Study: QSR diners prefer engaging with staff over technology

Only 18% of consumers think that deploying labor-saving technology is one of the top three things restaurants can do to improve service, Big Red Rooster research finds. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 31, 2021

Perkins debuts virtual bakery brand

Restaurants carrying the Bakery by Perkins virtual concept during its test phase experienced a bakery category sales increase of 10% to 20%.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 26, 2021

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

800 Degrees Pizza expanding through Piestro's automated machines

800 Degrees Pizza, which currently has 16 locations worldwide, plans to bring about 3,600 Piestro robotic pizzeria machines to market throughout the next five years. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 25, 2021

Sweetgreen acquires automated restaurant company Spyce

The salad chain plans to use the Boston-based firm's robot-powered technology in its restaurants to improve the guest and employee experience.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 24, 2021

OpenTable teams with Clear to create digital vaccine cards for diners

OpenTable users who place a reservation at a restaurant that has a vaccine requirement will be directed to a Clear banner where they can make a free, secure digital vaccine card. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 24, 2021

TGI Fridays owner makes a $10M bet on C3's virtual brands

The investment, which is part of an $80 million funding round secured by C3 earlier this month, will bring the virtual brand creator's concepts to TriArtisan Capital's three restaurant brands to help boost revenue. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 23, 2021

Slice launches tiered service packages for independent pizzerias

The platform's "essentials" offering includes an in-app listing, rewards and marketing, while more features are available for the "premium" and "complete" models, such as a customized website. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 18, 2021

Sweetgreen taps former Starbucks executive as new CTO

Wouleta Ayele comes to the salad chain after 16 years at Starbucks. She will help Sweetgreen scale its supply chain and develop its digital platform.

By Roberto Torres • Aug. 17, 2021

Wingstop shakes up marketing structure as it eyes 100% digital transactions

Inspired by tech companies, the realignment comes as the wing chain places bigger bets on emerging formats like ghost kitchens. 

By Peter Adams • Aug. 17, 2021

Dunkin' plots more nontraditional growth in 2021

The chain plans to expand in airports, malls, supermarkets and universities this year, building on the 27 nontraditional restaurants it launched in 2020.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 17, 2021

OpenTable to add 'verified for entry' tags for vaccinated diners

Once customers meet certain entry requirements, they won't need to show proof of vaccination when returning to a restaurant or visiting another eatery within the same group. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 16, 2021

Grubhub replaces phone orders with assisted ordering feature

The service could potentially be a solution for the company's ongoing issues with orders placed over the phone, which have led to legislative changes in New York City. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 12, 2021

Burger King parent leads $14M investment in home-cooked delivery company

Restaurant Brands International will use its financial backing of WoodSpoon to learn more about new service modes and emerging trends as it dives deeper into digital guest engagements.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 11, 2021

OpenTable allows restaurants to share vaccine requirements

Diners can view these rules on a restaurant's profile page under Safety Precautions, which also shows measures such as contactless payment options and whether waitstaff wear masks.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 9, 2021

IHOP explores virtual brands, new loyalty program

A delivery-only model could leverage the breakfast chain's current infrastructure, which includes two full kitchens in about 70% of its restaurants.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 6, 2021

Yelp tag lets restaurants list 'proof of vaccination required' in profiles

The reservation platform has also deployed an "all staff fully vaccinated" tag, and is increasing its monitoring of restaurant pages to ensure operators aren't bombarded by negative reviews related to COVID-19 safety measures.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 5, 2021

OpenTable diners can now send restaurants direct messages

Customers can use the reservation platform's Direct Messaging feature to make requests, ask questions and modify or cancel their reservation. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 4, 2021

Gopuff raises another $1B to fuel rapid growth

The company, which is now valued at $15 billion, will use the funding to expand to new locations and offer fresh meal delivery through Gopuff Kitchens.

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 2, 2021

The on-premise restaurant experiencing isn't dying — it's evolving

Rather than debating whether virtual channels are overtaking traditional ones, QSRs should focus on how the two avenues can complement each other, writes Shauna Moran, insights analyst at GWI.

By Shauna Moran • July 26, 2021

Chipotle's digital sales rose 10.5% during Q2

CEO Brian Niccol said he expects the company's returns to continue to improve as it accelerates its order and pay ahead model, Chipotlanes, which open with 20% higher sales compared to traditional stores.

By Alicia Kelso , Julie Littman • July 21, 2021

Restaurant supply chain startup Choco secures $100M in funding

The company, which reported transaction volume quadrupling in the past year, will use the cash infusion to deploy new payment tools and expand in its existing markets.

By Alicia Kelso • July 20, 2021

How successful ghost kitchens are built

Restaurant operators need to focus on location, menu development and consumer satisfaction KPIs when developing delivery-only concepts, writes Chris Adams, vice president of strategy at Oracle Food and Beverage.

By Chris Adams • July 16, 2021

Host kitchen and software startup Acelerate secures $14.4M in funding

The company licenses seven proprietary brands to existing restaurants and works with operators to bring their menus to other restaurant partners.

By Alicia Kelso , Emma Liem Beckett • July 15, 2021

Chipotle hides giveaway codes in NBA Finals ads for a 'game within the game'

The TV spots show the brand drawing a clearer link to its mobile business and building on a popular "Freeting" promotion from 2019.

By Peter Adams • July 8, 2021

C3 raises $80M to grow virtual brand footprint

Reef Technology, which co-led the investment alongside Brookfield Asset Management, has committed to carrying C3's brands in 500 of its ghost kitchens in the U.S. 

By Julie Littman • July 7, 2021