The race to roll out an automated makeline is on. Chipotle said Tuesday it will begin testing a new automated digital makeline in its Chipotle Cultivate Center in Irvine, Calif. Described as a “cobot,” because it involves some human interaction, the new makeline system was designed by the robotics company Hyphen, which Chipotle invested in… read more
Global Foodservice News
Amy’s Kitchen adds family-size entrees
Amy’s Kitchen is adding a new mealtime solution to the freezer aisle with the launch of six family-size entrees. Featuring a new packaging design, the entrees are ideal for three to four people and come in six varieties, including: Cheese enchiladas — Organic corn tortillas filled with a blend of cheeses, topped with olives and… read more
Popeyes puts a spin on its chicken sandwich with Truff
Popeyes’ new chicken sandwich features Truff’s Spicy Mayo and is now available at restaurants nationwide. Popeyes has launched a new variation of its wildly successful chicken sandwich through a partnership with Truff, a Southern California-based hot sauce brand. The new Spicy Truff Chicken Sandwich is now available in restaurants nationwide and for delivery for $5.99…. read more
Hormel Accelerates Strategy into Commercial Foodservice
The Hormel Food Corp.’s stable of brands, most notably Hormel, Jennie-O, Planters, Skippy and SPAM are synonymous with retail. But during the past 30 years, the company has developed new brands, been making inroads into foodservice, and is accelerating its push into the category with Foodservice 3.0, its latest go-to-market strategy. The foundation of Hormel’s… read more
Legal Sea Foods Undergoes Next Evolution
THE CLASSIC CHAIN IS SET TO OPEN A NEW INNOVATION CENTER AND DRIVE AN UPGRADED E-COMMERCE PLATFORM FOR GUESTS NATIONWIDE. When PPX Hospitality Brands purchased Legal Sea Foods almost three years ago, it wasn’t just getting a collection of cult-favorite restaurants in the Northeast. It also took on a 75,000-square-foot Quality Control Center featuring a seafood… read more
South American frozen food brand snags ‘Shark Tank’ deal
Arepas, a daily staple of many South American diets, are, as Marina Corina “Coco” Viete Cabezas described it, “basically what would happen if a bagel and a tortilla had a baby” that taps into several mainstream trends in the United States. “Arepas are amazing, not only because they taste really delicious, but also they are… read more
Wendy’s expanding in Central Asia
The Kusto Group, an industrial holding company and Wendy’s franchise in Central Asia plans to open and operate 55 outlets across Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan by 2030. Singapore-based Kusto also will introduce a “next generation” restaurant layout and a drive-thru based on artificial intelligence (AI) in Kazakhstan by the second quarter of next year. As of… read more
Which Fine-Dining restaurant brands score highest for customer satisfaction?
Merchant Centric analyzes content from millions of rewards reviews to identify insights for over 100 key themes, such as food, cleanliness and value. After examining the fast-casual and casual-dining restaurant segments, the Happy Customer Index is now turning its attention to fine dining, an interesting category at this moment as we continue to stave off a recession and as… read more
Food Health and Safety Compliance is not as Vigilant in a Post-Pandemic World
Hazel Analytics data unveiled at the 2023 Food Safety Symposium reveals that handwashing and temperature control are areas in need of improvement. During the peak years of COVID-19, hygiene was king, and everyone—from restaurant workers to people bringing in packages from outside—was meticulously washing their hands for 30 seconds many times a day. But pandemic… read more
Revalize Expands Foodservice E&S Portfolio with Latest Acquisition
KCL joins the Revalize portfolio to expand offerings in the FES industry PRNewswire/ — Revalize, a worldwide leader in CAD, CPQ, and PLM software solutions for manufacturers, announced the acquisition of KCL, the premier design software for foodservice equipment in North America and beyond. Revalize delivers more efficient routes from idea to cash, increasing agility and speed-to-market, while… read more