software/technology

— By Russ Spencer — Why restaurant technology doesn’t have to come at the cost of guest experience. The restaurant industry has slowly been shifting its business model over the past decade but was drastically accelerated in 2020, with the culprit being none other than the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants were forced to change how they operate and interact with customers due to social distancing requirements surrounding the virus, with some forced to close their doors for good. Now, 3 years on, restaurants are open with little to no restrictions, but …

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Newton, Mass. — Paytronix, a leading digital guest engagement platform for restaurants and convenience stores, has appointed Eric Steele as chief financial officer. He replaces acting CFO Lee Barnes, who will continue to serve as Paytronix’s chief data officer and take on additional responsibility as chief of staff. Steele joins Paytronix from Snap One, where he played a key role in scaling the business to a public company with more than $1 billion in revenue. At Snap One, he most recently served as senior vice president of finance & corporate …

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Baton Rouge, La. — Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux has appointed two industry veterans with Jamie Davis being named vice president of supply chain & procurement and Tyler Schack stepping in as the vice president of technology. “We are thrilled to welcome Jamie Davis and Tyler Schack to the Walk-On’s family. Their extensive experience and proven track records in their respective fields align seamlessly with our commitment to delivering top-notch experiences for our guests and assembling a high-caliber team to drive Walk-On’s to new heights,” says Chris Dawson, CEO of Walk-On’s. Davis …

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Bethesda, Md. — Qu, the unified commerce platform built for enterprise-scale, quick-service and fast-casual restaurants, has added two new executives to its management team. John Morrison, formerly an executive at Toast, is a 20+ year restaurant tech veteran that will serve as senior vice president of operations. Peter “Reyn” Holden will take the reins as Qu’s chief financial officer. “One of the key differentiators Qu is known for in the industry is the customer experience it provides,” says Amir Hudda, CEO of Qu. “As we grow to serve larger brands …

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New York City — Crate & Barrel has launched its first immersive virtual store in partnership with experiential e-commerce platform Obsess. The fully shoppable virtual environment takes the form of Crate & Barrel’s new flagship in New York City’s Flatiron neighborhood, which opened Nov. 16 at 881 Broadway, and features engaging animations and interactive personalization tools that let customers visualize their own sofa and living room set and build their own bouquet using the brand’s selection of vases and botanicals. The virtual store is among the largest fully 3D-rendered spaces …

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Lewes, Del. — Berry AI, a leading provider of AI camera solutions for the QSR industry, has appointed Eric Marchant as the newest member of its leadership team, as its U.S. vice president of business. This addition comes as Berry AI experiences unprecedented growth in response to the surging demand for AI camera adoption within the QSR sector, aimed at enhancing the speed of service. In 2023, the quick-service restaurant industry witnessed a rapid surge in demand for advanced AI camera solutions, as businesses sought to optimize their operational efficiency …

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San Carlos, Calif. — Presto Automation Inc., an enterprise-grade AI and automation solutions provider to some of the nation’s largest restaurant brands, has promoted Justin Foster to chief revenue officer. In addition, after nearly 3 years at Presto serving as both president and chief revenue officer, Dan Mosher is leaving the company. Foster brings 15 years of experience leading go-to-market efforts at emerging high-growth technology companies. As chief revenue officer, he will be responsible for all facets of the company’s revenue generation, including growing Presto’s footprint in the emerging voice …

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Orlando, Fla. — Sonny’s BBQ has launched Flybuy and Koala technology across all of its locations to help improve the guest’s off-premise experience. The move marks another important milestone in the brand’s evolution, on top of last year’s decision to optimize its restaurant prototype and invest in new technology to accommodate for changing customer preferences. “Since our founding, we have remained committed to providing the highest quality of customer service for our guests,” says Billy Brewer, COO of Sonny’s BBQ. “The implementation of Flybuy and Koala technology allows us to …

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Spartanburg, S.C. — Denny’s Corporation, owner and operator of Denny’s Inc. and Keke’s Inc., has hired Pankaj Patra as chief digital and technology officer (CDTO). This is a newly created enterprise role that will include support for Denny’s and Keke’s. Patra, who joins Denny’s from Brinker International, will be responsible for accelerating Denny’s capabilities across all specialties within the digital, technology and information functions. “Our restaurant teams and our guests rely on technology to enable a seamless experience, which makes the work that our IT team does absolutely critical,” says …

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Lancaster, Texas — Walmart has opened a new 1.5 million-square-foot fulfillment center 15 miles south of Dallas, located at 2500 Belt Line Rd. in Lancaster. This next-generation facility will enable the retailer to fulfill more orders, more quickly. The Lancaster fulfillment center is the third of four next-generation facilities announced last year. A fifth facility was recently announced that will open in 2026. “Walmart is paving the way for good jobs and great careers in the Dallas region with the Lancaster fulfillment center. These tech-powered jobs will drive the future …

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