Technology: Page 7
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Courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks shutters NFT beta test
On March 31, Starbucks Odyssey Beta — a major restaurant effort to capitalize on Web3 hype — will end 18 months after it was announced.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 18, 2024 -
Permission granted by &pizza
How &pizza’s new CEO is transforming the chain’s loyalty program, operations
Burns, who has held the position for over two months, is leading a major tech overhaul at the chain, including a new rewards scheme, app and website.
By Julie Littman • March 14, 2024 -
Permission granted by C3
Sam Nazarian buys Kitchen United IP, forms new virtual brand platform
Nazarian will combine these unspecified components with Nextbite and C3 to support the new concept, Everybody Eats, which has goals that echo the growth plans of failed ghost kitchen pioneers.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 14, 2024 -
Permission granted by Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A to open first digital-only pickup restaurant in NYC
The 3,500-square-foot walk-up restaurant is the first of two digital-focused locations to open this year, with an elevated drive-thru expected to follow.
By Julie Littman • March 13, 2024 -
hapabapa via Getty Images
DoorDash adds AI to chat feature to detect harassment between workers and customers
The aggregator is replacing an old chat monitoring tool with SafeChat+, which can detect inappropriate content without keyword matching.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 12, 2024 -
MartinPrescott via Getty Images
Presto Automation is risking its business on drive-thru voice AI
The tech firm wants to spin off its tablet payment business, which generates roughly 90% of its revenue and is losing major clients, to focus on its fledgling drive-thru voice automation tool.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 7, 2024 -
Golden Corral faces class-action suit over 2023 data breach
If recent years have made anything clear to HR, it’s that employer databases are prime targets for cybercrime.
By Ryan Golden • March 4, 2024 -
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images via Getty Images
DoorDash shifts pay scheme, cuts flexibility in New York City
DoorDash says its fees in The Big Apple have driven down delivery sales, but the city says data from delivery firms shows steady sales.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated March 5, 2024 -
Courtesy of Chipotle
These 4 restaurant companies totaled $50B in 2023 digital sales
Yum, Restaurant Brands International, Wendy’s and Chipotle continue to invest in consumer-facing features including app enhancements, loyalty offerings and kiosks to grow their digital mixes.
By Julie Littman • March 1, 2024 -
Courtesy of Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen’s robot kitchens yield 10% higher tickets in test
The salad chain plans to add its Infinite Kitchen to seven new builds and three to four retrofit units in 2024, after two pilot stores yielded improvements in throughput and labor turnover.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 1, 2024 -
Permission granted by Berry Global
Wendy’s backtracks on dynamic pricing
The company said Tuesday that it would not charge higher prices during peak hours. This statement follows widespread consumer backlash on social media in response to mention of a dynamic pricing test in its Q4 earnings call.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 28, 2024 -
Retrieved from Chipotle on October 03, 2023
Chipotle doubles tech venture fund spending to $100M
The chain’s second round of $50 million for its Cultivate Next fund comes less than two years after the project was announced, and as Chipotle tests equipment developed by partner companies.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 28, 2024 -
Courtesy of Dutch Bros
Dutch Bros begins testing mobile orders
The coffee brand is studying the operational changes needed to support a widespread deployment of digital ordering tech.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 26, 2024 -
Los Angeles County sues Grubhub over ‘bait and switch’ fees
The county calls for an injunction against alleged deceptive business practices and for Grubhub to pay fines for possible violations of California’s unfair competition and false advertising laws.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 23, 2024 -
Permission granted by Toast
Toast to cut 550 employees
The company’s CEO acknowledged during an earnings call that “we grew our team too quickly in some areas,” while reporting a presence in 106,000 locations as of the end of 2023.
By Lynne Marek • Feb. 16, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Burger King, Popeyes lean into kiosks, remodels to spur speedy service
Parent company Restaurant Brands International is focusing on improving speed and convenience as drivers of customer satisfaction.
By Bryan Wassel • Feb. 15, 2024 -
Courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks, Bank of America tie up loyalty programs
Eligible Bank of America card holders can link their Starbucks rewards account to earn 2% cashback on qualifying purchases and one star for every $2 spent at the coffee chain.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 15, 2024 -
Courtesy of Wendy's
Wendy’s to spend $55M on breakfast ads
The burger chain hopes the marketing push will boost North American sales in the daypart to $6,000 a week per restaurant.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 15, 2024 -
Permission granted by Inspire Brands
Inspire Brands buys delivery tech firm Vromo
The parent company of Dunkin’ and Buffalo Wild Wings bought the firm for an undisclosed sum, marking its first deal since its $11.3 billion Dunkin’ buy.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 13, 2024 -
Courtesy of Grubhub
My Place Hotels of America taps Grubhub for food delivery
The hotel franchisor aims to enhance the guest experience through the partnership, as hotel dining becomes increasingly digital.
By Jenna Graber • Feb. 12, 2024 -
Courtesy of Taco Bell
4 ways Yum accelerated tech deployment in 2023
From kiosks to automation, the company debuted proprietary systems across thousands of locations to improve operations and grow sales.
By Julie Littman • Feb. 8, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
McDonald’s sets sights on $45B in loyalty sales
A larger loyalty member pool will provide more customer data for the fast-food chain to improve personalization.
By Bryan Wassel • Feb. 7, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
McDonald’s invests aggressively in technology
The fast food giant’s three-pronged plan aims to digitally transform customer experience, franchise operations and core systems, President and CEO Chris Kempczinski said Monday.
By Matt Ashare • Feb. 6, 2024 -
Courtesy of Starship
Starship Technologies raises $90M, reaches $230M in total funding
The autonomous delivery bot company will use the additional funding to expand operations, enter new markets and develop its AI technology.
By Julie Littman • Feb. 6, 2024 -
Courtesy of KFC
KFC US launches points-based digital rewards program
Members earn 10 points for every eligible dollar spent online. Points are redeemable for free food in KFC’s Secret Recipe Vault, which rotates rewards.
By Julie Littman • Feb. 6, 2024
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