Chick-fil-A’s Little Blue Menu virtual brand is hitting the road. The chain’s delivery-led concept, which first opened in Nashville in late 2021, has a new food truck that will initially visit Louisville, Ky., for a three-month stint in the Oxmoor Mall parking lot. The opening date has not yet been announced, but the food truck’s… read more
Foodservice Equip & Supplies News
A Warmer World
Carbon accountants help firms keep their climate pledges The other day when Cooper Elsworth stepped into a Sweetgreen restaurant in Boston, he already knew what he was going to order. “I’m vegetarian, so I’ll probably go for the hummus crunch salad,” Elsworth said. “That’s the lowest-emissions salad at Sweetgreen.” He knows this arcane fact because… read more
Restaurant brands are starting to pilot artificial intelligence to streamline food service
How Restaurants Such as Panera and Chipotle are Dipping into A.I. to Streamline Food Prep and Ordering From drive-thru to back-of-house operations to predictive ordering for consumers, restaurant brands are starting to pilot artificial intelligence to streamline food service. The technology has yet to reach critical mass at major chains but has the potential to… read more
Virtual Concepts have turned into Culinary Goldmines
Like many others, the fast-casual giant is learning how to unlock the true benefits of a virtual brand . . . . The Making of Chipotle’s Fresh-Forward Ghost Kitchen In the wake of COVID, virtual concepts have turned into culinary goldmines. The industry could potentially reach $1 trillion by 2030, according to research firm… read more
While Construction Bids are Stabilizing, Permits and Equipment Timelines aren’t
Darden Softens Unit Growth Targets as COVID Impact Persists Two years ago during a call with investors, former Darden CEO Gene Lee lamented how COVID delays were harming unit growth. He hoped the company would soon reach the higher end of its 2-3 percent expansion target. While Rick Cardenas is now chief executive, the central… read more
Is a recession looming? Customer loyalty is key to Making it Through
Restaurant Meals are Frequently Among the First Things Consumers Cut Recessions can make any business — large or small — uneasy about potential drops in sales from the decline in economic activity. With inflation and ongoing supply chain issues, experts predict a 70% likelihood of a U.S. recession in 2023, with at least 41% of… read more
At the National Restaurant Association Show, Technology Moves to the back of the house
Robots were everywhere. But much of the technology focus was on improving profitability and simplifying operations as costs increase and recession looms . . . . Dan Diaz worked with the point-of-sale provider Toast until 2020 when he was laid off as the pandemic wiped out much of the restaurant business. So, he and eight… read more
Panera opts for Amazon One Pilot Test
Panera digital chief expects Amazon One pilot to increase usage Test uses platform for MyPanera loyalty and payments, making the guest experience faster, more convenient, and more personalized, George Hanson tells NRA Show Panera Bread is finding its test with consumer palm-print-linked Amazon One to make the customer experience easier than older methods, the company’s… read more
Former Darden CEO: How to Create a Restaurant Culture of Aspiration
REGARDLESS OF INDUSTRY, ALL COMPANIES MUST LOOK INWARD TO FIND THE TALENT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED . . . It’s a fact. High talent turnover is inherent in the restaurant industry. It’s estimated that three out of four restaurant employees are planning to leave their job. Furthermore, the average restaurant loses $150,000 yearly in just… read more
Wendy’s to partner with Google Cloud on AI for drive-thru orders.
It could be an artificial intelligence that takes your order the next time you get a craving for a Baconator and Frosty. Fast food chain Wendy’s is partnering with Google Cloud on an AI chatbot to take orders at a drive-thru, the company announced Tuesday. Wendy’s FreshAI will be launched in June as a pilot… read more