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Joanna Fantozzi

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  • 4 min

5 key takeaways about the future of restaurant technology from FSTEC

📈 At the 2024 FSTEC conference in Grapevine, Texas, industry leaders focused on AI and automation in foodservice. Key takeaways: AI is set to revolutionize operations within the next decade, with potential to replace apps on phones. Yum Brands' AI-first approach boosted customer satisfaction at Taco Bell. Tech investments are now essential, with COVID-19 accelerating the adoption rate. Customization of tech solutions is crucial for meeting unique business needs. The use of AI should simplify tasks for employees, focusing on enhancing both front and back-of-house operations.
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  • 2 min

Kevin Hart’s vegan quick-service chain Hart House shutters all locations

🔔 Los Angeles-based vegan chain Hart House, backed by comedian Kevin Hart, closed all four locations on September 10 after two years. Despite no official reason for the shutdown, Hart House had plans for expansion to Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and saw a 350% sales increase in 2023 due to two new locations. The brand, led by CEO Andy Hooper, developed its own meat substitute proteins and didn't partner with external vendors. The broader restaurant industry is similarly struggling, with one-third of top 500 restaurants reporting unit declines over the past year.
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  • 4 min

What employers need to know now that the 80/20 tip credit rule has been overturned

💰 The 80/20 labor rule was abolished by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals this month, branded “arbitrary and capricious.” Originally enacted under Obama, rescinded by Trump, and revisited with clarifications under Biden, the rule restricted employers to pay a subminimum wage ($2.13 per hour) for tip-earning tasks. A tipped employee exceeding 20% of their workweek on non-tip tasks, or 30 consecutive minutes, couldn't receive a tip credit. Businesses now revert to the baseline tip credit rule unless state law dictates otherwise. Labor law changes over administrations cause operational complexities for business owners. Six states have their own 80/20 rules. The Department of Labor is unlikely to reintroduce the same rule but may seek other methods to regulate tipped employee pay following legal precedents set by Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and the overruling of Chevron deference.
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  • 1 min

U.S. Appeals Court strikes down Biden-era 80/20 labor rule

📖 Joanna Fantozzi, currently a Senior Editor at Informa Restaurant & Food Group since August 2021, has over seven years in journalism, covering the restaurant and hospitality sector. She holds a bachelor's in English literature from The College of New Jersey and a master's in journalism from CUNY. Former roles include Associate Editor (July 2019-August 2021), Assistant Editor (Oct. 2018-July 2019), and posts at Insider and The Daily Meal. Joanna's work appears in The New York Times, Forbes, and Vice.
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  • 3 min

This Florida bagel chain built a proprietary tech stack when off-the-shelf solutions weren’t enough

🍞 Jeff’s Bagel Run in Orlando, originally using Square's POS, hired Justin Wetherill as president in March to take the brand national. They developed a custom tech stack for real-time bagel making, improving customer service and operational efficiency. Launched last year, the POS links front and back of house, incorporating inventory, metrics, and a consumer-facing app launched in 2024. A machine learning model predicts daily bagel needs to minimize waste, streamline baking, and enhance customer experience. With over 40 stores planned, mostly in the Southeast, their tech-driven growth strategy is set for expansion.
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  • 1 min

The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance names Erika Cospy to lead organization

📖 Joanna Fantozzi, with over seven years in the industry, is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since August 2021. Holding a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey and a master’s from CUNY, she joined Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018. Fantozzi has written for The New York Times, Forbes, and Vice, and has previously worked for Insider and The Daily Meal. Her expertise spans restaurant news, operator solutions, and political/cultural issues.
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