software/technology

Orlando, Fla. — Sonny’s BBQ has hired Keith Berger as the senior director of information technology. Berger brings with him a wealth of IT experience and proven leadership to the brand. In his role, Berger will spearhead the development and implementation of Sonny’s BBQ’s information technology strategy, provide expert and strategic counsel to the leadership team and drive transformational change and innovation within the company. “We’re excited to welcome Keith and leverage his knowledge and expertise to shape a new vision for technology that supports our people-first strategic priorities,” says …

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

New York City — Runit Systems, a leading provider of innovative retail management systems, has released Sellit 6.0, its newest POS module, which includes features designed to revolutionize the retail experience. With a focus on enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction, these features reinforce Runit’s commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for the apparel, footwear, sporting goods and luxury retail sectors. The new module ensures uninterrupted sales operations even during internet outages. This safeguard empowers retailers to maintain seamless operations, granting access to critical functions like inventory management, customer receipt histories …

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Houston — Airport hospitality group OTG is unveiling Starbucks’ first airport Pick Up concept, with three initial locations opening at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in IAH Terminal E this fall. Starbucks Pick Up will be exclusively designed for mobile orders — quick pickup without the wait — offering convenience, comfort and guaranteed immediacy to meet the needs of digitally savvy, ‘on-the-go’ travelers. Tailored for the airport environment, all stores will reflect Starbucks’ signature design DNA, featuring warm wood tones, fresh green accents and botanical art pieces inspired by the coffee’s …

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Phoenix — Sprouts Farmers Market, one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States, has opened its 400th store. Its newest store opened on Sept. 8 in Haddon Township, N.J. As a part of Sprouts’ 5-year plan, it remains committed to a robust growth strategy, aiming to expand 10% year over year. “Following the unveiling of our 399th store in Rialto, Calif., and now, on the opposite coast, our 400th store celebrates its opening in Haddon Township, N.J.,” says Jack …

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Boston — Toast, an all-in-one technology platform built for restaurants, has launched ‘Toast for Cafes & Bakeries’ — a new solution designed to help cafes, coffee shops and bakeries add new revenue streams, speed up service with faster workflows, meet guests where they are and grow their business. Catering Online Ordering and Restaurant Retail are among the new features that cafes, bakeries and all other restaurant types Toast serves can benefit from using. Toast for Cafes & Bakeries builds on recent launches from Toast that introduce functionality tailored for specific …

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Boston — Toast, the all-in-one digital technology platform built for restaurants, has promoted Aman Narang to CEO, effective January 1, 2024. Narang has served as Toast’s co-president since December 2012 and chief operating officer since June 2021. He will take over as CEO from Chris Comparato, who has served as CEO since February 2015. Both Comparato and Narang will remain on the board. Since co-founding the company in his basement in 2011 alongside Steve Fredette and Jonathan Grimm, Narang has been in instrumental leadership roles across the company as it …

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Chicago — Crate & Barrel Holdings, Inc. (CBH) has unveiled a multi-year investment plan to pave the future for continued growth across the organization centered on the customer experience. Through significant investments in talent, technology and infrastructure, CBH is committing to delivering a seamless, premium and personalized customer experience through a digital-first operating model and modern technology foundation. “We have learned so much over the past 3 years as we have navigated through both a global pandemic and a supply chain crisis,” says Janet Hayes, CEO of Crate & Barrel …

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Melbourne, Australia — Continuing its global expansion, cloud-based mapping software specialists GapMaps has launched in the U.S. and Canada, driven by customer demand to access its location intelligence platform in these two markets. GapMaps Live provides more than 500 brands, including McDonald’s, KFC, Starbucks and Burger King, with a comprehensive view of their networks and insights to inform their global store location strategies across 25 countries. “Global brands in fast food, café and fitness sectors can now use a single platform to access accurate population, demographics and competitor intel along …

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

— By Savneet Singh — Balancing automation and workforce: navigating the future of restaurants. In an era of shrinking workforces and rising costs, the restaurant industry faces significant challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and profitability while delivering exceptional customer experiences. Many establishments have implemented automation — including robots and artificial intelligence (AI) — to address these pain points and supplement their human workforce. While automation enhances productivity and streamlines operations, restaurants must balance relying on technology and prioritizing the hiring/retention of employees. A Growing Need for Automation In a labor-driven, …

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Dayton, Ohio — Hi Auto and Checkers and Rally’s Drive-in Restaurants have added Spanish drive-thru voice AI ordering, representing a milestone development both for the QSR industry and for North America’s more than 50 million Spanish and bilingual speakers. Already operational at more than 350 of the restaurant group’s locations, Hi Auto’s is the world’s most widely deployed drive-thru voice AI ordering technology. Following beta testing over the past 2 months at five of its drive-thrus, Checkers and Rally’s is ready to expand the Spanish drive-thru voice AI rollout to …

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail