St. Paul, Minn. — Ecolab Inc., a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services, has launched Ecolab® RushReady™, a new AI-powered program within its Ecolab® KitchenIQ™ platform. Designed to help restaurant leaders improve shift performance and profitability, RushReady combines real-time data, intelligent recommendations and human coaching to tackle the complexities of daily operations and elevate the overall experience for guests. The engagement begins with a connection into each restaurant’s unique data sources, enabling the platform to work on transforming back-of-house operations through: • RushReady AI-driven …
software/technology
Ponte Vedra, Fla. — Hibbett, Inc., a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer, has renewed its contract with Digital Wave Technology for its Product Experience Management (PXM) solution. The renewal reflects Hibbett’s commitment to achieving a measurable impact on scaling product content, streamlining internal processes and enhancing their digital shopping experience. “As Hibbett grows, we need partners who can help us scale with speed and precision,” says Bill Quinn, chief information officer (CIO), Hibbett. “Digital Wave’s PXM has been instrumental in improving content accuracy, team alignment and time to market. We’re excited …
Charlotte, N.C. — Bojangles, a beloved Southern restaurant chain known for its famous breakfast and chicken, biscuits and tea, is taking a bold step toward sustainability and customer convenience. In a new partnership with Smart Big Box, Alyath EV and Energy and Environmental Design Services, Bojangles is set to install turnkey electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at a wide range of locations, making it a first-of-its-kind initiative in the QSR industry. The rollout of EV charging stations at Bojangles will begin in fourth quarter 2025, and customers can expect to …
Print the Wall
— Interview with Darin Ross — Building a wall for Walmart has never been faster, cheaper or safer — thanks to 3D concrete printing. When Walmart makes waves, it can create a tsunami. The mega-retailer, which has more than 10,000 stores around the globe, continues to be a leader in sustainability, productivity and innovation. Recently, Walmart teamed up with Alquist 3D, in partnership with Atlanta-based FMGI as general contractor, to complete their second 3DCP (3D Concrete Printing) build. The new 5,000-square-foot expansion at Walmart Supercenter #5197 outside Huntsville, Alabama, set …
Atlanta — Sensolus, a global provider of industrial IoT solutions, has formed a partnership with leading convenience store retailer RaceTrac to deploy tracking technologies for critical parts transported between store locations and distribution centers, helping to deliver on RaceTrac’s focus on efficiency and exceptional customer service. RaceTrac partnership with IoT solutions provider Sensolus to deploy tracking technologies for critical parts transported between store locations and distribution centers, helping deliver on RaceTrac’s focus on efficiency and exceptional customer service. By digitally tracking reusable totes containing spare parts for fuel pumps, Sensolus …
Energous Introduces Battery-Free e-Sense Tag for Retail & Supply Chain
San Jose, Calif. — Energous Corporation d/b/a Energous Wireless Power Solutions, a leader in over-the-air (OTA) wireless power networks, has launched the e-Sense tag: a battery-free, maintenance-free wireless sensor for location and temperature monitoring in retail, supply chain and logistics environments. Energous now offers a complete ambient IoT platform consisting of wirelessly-powered, battery-free sensors, RF-based energy transmitters and cloud-based monitoring software. This integrated system enables uninterrupted, real-time visibility across supply chains without relying on batteries, manual maintenance or conventional wired infrastructure. The tag continuously reports temperature and location data to …
— By Tremaine Kirkman — Revolutionizing retail facilities — specifically grocers — with AI solutions. Independent grocery retail facilities, such as neighborhood markets, corner stores, family-run supermarkets and bodegas, fuel the heart of our communities. They bring fresh, often local, goods to consumers; offer diverse product selections; and foster a sense of connection while contributing significantly to local economies. However, as large retail chains with extensive resources dominate the grocery market, smaller and independent grocery retailers face mounting challenges, compounded by minimal adoption of advanced technology due to price and …
Budderfly Expands Virtual Power Plant Platform to Manage Energy at Commercial Facilities
Shelton, Conn. — Budderfly, a preferred sustainability partner for commercial businesses, has significantly expanded its Virtual Power Plant (VPP) platform, activating real-time demand response across four of the country’s largest energy markets: California Independent System Operator (CAISO), Independent System Operator (ISO) New England, Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) Interconnection, and Southwest Power Pool (SPP) service territories. The milestone signifies a decisive move into active grid participation for Budderfly, which now orchestrates behind-the-meter commercial sites through real-time energy market programs. Initial deployments leverage thermostatic control of HVAC systems and will expand to include …
Atlanta — Ascent Hospitality Management, franchisor to family dining brands Huddle House and Perkins American Food Co., has named Brian Wallunas as chief technology officer. In this role, Wallunas will lead the company’s digital strategy, with a focus on implementing customer-centric technology solutions that drive operational efficiency, elevate the guest experience and fuel brand growth. Most recently, Wallunas served as chief technology officer at Smokey Bones. Under his leadership, online sales tripled, and the brand’s guest engagement capabilities were significantly enhanced. “Brian is a forward-thinking technology leader with a deep …
Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. — Simbe, a market leader in retail shelf digitization, has formed a strategic partnership with DeCicco & Sons, a family-owned New York grocery chain. The partnership brings Simbe’s Store Intelligence™ platform to DeCicco’s flagship Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., location, which opened in March 2025, as well as additional stores in Eastchester and Larchmont. Simbe’s platform delivers real-time, storewide visibility into pricing accuracy, product availability and inventory placement — supporting greater operational precision and in-store execution. “At DeCicco & Sons, we’ve always prided ourselves on providing the finest selection …