Innovation

📢 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.

🏡 W Sydney, a five-star hotel with 588 rooms and suites, chose IRIS for mobile ordering and digital guest experiences. Anand Prabeer, W Sydney's B&F Director, noted a significant rise in room service orders and ancillary revenue within the first 6 months of implementing IRIS's app. The app allows guests to access hotel information, menus, and local attractions, enhancing guest experience and operational efficiency. IRIS VP Sales and Marketing, Graham Rushin, emphasized the app's role in boosting F&B revenue and improving service.

📦 W Sydney partnered with global leader IRIS to enhance guest experience with a digital ordering platform. The five-star hotel, boasting 588 rooms and suites, was a notable opening in 2023 at Darling Harbour. IRIS app empowers guests to personalize their stay using their smartphones or tablets, offering instant access to hotel amenities, dining options, and local attractions. Within the first 6 months, W Sydney saw a significant increase in room service orders and ancillary revenue. The app's integration ensures increased F&B revenue, optimized staff workflows, and reduced operational costs for the hotel.

📱 IRIS partners with W Sydney to elevate guest experiences with a mobile ordering platform, enhancing the luxury hotel's operational efficiencies. W Sydney, a five-star hotel with 588 rooms, opened in 2023 and quickly adopted IRIS's innovative hospitality app. Within six months, W Sydney noted a substantial increase in room service orders and ancillary revenue. The app allows guests to access hotel services and local info directly from their smartphones, contributing positively to the hotel’s reputation for modern luxury services.

🍴 Brian Malarkey, a "Top Chef" alumnus and California restaurateur, opened Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge in Bend, Oregon, in mid-June. Teaming with brother James and chef Tony Torres, the 11,000-square-foot venue reflects a "modern cowboy" style and offers steaks, seafood, and wood-fired dishes. They source food locally and raise their own chickens and beef. Additionally, Malarkey inaugurated Le Coq, a French-inspired steakhouse, on June 27 in San Diego with Tara Monson as the executive chef.

📈 Global restaurant digitization market expected to reach $29.6 billion by 2032. Virtual Dining Concepts introduces Linked Eats, a suite with 12 tech tools for real-time analytics. Blackbird Labs, backed by American Express, launches Blackbird Pay, a Web3 restaurant rewards app and payments platform. Despite numerous SaaS solutions, one in five operators feel overwhelmed by tech stack choices. New entrants continue to innovate, leveraging AI and data analysis to create niche software solutions for internal and market needs.

💰 Midlands-based Parogon Group reports a 10.9% increase in total sales to £24m for the year ending 30 June 2024, with like-for-like sales up 3.5%. EBITDA rose to £1.9m from £0.7m, and site-level profits went up by £1.2m to £4.6m, thanks to £3.1m in capital investment. The group, operating venues such as The Swan With Two Necks and The Orange Tree, is expanding its Willow brand, with the Trentham site's covers growing by 3.6%. A new Willow Telford site is due to open in September.

📊 Leveraging generative AI, like ChatGPT, loyalty marketing professionals can now access data conversationally and optimize loyalty platforms more efficiently. AI assists with data segmentation, campaign analysis, and quick access to support documents. It can generate campaigns, analyze performance, and create personalized strategies. This technology saves time and enhances data value in loyalty programs.

🍕 PizzaForno expanded in the first half of 2024, adding six U.S. states including Utah, California, Delaware, New York, Florida, and Maryland, and doubled its expansion compared to the first half of 2023 with 39 new units. Internationally, PizzaForno secured 20 locations in Mexico and installed 18 units in Canada in 2024. The company aims for over 100 units in Mexico soon and plans for 25,000 units by 2028, focusing on campuses and various locations, offering 24/7 pizza vending with a digital-ordering app.

🍝 Pasta Emporium's first location opened on 25 July in Richmond, with a partnership between AMSRIC and Pasta Evangelists. A second venue is slated to launch in Greenwich. These locations offer fresh, hand-made pasta shapes, with dine-in and takeout options via digital screens or counters. Menu items include lobster tortellini, truffle mac'n'cheese, and a variety of antipasti, Italian desserts, and gelato. Features include self-pour wine machines, weekly free wine tastings, and kids' pasta-making sessions. The first Pasta Evangelists restaurant opened in May 2021 at Harrods Dining Hall, and the company was acquired by the Barilla Group in 2021.