More than 80% of diners choose restaurants that respond to online reviews

Three out of four consumers believe those responses should be personalized, pressuring businesses to hone their brand voice and be vigilant about managing internet reputations.

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 29, 2018

McDonald's mobile app download rate doubled in Q3

The chain's app has been downloaded 60 million times while Burger King's recently launched app saw 2 million in its first few weeks.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 25, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Back-of-house Technology

From voice AI at the drive-thru to robot-powered makelines, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

How Chick-fil-A is perfecting its recipe for service and support

Technology is as crucial as those two pickles on every chicken sandwich. 

By Samantha Schwartz • Oct. 23, 2018

Amazon teams with SevenRooms to build restaurant-specific Alexa skills

The seating and guest management upstart hopes to use the voice-powered technology to streamline operations and gather diner data to help personalize experiences. 

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 22, 2018

Is Uber planning drone delivery by 2021?

The tech startup aims to deliver food by drone sooner than many stakeholders expect will be possible. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 22, 2018

Wegmans tests a prepared foods ordering app

The grocer’s Pittsford, New York, flagship store is offering pizza, subs, sushi and more for pickup or delivery through its new 2GO service.

By Jeff Wells • Oct. 22, 2018

OpenTable's CEO departs as Kayak chief assumes lead

The executive shakeup comes as competition in restaurant reservations heats up, and could signal a global push to connect travelers with lodging, transportation and dining all in one place.

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 19, 2018

Jimmy John's to test mobile, tap-and-go payments

The sandwich chain is piloting the technology in Champaign, Illinois, which will integrate its POS system with online transactions to offer quick in-store service and delivery. 

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 18, 2018

Denny's taps CRM platform Punchh to boost customer engagement

The cloud-based marketing solution will allow the restaurant to collect behavioral analytics to develop personalized relationships with its diners.

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 18, 2018

Robot restaurants are happening, but is it a gimmick?

Fast casual of the future won't eliminate the assembly line entirely: it might just be run by robots. 

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 16, 2018

Domino's US same-store sales slip, but earnings top expectations

The chain continues to look abroad for growth, announcing international same-store sales gains of 3.3% and opening 173 new restaurants during the period. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 16, 2018

Burger King partners with DoorDash for Twitch takeover

The chain's king mascot will battle popular gaming personalities in Activision's latest 'Call of Duty' game.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 15, 2018

Sonic's $4.3M settlement highlights data breach challenges

The case shows consumers are fighting back against cyberattacks, which could spell trouble for chains like Panera, Wendy's and Chipotle, which have all recently been compromised.

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 15, 2018

Is this seat taken? OpenTable pairs strangers for dinner

Diners who opt in to OpenSeat when making a reservation at one of the more than 30 participating restaurants in Virginia will be seated with someone they don't know. 

By Kristine Sherred • Oct. 15, 2018

As Square's CFO departs, the restaurant payments race could heat up

Sarah Friar, who has served as the chief financial officer of electronics payments company since 2012, was a strategic driver of the company's push into restaurants and omnichannel.  

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 12, 2018

Danny Meyer gives $20M vote of confidence to 'category disruptor' Goldbelly

The online food marketplace, founded in 2013, features products from local restaurants and purveyors that can be shipped throughout the U.S.

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 10, 2018

Pieology tests drone delivery as a tech war heats up between pizza chains

The California-based company plans to launch drone delivery permanently from its Samford, Connecticut store, following innovations such as Dominos' driverless delivery vehicles and Pizza Hut's pizza-ordering shoes. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 4, 2018

Uber Eats harnesses AI for $6B in annual bookings

The tech helps the company comb through data on restaurant order volume, food preparation time, pickups and deliveries.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 3, 2018

Pizza Hut updates loyalty program for in-store purchases

Hut Rewards now awards two points for every one dollar spent on food, whether it was ordered via phone, in-store or online.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 1, 2018

Burger King parodies AI in campaign created by 'agency of robots'

With artificial intelligence's role growing in marketing, the fast-food chain and its very real agency David Miami take the results to ridiculous lengths. 

By Chantal Tode , Erica Sweeney • Sept. 28, 2018

Subway boosts foot traffic 31% by targeting ads based on weather patterns

The sandwich chain used IBM's artificial intelligence technology to create dynamic ads for a sandwich promotion.

By Robert Williams • Sept. 26, 2018

Domino's mobile app rings in new virtual dinner bell

Customers can use the feature to notify friends and family that pizza has arrived.

By Robert Williams • Sept. 26, 2018

Dunkin' drops 'Donuts' from its name in new branding

The change is part of the company's efforts to focus on coffee and support digital offerings that cater to on-the-go consumers. 

By Erica Sweeney • Sept. 26, 2018

Technology in action at TGI Fridays: No 'better use case than selling alcohol with AI'

By integrating AI in platforms and email campaigns, the restaurant chain was able to differentiate customers and tailor personal experiences at the bar. 

By Naomi Eide • Sept. 20, 2018