Technology

  • A hand holds up a smartphone with Fatburger Rewards on screen
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    Permission granted by Fatburger
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    Fatburger launches first rewards program

    Members earn points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases and receive $5 discounts for every 75 points accrued, a strategy that could help boost sales and frequency.

    By • Oct. 9, 2026
  • A person taps on a touch screen monitor that has a chatbot on it. The person is in a restaurant and wearing an apron.
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    Getty Images
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    Why restaurants face pushback, risk when integrating AI tools

    Employee and consumer concerns over inaccuracy and inefficiency have proven true at some chains, so operators must slow-roll AI tools to ensure they solve more problems than they create, experts said. 

    By Danielle McLean • Oct. 7, 2026
  • Front-of-end restaurant staff uses SevenRooms' customer relationship management software. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Courtesy of SevenRooms
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    Trendline

    How AI is shaping the restaurant industry

    Automated technology can transform restaurant systems and relieve pressure from rising operating costs, opening up new opportunities for chains looking to sharpen their value proposition. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • Several screenshots of a Kura Sushi's rewards program
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    Courtesy of Kura Sushi
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    Kura Sushi adds tiers to loyalty program

    The sushi chain joins a growing list of brands, including Charleys, Panera and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, to adopt the model alongside flexible rewards. 

    By • Oct. 7, 2026
  • A potograph of a group of people walking through a convention hallway. Signs say National Restuanat Association Show
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    Courtesy of National Restaurant Association Show
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    Restaurant industry events to attend in 2027

    Next year will be jam-packed with restaurant conferences and trade shows that will cover key topics for the sector, ranging from franchising and menu development to economic forecasts.

    By Restaurant Dive Staff • Oct. 6, 2026
  • A photograph of a digital menu board at McDonald's with various meal options.
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s disputes reports that it uses AI to set prices

    The chain provides franchisees with tools, resources and recommendations for pricing, but operators ultimately make menu price decisions. 

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
  • An image of a red scooter with a DoorDash bag on it.
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash overhauls operating system for restaurants to deepen consumer relationships

    The delivery giant is tying together customer data from a variety of ordering channels in a move it says can increase sales and frequency.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
  • A photograph of an empty McDonald's restaurant within a warehouse
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    Inside McDonald’s ambitious plans to upgrade its menu, technology, and restaurants

    The fast food chain wants to be a first-choice restaurant, and will invest across its system to solidify that position over the next decade.

    By • Sept. 29, 2026
  • An image of an orange bag with Grubhub and pizza boxes.
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    Permission granted by Grubhub
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    Grubhub tests rewards to boost dine-in traffic in NYC, Chicago

    Customers will be able to choose from three personalized weekly rewards to use at partner restaurants and then receive Grubhub credits.

    By • Sept. 29, 2026
  • A photograph of a red and yellow sign with a giant yellow "M" above a red box that says "McDonald's Billions Served."
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    3 Big Numbers: How McDonald’s is investing in its Next playbook

    The Golden Arches is targeting 250 basis points in restaurant-level efficiency gains, backed by major investments in equipment and processes. 

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
  • Camera on a tripod stands in a stone-arched corridor, aimed at a bright stained-glass window; plaques line the walls in a quiet setting.
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    Permission granted by Sevan Mulit-Site Solutions
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    Sponsored by Sevan Multi-Site Solutions

    The hidden liability of an outdated building: Why restaurants and retailers are digitizing their real estate portfolios

    Outdated building records are costing retailers millions. Reality capture ends the guesswork.

    By Nick Peters, SVP Operations, Sevan Multi-Site Solutions • Sept. 28, 2026
  • A dawn image of a McDonald's drive-thru. At the foreground is an exit sign and there is a car in the background waiting in line.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    How McDonald’s plans to reactivate 150M infrequent loyalty guests

    The Golden Arches will add rewards tiers, tie-ups with other major brands and increased personalization to its loyalty system.

    By • Sept. 25, 2026
  • A photograph of a red and yellow sign with a giant yellow "M" above a red box that says "McDonald's Billions Served."
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s turns to AI for drive-thru, inventory management, order accuracy

    McDonald’s will roll out ArchIQ, an artificial intelligence platform to power restaurant operations, as part of its Next strategy.

    By • Sept. 25, 2026
  • An image of the exterior of KFC's experimental Open House unit
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC tests breakfast and table service at new restaurant

    The chain wants to offer fast casual service for QSR prices at an experimental unit designed for maximum sales volume, rather than for efficiency.

    By • Sept. 24, 2026
  • An image of a speaker box on a blue background. The words "Toast" and "Presto" hover over the box.
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    Permission granted by Presto Phoenix
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    Presto integrates with Toast to scale drive-thru voice AI

    The AI company is joining the POS firm’s partner ecosystem, making it easier for many restaurants to deploy the voice tool.

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
  • A photograph of a selection of food items, including pepperoni pizza, chicken wings and burgers next to a green checkered back with wording that says Wonder The Cravings Expert.
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    Courtesy of Wonder
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    Wonder lays off 533 as part of production consolidation

    The food hall company is closing two New Jersey facilities and moving to a high-capacity location that will better support long-term growth.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • A photograph of a makeline with various cabinets and ingredients ready to deploy into bowls.
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    Permission granted by Wonder
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    Wonder deploys first automated makeline

    The food hall company will use the tech it acquired from Sweetgreen for $186 million to offer lower prices, extended hours and expand into new markets.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
  • An image of two pan pizzas in front of a green background. On the right is a green pizza box.
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns
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    How technology is powering Papa Johns’ turnaround

    A new POS system, AI forecasting and greater customer segmentation could help the pizza chain improve its operations and drive sales.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
  • A zoomed in image of a smartphone with a on orange app square that says "Grubhub" in white.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    DoorDash buys Grubhub campus unit for $300M

    DoorDash will continue to expand Grubhub’s former campus dining operations, and Wonder will use money from the deal and an investment to sustain growth.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
  • A photograph of a dining table with two blue Walmart bags next to a pile of Papa Johns pizza boxes. A mother and child are on the right taking soup cans out of one of the blue bags.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns to offer delivery from Walmart

    Using Walmart Express Delivery, customers can order fresh pizza on its own or as part of their grocery haul this fall.

    By • Sept. 11, 2026
  • An image of the Domino's mobile app with with details of its $5 coupon campaign.
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    Courtesy of Domino's Pizza
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    How Domino’s app redesign went wrong and what CX leaders can learn

    Full-scale redesigns are increasingly out of step with how leading brands manage digital experiences, experts say.

    By Michael Brady • Sept. 9, 2026
  • A group of friends eating pizza
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    Permission granted by Rokt
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    Sponsored by Rokt

    Loyalty programs alone will not solve QSRs’ frequency problem

    QSRs can drive repeat visits by making every loyalty interaction more relevant.

    By Kyle Cowser • Sept. 8, 2026
  • The back of a bike courier with an Uber Eats bag.
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    Sean Gallup/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Uber, Wonder issue layoffs

    Uber cut 10% of its workforce, or over 3,000 employees, while Wonder reduced its employee roster by 150 this week, as each delivery-focused platform plans for its next phase of growth.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026
  • Murphy USA
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
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    Murphy USA to trial automated White Castle kiosks

    A partnership with Automated Retail Technologies will bring fresh items from the burger QSR’s menu to select large-format stores.

    By Jessica Loder • Aug. 27, 2026
  • Adam, a robot made by Richtech Robotics, makes an espresso drink at the National Restaurant Association Show in May 2025.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Opinion

    Restaurants can’t automate hospitality

    As the world embraces AI solutions to optimize business, operators need to remember that many diners prioritize authentic, tangible experiences over digitally-powered efficiency, writes Tab Commerce’s James Tice.

    By James Tice • Aug. 21, 2026
  • A pizza kiosk in a retail setting.
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    Courtesy of CPK
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    California Pizza Kitchen to deploy 1K automated kiosks by 2029

    A partnership with retail tech company T-ROC Global could help CPK reverse the steady erosion of its storebase by bringing the brand to more consumers.

    By • Aug. 21, 2026