Technology

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    Opinion

    January reset: Turning the post-holiday slowdown into strategic growth

    Savvy operators can stop revenue bleed and convert downtime into training time, writes Toast’s Julie Powell.

    By Julie Powell • Jan. 12, 2026
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    Why a national pretzel brand keeps coming back to Square

    Ben's Soft Pretzels has explored other options over the years, but keeps coming back to Square.

    Jan. 12, 2026
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    Permission granted by First Watch
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    Toast, Clover battle for small eateries

    The two payments processors have the biggest market shares with respect to smaller restaurants, according to a new report from the financial firm Baird.

    By Lynne Marek • Jan. 12, 2026
  • An image of a blue sign in the foreground says "Presto Hello! I'm your automated drive-trhoug ordering assistant." In the background, there are red menu signs and a speaker box for a Wienerschnitzel restaurant drive-thru.
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    Courtesy of Presto
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    Presto raises $10M in funding

    The drive-thru voice AI company, which spun off its tabletop business in 2024, will put the cash toward expansion, deployments and further innovation.

    By • Jan. 8, 2026
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks hires technology chief from Amazon

    Anand Varadarajan brings nearly two decades of retail technology experience to the coffee giant, which is working to implement customer-centric solutions.

    By • Dec. 22, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    DoorDash tests AI-powered restaurant discovery app

    The delivery giant’s technology chief said Zesty, now in testing in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area, improves local restaurant visibility.

    By • Dec. 17, 2025
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    Permission granted by PAR Technology
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    Sponsored by PAR Technology

    The 3 ingredients of the golden age of loyalty

    Loyalty’s golden age: brands win with personal, playful and community-driven engagement.

    By Joe Yetter, General Manager of PAR Engagement at PAR Technology • Dec. 15, 2025
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    DoorDash, Uber Eats sue NYC over tip prompt rules

    The delivery aggregators allege that New York City’s requirement that they ask consumers to tip drivers before checkout abridges their freedom of speech. 

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ on-premise experience could stave off coffee competitors

    CEO Brian Niccol said the chain’s emphasis on a coffeehouse atmosphere would result in consumers choosing the chain over “soulless” options.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025
  • Two women in colorful winter clothes laugh joyfully outside a café, holding coffee cups. A food hygiene rating sign is visible.
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    Getty Images
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    Sponsored by ZS

    Activating the long tail: A digital-first strategy for SMB customer acquisition

    A smarter way for restaurants to win repeat business from small and midsize companies.

    By By Kunal Shah, Kajal Narasimha and Mrugesh Agarwala • Dec. 8, 2025
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle debuts burger kiosk at Boston Logan Airport

    The automated kiosk gives the chain, which has long embraced new technologies, a toehold in New England with which to build brand awareness.

    By • Updated Dec. 3, 2025
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    iStock | Igor Suka

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    Sponsored by Facteus

    Market research meets reality: How verified spend data is transforming restaurant decision-making

    Your dashboards look steady and surveys show loyalty—yet a competitor just took your share. See what’s really happening, and from whom.

    By Andrew Donsbach • Dec. 1, 2025
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    Permission granted by Scale Computingᵀᴹ
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    Sponsored by Scale Computingᵀᴹ

    Built for the rush: inside the new digital kitchen

    Why edge computing is becoming restaurants’ secret ingredient for uptime and reliability.

    Nov. 24, 2025
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    Courtesy of Culver's
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    Culver’s unveils rewards program

    The Delicious Rewards program offers 10 points for every dollar spent, birthday rewards and other future benefits, like offering menu development input.

    By • Nov. 17, 2025
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    BONNINSTUDIO/stock.adobe.com

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    Sponsored by Rokt

    What really matters in brand building: Why feeling heard builds lasting loyalty

    Restaurant brand loyalty starts with listening and making every customer feel valued.

    By Brendan DiLandro • Nov. 17, 2025
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen opens first drive-thru location with automated makeline

    The Costa Mesa, California, store features an automated Infinite Kitchen makeline and a digital pickup Sweetlane, combining two of its major technology pushes.

    By • Nov. 13, 2025
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    iStock | Igor Suka

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    Sponsored by Facteus

    Market research meets reality: How verified spend data is transforming restaurant decision-making

    Your dashboards look steady and surveys show loyalty—yet a competitor just took your share. See what’s really happening, and from whom.

    By Andrew Donsbach • Nov. 10, 2025
  • An image of sweetgreen's automated kitchen in Naperville, Illinois
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen sells Spyce to Wonder for $186M

    Sweetgreen will use the proceeds from offloading Spyce, which developed the salad brand’s Infinite Kitchen technology, to reinvest in profitability after three quarters of sales declines.

    By • Nov. 6, 2025
  • A blurred image of a point of sales machine and a green bag that says Uber Eats in the background.
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    Courtesy of Uber Eats/Toast
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    Uber, Toast enter multi-year strategic global partnership

    The companies will focus on product innovation and other initiatives that could help restaurants retain and grow their customer bases.

    By • Nov. 3, 2025
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    iStock | Igor Suka

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    Sponsored by Facteus

    Market research meets reality: How verified spend data is transforming restaurant decision-making

    Your dashboards look steady and surveys show loyalty—yet a competitor just took your share. See what’s really happening, and from whom.

    By Andrew Donsbach • Nov. 3, 2025
  • Mobile screenshots of OpenTable's rewards program
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    Permission granted by OpenTable
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    OpenTable relaunches loyalty program

    Diners unlock Gold status after completing six reservations during a 12-month period, gaining access to six-months free of Uber One and priority status for last-minute reservations.

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
  • Sidewalk devilry robots in front of a Wonder location.
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    Courtesy of Grubhub
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    Grubhub, Wonder test robotic delivery in New Jersey

    The aggregator is looking to grow its autonomous delivery operations outside of college campuses, starting with a pilot program with Avride at a Wonder location in New Jersey.

    By • Oct. 23, 2025
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    Courtesy of Yelp
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    Yelp adds AI Host and Receptionist to restaurant toolbox

     The customizable solutions can answer diner questions, ask follow-ups and book reservations, reflecting restaurant interest in voice technology.  

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
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    Permission granted by Acrelec
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    Sponsored by Acrelec

    Global structure, local service: Why QSR brands need both to thrive

    As digital transformation accelerates, QSR brands need global structure and local service to thrive.

    Oct. 20, 2025
  • An orange background with simulated phone screens showing how Philz Coffee's loyalty system works.
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    Courtesy of Philz Coffee
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    Philz Coffee launches points-based loyalty program

    Fresh off its acquisition by Freeman Spogli, the coffee brand is adding a new system meant to reward frequency and deepen consumer connections.

    By • Oct. 17, 2025