optimize efficiencies and deliver exceptional service.

    Aug. 26, 2024
  • A drive-thru Chick-fil-A consisting of a kitchen suspended over four drive-thru lanes.
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    Courtesy of Chick-fil-A
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    Chick-fil-A’s long-awaited elevated drive-thru opens

    The prototype has four drive-thru lanes, including mobile pickup areas, and can handle more cars than a traditional Chick-fil-A.

    By • Aug. 21, 2024
  • A photograph of a Grubhub kiosk with a buffet line in the background. These kiosks are used for campus dining programs.
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    Permission granted by Grubhub
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    Grubhub adds 60 schools to campus dining program

    In 2023, student orders on Grubhub’s marketplace were up 30% while delivery orders increased 35%.

    By • Aug. 21, 2024
  • One of Serve Robotics' delivery robots.
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    Courtesy of Serve Robotics
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    Shake Shack will use robots to deliver orders in Los Angeles

    The new partnership enhances Shake Shack’s push to use new technology, which also includes a rollout of kiosks across its restaurants.

    By • Aug. 14, 2024
  • An image of sweetgreen's automated kitchen in Naperville, Illinois
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen automated kitchen concept improves retention, margins

    The first establishment with the chain’s Infinite Kitchen technology has seen restaurant level margins of 31% and a 45% lower turnover rate than a traditional location.

    By • Aug. 12, 2024
  • Presto's vision, touch and voice products
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    Permission granted by Presto
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    Presto Automation delisted from Nasdaq

    Presto’s Interim CEO predicted delisting will let the firm pursue a startup like capital strategy, as its operations shift to the development of new voice-AI.

    By • Aug. 8, 2024
  • An evening shot of a Portillo's restaurant
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s pilots ordering kiosks

    Facing traffic pressure as a result of QSR discounting, Portillo’s is testing in-store kiosks, a tech proponents say can boost average check size, in Illinois. 

    By • Aug. 7, 2024
  • A photograph of two drinks, one blue and one green on a table. There is a tablet in the center that says "my chili's rewards," "play games" and "pay now."
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    Courtesy of Chili's
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    Chili’s deploys Ziosk pay-at-table tech

    The tabletop tablets, which Chili’s previously used up until four years ago, are expected to increase guest engagement and loyalty enrollment.

    By • Aug. 5, 2024
  • Several images of personalized homescreens in the Grubhub App.
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    Courtesy of Grubhub
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    Grubhub adds features to improve consumer experience

    Among the most significant additions is product recommendations at checkout, which could help restaurant partners upsell customers. 

    By • Aug. 2, 2024
  • An image of a drive-thru digital menu board with a Taco Bell restaurant with white and purple paint in the background.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell to deploy drive-thru voice AI to hundreds of US locations

    The technology is part of Yum’s ongoing strategy to create a digital ecosystem that can improve operations and boost profits. 

    By • July 31, 2024
  • A drive-thru menu board with a speaker box at Taco John's
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    Courtesy of Presto Automation
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    Presto CEO says the business will survive if delisted

    The voice AI company, which went public in 2021, could benefit from a NASDAQ delisting that lets it act more like a start-up, Gee Lefevre said.

    By • July 30, 2024
  • A worker takes a bowl of processed avocados from a prototype of Vebu's Autocado.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle’s advanced equipment strategy takes a step forward

    The fast casual giant said its avocado processing machine and automated digital makeline are in the final steps before in-restaurant testing.

    By • July 26, 2024
  • A rendering of Marco's store design includes a front pickup counter, beverage cooler and a small waiting area.
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    Courtesy of Marco's Pizza
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    Marco’s opens first location with new digital-focused design

    The prototype, which has the option for a pickup door and window, is expected to accelerate the chain’s growth while improving customer services. 

    By • July 25, 2024
  • An image of a man smiling and looking off to the side. He has a headset microphone on his right ear.
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    Courtesy of Zaxby's
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    Zaxbys creates e-commerce division, adds chief digital officer

    Chris Kung, who joins the fast food chain after four years at Dollar General, will oversee the company’s new e-commerce and loyalty team. 

    By • July 24, 2024
  • Casey's
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    Retrieved from Casey's.
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    C-stores see higher loyalty retention than QSRs, data shows

    However, they sign up new members much more slowly than quick- and full-service restaurants, according to data from Paytronix.

    By Jessica Loder • July 24, 2024
  • A building with white and brown siding with two black cars at a drive-thru. Signage says Bojangles
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles to deploy voice AI at hundreds of drive-thrus

    The chicken chain is positioning itself as an aggressive early-adopter of drive-thru voice AI, and says Hi Auto’s tool is more than 95% accurate.

    By • July 23, 2024
  • A Starbucks disposable coffee cup next to a Mercedes-Benz key
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    Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz
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    Coffee and EV charging: Mercedes-Benz partners with Starbucks

    The collaboration will add DC fast chargers at 100 retail locations along the 1,400-mile Interstate 5 corridor.

    By Haley Cawthon • July 22, 2024
  • An individual is pictured from the back, slightly blurred. The phone depics the Burger King game.
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Why Burger King is all-in on gamification

    A full pipeline of new and unique in-app games drives engagement for the brand, according to Preston Nix, director of loyalty and CRM. 

    By Amanda Baltazar • July 18, 2024
  • Tender Greens and Tocaya merged in 2021 to become One Table Restaurant Group.
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    Permission granted by One Table Restaurant Group
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    One Table Restaurant Brands files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections

    Fees on third-party orders and rising debt costs meant a partial recovery from 2020 was not enough to allow the parent company of Tender Greens and Tacaya to repay its creditors.

    By • July 18, 2024
  • Beef O' Brady's restaurant
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    Permission granted by Beef O' Brady's
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    Beef ‘O’ Brady’s launches SoundHound’s automated phone ordering system

    After launching in over 30 corporate locations, the technology, which claims to be “highly accurate,” is now available to over 100 franchised units.

    By • July 17, 2024