Arlington, Va. — Restaurant technology is entering one of its most significant periods of transformation, as advances in artificial intelligence and edge technologies reshape how restaurants operate and serve guests. To help enterprise QSR and fast-casual brands navigate these technology shifts, Qu has appointed restaurant technology pioneer Paul Rubin as chief product & technology officer. Rubin brings more than 30 years of experience building and scaling restaurant technology platforms, including founding Brink POS, one of the industry’s first cloud-based point-of-sale systems, and helping guide product strategy at PAR Technology. At …
vendors
— Interview with Jon Jacobs — The biggest challenges when starting a restaurant. Jon Jacobs is a longtime foodservice operator and the president of SilverChef. Since 1986, SilverChef has helped more than 85,000 hospitality businesses get started and grow via flexible restaurant equipment financing. In 2026, Silverchef brought its business operation to the U.S. Jacobs opened Polliwogs Eatery & Pub in Mississippi in the late 1990s, building a highly profitable business from Day 1. But like many first-time operators, he encountered costly lessons around equipment — from upfront capital constraints …
— By Amanda Anderson — Why parking lot maintenance matters. An empty lot is full of potential. It is a blank slate that, with the right planning, becomes an investment in the community. Before a business ever opens its doors, countless hours go into permits, site plans, city approvals and construction. But once the dirt and gravel are transformed into pavement and plant beds, the work isn’t over. All that effort can be undermined if the property isn’t maintained. A well‑built establishment deserves the same level of care long after …
Dallas — SilverChef USA, part of the Australian-founded hospitality equipment financier SilverChef Group, has appointed Madeleine Hopkins as director of operations and customer experience. Hopkins, who has led complex operations and departments across SilverChef’s Australian and Canadian teams, will work alongside Jon Jacobs, president of U.S. operations. With Hopkins’ appointment as the first operations lead in the U.S., SilverChef is building on its commitment to supporting its growing network of commercial kitchen equipment dealers, distributors and hospitality operators as it faces rapid growth in the country. In her new role, …
San Francisco and Bradford, England — Instacart, a leading grocery technology company in North America, and Morrisons, one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains, have launched Caper smart trolleys at Morrisons’ Preston supermarket, marking Instacart’s first retail partnership in the UK for its AI-powered smart trolley. Caper smart trolleys bring the convenience and intelligence of online shopping directly into the store, and the launch comes as consumers increasingly seek technology that helps them shop more efficiently, stay on budget and rediscover the joy of browsing the aisles. Caper smart …
Snohomish, Wash. — Trinity Energy, a leading provider of integrated operating systems for sustainable energy solutions, has taken Costco Wholesale off grid with the launch of an independent, on-site energy system at Costco’s distribution center in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The fully integrated solar and battery platform was installed significantly faster than installing a traditional energy backup system from local power providers, enabling Costco to accelerate its operational readiness, bypass lengthy grid interconnection queues and permitting delays, and benefit from substantial cost savings. The energy independence solution, which combines solar …
Stop Flying Insects at the Door
— By Natalie Clarke — How air curtains deliver proactive, chemical-free pest control for retail and restaurant facilities. For facility managers in retail stores and restaurants, flying insect control is a constant operational challenge. A single open door can invite flies into food prep areas, dining spaces and checkout lines — creating sanitation risks, failed inspections, and negative customer experiences. The challenge is compounded by increasing pressure to reduce chemical use and adopt more environmentally responsible pest management strategies. Traditional tools like insect light traps and sprays still play a …
— By Tara Buchler — Why strategy — not software — determines whether technology investments actually deliver value. Technology buying failures rarely happen because a team chose the “wrong” software. They happen earlier when facilities or restaurant operations enter the RFP process without the strategy, clarity or alignment required to make a good decision. Most technology buyers in retail and restaurant facilities only see a handful of locations, kitchens or service workflows over the course of their careers — often within the same company, sometimes within the same operational model. …
New Orleans — Vortex Doors has opened its newest service center in New Orleans, further expanding its nationwide network of commercial door and dock service professionals. The new location enhances Vortex Doors’ ability to provide fast, reliable service to businesses throughout the Greater New Orleans area and Southeast Louisiana. The New Orleans service center delivers comprehensive commercial door solutions, including overhead door repair, loading dock equipment service, automatic door repair, fire door inspections, security gates, glass doors and proactive maintenance programs. Customers also benefit from 24/7 emergency service performed by …
Honolulu — SpotOn, a leading restaurant technology and financial services company, has opened its new Hawaiʻi showroom. Located at KEAWE Retail in Our Kakaʻako, SpotOn’s dedicated showroom is designed for restaurant and hospitality operators to experience restaurant technology firsthand in a live and interactive environment, marking a major commitment to the state’s restaurant and hospitality community. Inspired by modern hospitality and technology experiences, the showroom was designed as a hands-on space where restaurant and bar owners, operators and managers can explore SpotOn’s technology in real world scenarios alongside SpotOn’s local …