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

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 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

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

Roving server robots are old news: How the latest in AI and automation is going to make an appearance at the big show in Chicago this year . . . Robots have been dominating the National Restaurant Association Show’s tech pavilion and equipment booths for years, and in 2022, we saw everything from robot dogs… read more

NAFEM’s first female president will speak at the May 19 gathering in person in Chicago and accessible by Zoom. Louise O’Sullivan will speak at the inaugural meeting of the Women Industry Leaders group on May 19. Those heading to Chicago for the National Restaurant Association Show in May might also want to mark their calendars… read more

Chipotle Mexican Grill unveiled a new all-electric restaurant design that utilizes renewable energy from wind and solar power through the purchase of renewable energy credits. Restaurants with the new features recently opened in Gloucester, Va., and Jacksonville, Fla., with a third location opening later this summer in Castle Rock, Colo. “With our aggressive development goal… read more

Kitchen Innovations Awards The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, the foodservice industry’s premier event, today announced the 20 recipients of the 2023 Kitchen Innovations (KI) Awards. Each year, the KI Awards program recognizes the year’s most forward-thinking and cutting-edge kitchen equipment and product innovations that meaningfully improve foodservice operations. The National Restaurant Association Show… read more