Boise, Idaho — Albertsons Companies, Inc. has hired Danielle Crop to join the company as senior vice president and chief data officer. Crop was most recently chief data officer at American Express. Crop will be responsible for building and executing a world-class central data strategy that delivers benefits for the customer regardless of whether they shop in store or on the company’s digital platforms. Crop’s work will use machine learning and advanced data science capabilities to enhance performance across our businesses and markets. “Today, excellence in delighting customers can be …
software/technology
Kansas City, Mo. — Service Management Group (SMG), a global customer, patient and employee experience management partner to more than 500 brands, has launched a new customer experience management program with QDOBA Mexican Eats. The Mexican fast-casual chain is working with SMG to drive program adoption, increase guest satisfaction and advance its customer experience strategy. QDOBA has launched the SMG customer experience management program to capture guest feedback and uncover customer insights across its nearly 750 locations. With feedback from across the customer journey available in the smg360® platform, QDOBA …
Greensboro, N.C. — Rusty Everhart has been hired as the director of IT, enterprise applications, at Biscuitville Fresh Southern. His primary responsibility will be to oversee all technology systems that support Biscuitville’s operations. From point-of-sale to back-end digital platforms such as business intelligence and reporting tools, he will ensure that everything is running efficiently from both a workstream and a financial return perspective. Prior to Biscuitville, Everhart garnered vast IT experience, serving in technical leadership roles in the tobacco, software engineering, furniture manufacturing, IT consulting, and telecom industries. Headquartered in …
Chicago — 86 Repairs, an innovative platform that streamlines and optimizes equipment repair and maintenance for restaurants, has closed a $2 million round of seed funding from multiple investors. The investment will be used to accelerate the company’s aggressive growth and product development, which offers collective intelligence and robust data insights previously untapped in the foodservice equipment and supply industry. “86 Repairs harnesses the power of technology to create a real and innovative solution for the restaurant industry. We’re impressed with 86’s ability to tackle R&M and other back-of-house pain …
Clearwater, Fla. — Omnivore, a technology company serving the restaurant industry, has named Dan Singer as chief executive officer and hired Shane Whitlatch as chief revenue officer. Both executives have significant experience in leading fast-growth companies. The executive appointments come after Omnivore’s successful Series A funding round, raising $13 million from notable investors including The Coca-Cola Company, Performance Food Group and Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, in 2018. The investments have fueled the company’s growth, with more than 24,000 locations using Omnivore. Singer was appointed CEO after leading Omnivore …
— By Kenneth Gruskin, AIA — Coronavirus as a catalyst for innovation in stores and restaurants. The coronavirus has resulted in a cosmic shift in retail and hospitality. Customers have moved from seeking high-touch retail experiences, extensive product/service selection, and vibrant, extensive menu and dining options/experiences…to staying well. In response, retailers and restauranteurs are now focused on providing efficiency, safety and convenience. This has accelerated the transition from “bricks to clicks” and, with this, many retailers are adapting their physical locations to better accommodate the surrounding population, using these …
San Francisco — Zippin, an industry leader in checkout-free technologies for brick-and-mortar retail, has hired veteran business development executive, Gary Jacobus, as senior vice president, business development. Most recently, Jacobus was with SSP America, the leading operator of food & beverage concessions in travel locations, where he grew the business by over $470 million in annual revenue during his 3-year tenure. His proven track record within the sports, entertainment and transportation venue verticals will help to further expand Zippin’s footprint in these core markets. Previously he held a similar role …
Union, N.J. — Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has appointed Scott Lindblom as its new chief technology officer. Effective September 28, 2020, Lindblom will report directly to COO John Hartmann and will lead the company’s enterprise technology transformation. He joins the company from Michael’s. “Scott’s track record implementing leading IT solutions and digital fulfillment capabilities for a number of leading retailers will help us accelerate the modernization of our technology infrastructure and capabilities, to rebuild our authority in our core markets and deepen connections and loyalty with our customers,” Hartmann says. Prior to …
Durham, N.C. — Luxury fashion specialty retailer HUGO BOSS is creating new in-store experiences for its shoppers with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. Using Toshiba’s TCx™ 800 to revitalize its front end and TCx™ 300 to optimize its mobile capabilities, HUGO BOSS is creating personalized shopping experiences and offers an innovative, shopper-focused technology. Inspired by an art gallery, HUGO BOSS’ new 5,000-square-foot store in the SoHo district of New York boasts an inviting and modern atmosphere. With its sleek, versatile design, the TCx 800 complements the store’s contemporary, minimalist aesthetic. Toshiba’s …
— By Crystal Jacobs — Restaurant cybersecurity and cyber insurance are more relevant than ever as online orders boom amid COVID-19. As the Covid-19 viral pandemic continues to cause major disruptions throughout the global economy, countless restaurants across the United States have shifted to a delivery- or pickup-only business model in order to survive, often with a heavy reliance on online orders and digital payment. Criminal actors are taking advantage of this spike in online commerce: March 2020 saw a 600% increase in email phishing scams, whereby criminals send …