Technology

Restaurants, grocery stores can list shopping times on OpenTable

The new tool promises to help retailers manage crowds without requiring customers to wait in line outside stores.

By Krishna Thakker • March 31, 2020

Yelp pauses automatic rollout of GoFundMe pages amid restaurant backlash

Restaurant owners took to Twitter to voice their frustration with the practice, which they claim is invasive and could undermine independent fundraising efforts. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 30, 2020

Chipotle tackles social distancing with virtual hangouts on Zoom

As the novel coronavirus keeps people apart, the burrito chain is hosting online events to bring them together, with guests like Colton Underwood from "The Bachelor."

By Robert Williams • March 17, 2020

McDonald's suspends dine-in operations at corporate stores

The fast food chain is encouraging franchisees to do the same and shift to drive-thru, takeout and delivery as COVID-19 continues to spread. 

By Julie Littman • March 17, 2020

Wendy's is 1st brand to take over GasBuddy app for breakfast launch

For its push into the early daypart, the branded takeover captures 100% of the app's pre-drive audience as they plan daily errands.

By Robert Williams • March 12, 2020

Philz Coffee adds mobile-order-only location

The San Francisco-based coffee chain opened the 1,000-square-foot pilot location in the bustling Salesforce Transit Center, which gives it access to a flow of 45 million travelers each year.  

By Alicia Kelso • March 12, 2020

Mobile pickup is 2.4 times faster than other channels

But 33% of diners believe drive-thru is fastest during peak times and nearly half of diners surveyed in a Rakuten Ready study said drive-thru is their preferred ordering method.  

By Lauren Stine • March 11, 2020

CISOs who leave after 2 years may not finish what they start

"Unless you sit in a role for an extended period of time, you don't know that the next transition is coming," said Dave Estlick, CISO of Chipotle.

By Samantha Ann Schwartz • March 02, 2020

Shake Shack takes on procure-to-pay, supplier management in tech upgrade

A digital transformation and new enterprise resource planning systems gives Shake Shack a more granular picture of its procurement operations and frees up in-restaurant teams from administrative tasks.

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 28, 2020

Noodles & Company's digital sales grew 46% last year

The company aims to eventually bring guests from third-party delivery partners to direct delivery, CEO Dave Boennighausen said on its Q4 earnings call. 

By Lauren Stine , Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 27, 2020

Panera's coffee subscription leverages loyalty to fight breakfast battle

The chain's CEO said the unlimited coffee and tea offering, which diners can access for $8.99 through its rewards program, increased visits by 70% during its pilot. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 27, 2020

KFC Canada tests Google's food ordering service

By saying, "Hey Google, order food from KFC," Google Assistant will wake up to take an order.

By Robert Williams • Feb. 26, 2020

Domino's zeros in on tech to improve service, labor costs

Tools like GPS tracking, a newly launched Pie Pass program, autonomous delivery tests and AI platforms for staffing could help franchisees drive efficiencies and profitability in a tight labor market. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 21, 2020

Wingstop bolsters digital growth with pickup lockers, ghost kitchen

CEO Charlie Morrison said on an earnings call that Wingstop's digital mix topped 40% in January and its off-premise business drives about 80% of sales. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 20, 2020

Domino's speeds up pizza pickup with Pie Pass

This investment reflects growing focus on optimizing pickup, since 95% of diners report collecting their order on time is the most important aspect of the service. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 18, 2020

Lunch Break: Firehouse Sub's VP of operations services shares strategies for tech deployment

Rich Goodman talks about how the sandwich chain, with a 98% franchised system, approaches upgrades, from new online guest experiences to digital education resources for employees. 

By Julie Littman • Feb. 18, 2020

WeWork launches Food Labs in NYC amid struggles

The company opened its newest food-focused co-working space and innovation lab, which is designed to promote research and development and collaboration.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 14, 2020

OpenTable loyalty perk helps diners land hard-to-book restaurants

Its Dining Points can now be used to book popular places during peak dining times, extending a feature originally introduced in November to Capital One cardholders. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 12, 2020

Papa John's returns to Snapchat with Valentine's AR lens

Last year, more than 25% of Snapchat users who swiped up on the chain's AR lens ordered a Valentine's Day pizza.

By Robert Williams • Feb. 11, 2020

Burger King, Tim Hortons invest in personalized drive-thru tech

The brands' menu boards will offer locational, situational and customized offerings similar to McDonald's rollout of Dynamic Yield.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 10, 2020

Chipotle's digital sales spike 90% for fiscal 2019

To amplify this growth, more than half of the 150 to 165 new stores to launch in 2020 will be equipped with "Chipotlane" mobile pickup drive-thrus.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 05, 2020

Full-service cloud kitchen brand Kitopi raises $60M

The company will use the funding to open 150 delivery-only locations around the world by the end of 2020.

By Lauren Stine • Feb. 04, 2020

Amazon Go will soon offer hot food and fountain soda

A San Francisco location recently closed for renovations and informed customers it's adding more meal and beverage options, including espresso.

By Krishna Thakker • Jan. 28, 2020

Yelp rolls out restaurant health score popup notifications

Following a pilot in San Francisco, Yelp has launched the feature in Chicago and Los Angeles to flag restaurants with the worst health inspection violations. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 27, 2020

Topgolf opens upscale bar and restaurant concept

Lounge by Topgolf, which will feature virtual gaming and open in Kirkland, Washington, is part of the brand's strategy to diversify with smaller locations. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 23, 2020