Technology: Page 27


  • A picture of one of Reef's mobile kitchens.
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    Courtesy of REEF Technology
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    Reef Technology's expansion

    TGI Fridays will launch 300 ghost kitchens with Reef Technology

    This is Reef's first deal with a global casual chain, which comes just a few months after the firm announced major expansion plans with 800 Degrees Pizza and Wendy's. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 8, 2021
  • ChowNow Order Better Network
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    Permission granted by ChowNow
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    ChowNow launches Order Better Network

    The commission-free, online ordering platform can now connect restaurants to more than a dozen channels for delivery and takeout orders, including Yelp, OpenTable and Snapchat. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 5, 2021
  • Trendline

    Back-of-house Technology

    From AI-enhanced POS systems and analytics to robot-powered kitchen equipment, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • All Day Kitchens
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    Courtesy of PR Newswire
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    All Day Kitchens receives $65M in funding for expansion

    This latest round of funding brings the total money raised by the ghost kitchen platform to $102.5 million since its founding in 2018. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 4, 2021
  • Kitchen United
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    Permission granted by Kitchen United
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    Kitchen United buys Zuul, entering New York City market

    After announcing one of the first acquisitions in the ghost kitchen segment, the company's chief business officer said there's potential for more deals as it looks to expand geographically.

    By Oct. 4, 2021
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    iStock Credit: Dan Rentea

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    Sponsored by Atmosphere.TV

    How the 'chameleon effect' is limiting your business (and what to do about it)

    In under a second, a single behavior can change the vibe of an entire venue. Businesses need a way to harness that tendency to positively engage guests.

    Oct. 4, 2021
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell celebrates National Taco Day with Discord, messaging push

    In the U.S., the chain will leave Easter eggs on Reddit and "raid" Discord channels to give away free tacos while a global push focuses on the taco emoji.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 4, 2021
  • 800 Degree Pizza's Thin & Crispy Pepperoni Pizza, provided by REEF Technology
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    Courtesy of REEF Technology
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    Reef Technology's expansion

    Reef Technology to open 500 ghost kitchens with 800 Degrees Pizza

    The deal, which will add units in the U.S., Canada and international markets, comes less than two months after Reef partnered with Wendy's to open 700 kitchens.  

    By Sept. 30, 2021
  • Yelp Guest Manager and Virtual Restaurants
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    Courtesy of Yelp
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    Yelp tool helps restaurants manage operations amid off-premise surge

    The reservation platform's Guest Manager streamlines its front-of-house products into one suite. The company also debuted a feature that identifies virtual or delivery-only restaurants. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 29, 2021
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    iStock - monkeybusinessimages

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    Sponsored by Atmosphere.TV

    What happens when businesses play the best of the internet on their TVs

    Today, 72% of all U.S. adults use social media. The most commonly used social media platforms all have one thing in common: snackable videos. Here's what that means for business entertainment. 

    Sept. 27, 2021
  • A Taco Bell employee wearing a mask hands a drive-thru customer their order.
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell
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    Drive-thru speed of service slowed 26 seconds in 2021, study finds

    Order accuracy also declined by 2% year-over-year at QSR chains, which SeeLevel HX attributes to continued restaurant labor woes, supply chain issues and inflation.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 24, 2021
  • Uber Eats revamped its app and website to improve accessibility and discoverability of restaurants in October 2020.
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    Permission granted by Uber Eats
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    Uber Eats adds search feature for takeout orders

    Users who open the map on the Uber Eats app can search for any type of cuisine to find out what's nearby, including the exact distance from a selected location.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 23, 2021
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    7shifts debuts software to streamline tip pooling

    The company said its tool could save hours of work per week for managers and operators, and provide more pay transparency for employees.

    By Sept. 23, 2021
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald's enhances kiosks for visually impaired

    The fast food chain will add screen-reading software, tactile keypads and the ability to use headphones to place orders via audio prompts at company-owned stores by the end of the year. 

    By Sept. 21, 2021
  • Del Taco app
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    Courtesy of Del Taco
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    Del Taco rolls out Del Yeah Rewards program

    The Mexican chain's four-tiered loyalty offering comes amid increased consumer participation in restaurant rewards programs and follows a taco subscription launch by rival Taco Bell. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 17, 2021
  • Dunkin' Digital storefront
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    Permission granted by Dunkin'
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    Dunkin's first digital-only store doesn't reduce labor

    The company joins a growing contingent of QSR chains exploring digitally focused store designs with little or no diner seating, including rival Starbucks.

    By Sept. 15, 2021
  • Taco Bell began testing a Taco Lover's Pass in Tuscon, Arizona, in September 2021.
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell expands Taco Lover's Pass nationwide

    During the 30-day subscription's trial last fall, 20% of Taco Lover's Pass purchasers were new to the chain's rewards app. An additional 20% renewed the pass a second time. 

    By Updated Jan. 6, 2022
  • Five people sitting down at a bar talking and laughing. One man has a drink and a burger.
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    Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

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    Sponsored by Atmosphere TV

    How to transform your business's TV into a sales driver

    Here's how digital signage can boost your marketing efforts by transforming what's playing on the TV. 

    Sept. 7, 2021
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle gamifies loyalty program with extra perks

    The chain's new Extras feature allows members to access additional points and receive free items faster, personalized challenges and achievement badges.

    By Sept. 1, 2021
  • A worker takes orders from customers in the drive-thru lane at a Chick-fil-A restaurant.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Study: QSR diners prefer engaging with staff over technology

    Only 18% of consumers think that deploying labor-saving technology is one of the top three things restaurants can do to improve service, Big Red Rooster research finds. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 31, 2021
  • Bakery by Perkins
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    Courtesy of Perkins
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    Perkins debuts virtual bakery brand

    Restaurants carrying the Bakery by Perkins virtual concept during its test phase experienced a bakery category sales increase of 10% to 20%.

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 26, 2021
  • Piestro
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    Courtesy of PR Newswire
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    800 Degrees Pizza expanding through Piestro's automated machines

    800 Degrees Pizza, which currently has 16 locations worldwide, plans to bring about 3,600 Piestro robotic pizzeria machines to market throughout the next five years. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 25, 2021
  • Sweetgreen acquired Spyce in 2021.
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    Courtesy of Spyce
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    Sweetgreen acquires automated restaurant company Spyce

    The salad chain plans to use the Boston-based firm's robot-powered technology in its restaurants to improve the guest and employee experience.

    By Aug. 24, 2021
  • OpenTable launched direct messaging in August 2021.
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    Permission granted by OpenTable
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    OpenTable teams with Clear to create digital vaccine cards for diners

    OpenTable users who place a reservation at a restaurant that has a vaccine requirement will be directed to a Clear banner where they can make a free, secure digital vaccine card. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 24, 2021
  • C3's digital brand Umami Burger
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    Retrieved from Umami Burger on July 06, 2021
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    TGI Fridays owner makes a $10M bet on C3's virtual brands

    The investment, which is part of an $80 million funding round secured by C3 earlier this month, will bring the virtual brand creator's concepts to TriArtisan Capital's three restaurant brands to help boost revenue. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 23, 2021
  • Slice
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    Courtesy of PR Newswire
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    Slice launches tiered service packages for independent pizzerias

    The platform's "essentials" offering includes an in-app listing, rewards and marketing, while more features are available for the "premium" and "complete" models, such as a customized website. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 18, 2021