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Automatic

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  • 2 min

Cloudbeds Redefines PMS with Native Business Intelligence for Hoteliers

📍 Restaurant365's survey of 3,700 QSR and dining locations in 2024 found 80% experiencing increased labor costs, with 64% seeing a 1-5% rise. Food costs increased for 80%, with 51% noting 1-5% and 40% at 6-14%. Sales top the list of concerns for 38%, while 49% reported sales growth and 34% a drop. Investment priorities include sales and marketing technologies (39%), staff enhancements (37%), and expansion of catering operations (37%). Additionally, 68% are implementing sustainability practices, such as food waste tracking (39%).
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  • 2 min

STUDY: Restaurants Focus on Technology, Training, Marketing to Overcome Food, Labor Challenges

🍴 Restaurant365's industry survey, representing nearly 3,700 dining locations, reveals 2024's top challenges: labor (80% reported cost increases, 64% at 1-5%) and food costs (80% saw increases, 51% at 1-5%, 40% at 6-14%). Sales are a major concern (38%), yet 49% of leaders reported increased sales. Investments focus on back-of-house tech, sales/marketing tech (39%), and staff enhancements (37%). Sustainability practices are adopted by 68%, with 39% on food waste tracking.
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  • 3 min

Yum! Brands to Expand Voice AI to Taco Bell U.S. Drive-Thrus

🌮 Yum! Brands plans to implement Voice AI across hundreds of Taco Bell drive-thrus in the U.S. by the end of 2024. Currently, the tech is in over 100 locations across 13 states. Benefits include improved order accuracy and reduced wait times. A two-year testing phase has shown positive results. KFC Australia is also trialing Voice AI. Yum!'s 2023 digital sales neared $30 billion, with digital channels accounting for over 50% of first-quarter sales in 2024.
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  • 3 min

Papa Johns New Chief Executive Officer

📢 Yum! Brands targets hundreds of U.S. Taco Bell drive-thrus for Voice AI technology implementation by end of 2024, with over 100 locations in 13 states already using it. Benefits include improved order accuracy, reduced wait times, and enhanced team member and customer experiences. The Company's digital sales approached $30 billion, with over 50% through digital channels in Q1 2024, doubling since 2019. Taco Bell's ecosystem, including digital menu boards and the Poseidon POS system, supports this tech which is also being tested in five Australian KFC drive-thrus.
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  • 1 min

How Teriyaki Madness is Reducing Friction in the Curbside Pickup Experience

📝 All employees at Mad University underwent a thorough training program for a new curbside pickup service, requiring completion of videos and quizzes. Trainers and business coaches personally visited each shop to conduct real scenario test runs. During peak times, cashiers, expediters, or managers may run the food out. The innovative service tracks customer arrival, eliminating the need for parking, and has garnered positive reactions for its convenience and surprise element.
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  • 8 min

Potatoes: The gateway food to adventuresome flavors

🍞 American consumers prefer familiar yet slightly different food when eating out. Restaurants, facing declining traffic, offer items like potatoes for profitability. Major chains such as Arby's, Sonic Drive-In, and Long John Silver's innovate with potatoes; Sonic introduced "Groovy Fries" in May to 3,500 locations. Technomic reports 66% of on-premises orders include potato items, dropping to 50% for delivery. Arby's brought back potato cakes on July 1 after social media mentions surpassed 10,000. Long John Silver's added Crispy Waffle Fries in late July to its 530 locations. Chefs like Maneet Chauhan explore adventurous flavors using fries as a canvas.
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