Technology: Page 5

  • A photo of a hamburger from Weigel's
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    Permission granted by Weigel's
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    4 tech upgrades that can drive foodservice sales

    AI-powered ordering, back-office training programs and more can help improve operations and boost revenue for c-stores’ growing meals businesses.

    By Amanda Baltazar • Jan. 17, 2024
  • Taco Bell's Las Vegas Live Mas Live event will preview new products and partnerships for 2024
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell Corp.
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    Taco Bell stages Las Vegas fan experience ahead of Super Bowl LVIII

    A gathering in the style of tech conferences will preview new products and partnerships coming in 2024, all against a big game backdrop.

    By Peter Adams • Jan. 12, 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
  • Blue and purple Taco Bell sauce packets are inscribed with messages against a metaverse-themed backdrop.
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    Retrieved from Taco Bell Corp. on August 25, 2022
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    Yum names Pizza Hut exec as chief digital and technology officer

    Joe Park, who directed the rollout of Pizza Hut’s managerial tool HutBot and early deployments of Dragontail AI, assumes his role on March 1.

    By • Jan. 11, 2024
  • An in-store bar.
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    Retrieved from Maizano on November 27, 2023
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    Deep Dive

    7 restaurant industry trends to watch in 2024

    Development costs will remain high and service fees could frustrate diners, but personalized offers and labor-saving tech may give brands an edge.

    By , , • Jan. 10, 2024
  • A person on a laptop in a cafe.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    Opening a restaurant? These are the metrics that actually matter

    Here are key findings to help operators understand what strong business metrics look like, and make better business decisions moving forward.

    By Ming-Tai Huh, GM of Restaurants at Square • Jan. 8, 2024
  • An image that says Chowly has acquired Targetable
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    Courtesy of Chowly
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    Chowly buys digital marketing platform Targetable

    The addition of the marketing technology will allow Chowly to help its restaurant clients boost their online ordering traffic.  

    By • Jan. 4, 2024
  • a Burger King burger and a person's face being scanned by facial recognition tech
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    Retrieved from Burger King Brazil on December 21, 2023
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    Burger King turns hangovers into discounts with facial recognition

    In the tradition of its “Whopper Detour” and “Burn that Ad” campaigns, the chain’s latest stunt uses mobile technology to drive engagement.

    By Chris Kelly • Dec. 21, 2023
  • 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 names CIO

    Chris Fallon joins the wing brand as it prepares to roll out a $50 million in-house technology platform built to allow it to leave Olo’s system.

    By • Dec. 15, 2023
  • Yellow, square-shaped robots roam a farm field
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    Courtesy of Chipotle Mexican Grill
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    Chipotle invests in regenerative farming robots

    The restaurant chain is looking to reduce its dependence on conventional fertilizer with a fleet of autonomous, weed-cutting bots.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 14, 2023
  • A man in a dark car at a Wendy's drive-thru that uses artificial intelligence to take orders
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    Retrieved from Wendy's on December 11, 2023
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    Wendy’s franchisees can pilot drive-thru AI in 2024

    Wendy’s FreshAI, a partnership with Google Cloud, used drive-thru chatbots to shave 22 seconds off service times at a Columbus, Ohio, test site compared to the local market average.

    By • Dec. 11, 2023
  • McDonald's Q1 Earnings Up On Higher Menu Prices, Overseas Growth
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s doubles down on geofencing

    The chain will expand its Ready on Arrival mobile pickup technology, which can trim wait times by about 60 seconds, in its top six markets by 2025.

    By • Dec. 11, 2023
  • An image of Uber Eats Manager platform with percent off offers
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    Permission granted by Uber Eats
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    Uber Eats adds marketing tools to bolster restaurants’ holiday sales

    The delivery aggregator added holiday happy hours, multi-location offers and percentage-off offers to help restaurants attract new and existing consumers.

    By • Dec. 8, 2023
  • Kiosks for ordering food sit in the dining area of a McDonald's restaurant located inside the company's new corporate headquarters on June 4, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.
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    Scott Olson / Staff via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s taps Google Cloud to super-size analytics, AI

    The fast food giant said it plans to leverage the hyperscaler’s hardware and software capabilities across thousands of locations worldwide.

    By Matt Ashare • Dec. 8, 2023
  • The prize center inside a Dave & Buster's restaurant
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    Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic via Getty Images
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    Dave & Buster’s sees future in revamped restaurants and loyalty growth

    The restaurant chain is remodeling its store fleet and enhancing its loyalty program with personalized offerings. 

    By Bryan Wassel • Dec. 7, 2023
  • An exterior photo of CaliExpress by Flippy restaurant in California
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    Retrieved from CaliExpress by Flippy on December 05, 2023
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    Miso Robotics to open autonomous restaurant in California

    CaliExpress by Flippy was created in partnership with Cali Group and PopID and uses robotic arms to cook burgers and fries, requiring minimal human labor.

    By • Dec. 6, 2023
  • A restaurant customer using a card to pay via a Square tap device at the counter.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    For most restaurants, the AI revolution will start small

    Tech leader and operator Ming-Tai Huh on how AI can measurably increase your bottom line through small improvements. 

    By Ming-Tai Huh, GM of Restaurants at Square • Dec. 4, 2023
  • Kroger and Kitchen United partnered in 2021 to open ghost kitchen sites inside the grocery store.
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    Courtesy of Kroger/Kitchen United
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    Kitchen United will sell or close all physical units, pivot to software

    The ghost kitchen pioneer, which raised $100 million last year to expand its food halls, began to offload its physical locations months ago. It has already shuttered its Kroger outposts, which made up 44% of its footprint.

    By , Catherine Douglas Moran • Updated Nov. 29, 2023
  • Football Field
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    Permission granted by EverPass Media
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    Sponsored by EverPass Media

    Don’t miss out! Bring two exclusive NFL games and more premium content to your guests with EverPass Media

    Learn how your business can stream exclusive NFL games, Big Ten basketball and more through Peacock Sports Pass via EverPass Media.

    Nov. 27, 2023
  • A person pays in a restaurant
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    Creative via Getty Images
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    Digital payments have increased restaurant tips. But is it backfiring?

    Some diners feel pressured by tipping digitally in front of employees, which can hurt restaurant traffic, but experts say there are best practices that can ease customer trepidation.  

    By Danielle McLean • Nov. 21, 2023
  • Image of a counter with a ordering kiosk and shelves in the background with bags.
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    Permission granted by Kitchen United
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    Why ghost kitchen pioneers want to say goodbye to the name

    Omnichannel business, a focus on operations and reasonable growth timetables set the stage for ghost kitchens’ second act.

    By • Nov. 21, 2023
  • Graphic image of drive-thru system
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    Permission granted by Presto Automation Inc.
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    Presto lays off 17% of global workforce

    The staff reduction, which may impact around two dozen employees, is part of the technology company’s strategy to reduce costs, boost profitability and streamline operations.

    By • Nov. 17, 2023
  • A robotic arm that prepares Better Days food for delivery
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    Permission granted by Remy Robotics
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    Remy Robotics opens bot-run ‘Better Days’ kitchen in NYC

    The concept employs machines that use artificial intelligence to cook hundreds of menu items in kitchens as small as 200 square feet.

    By • Nov. 10, 2023
  • A photo of the outside of a Wingstop.
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop drops Olo in favor of $50M in-house tech

    The chain, which represents 3% of Olo’s revenue, will roll out a proprietary tech stack in 2024 designed to provide more personalization and drive frequency.

    By • Nov. 8, 2023
  • Toast point of sale hardware is shown
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    Courtesy of Toast Media Kit
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    Toast’s growth slows

    The restaurant fintech noticed “a modest slowdown” in same-store sales in the latter half of Q3 that continued into October, the company’s CFO said Tuesday.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Nov. 8, 2023
  • An image of sweetgreen's automated kitchen in Naperville, Illinois
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen accelerates deployment of automated kitchens

    The salad chain opened its first Infinite Kitchen this year and has seen improvements to throughput, order accuracy, portioning and diner experience.  

    By • Nov. 6, 2023