vendors

— By Liz Snyder — How glass wall systems are emerging as a strategic investment for retailers. Today, the most successful retail stores aren’t designed solely for transactions; they are experiential and foster emotional connection. A well-designed store engages customers and attracts prospective shoppers, even when staff are busy. To do so, many retailers are incorporating hospitality-inspired elements, such as cafés, restaurants and communal gathering areas, into their layout design, transforming furniture and retail stores into lifestyle destinations. Floor plans that prioritize openness, natural light and seamless flow enhance the …

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Savannah, Ga. — As electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues to grow nationwide, Bojangles is reimagining the future of the roadside stop, debuting its first EV charging station at 4401 Ogeechee Rd. in Savannah, Ga. The Savannah location marks the first milestone in a larger initiative to bring EV charging infrastructure to Bojangles restaurants across the country. Developed in partnership with XLR8 America, a leader in EV charging and sustainable infrastructure, and Energy and Environmental Design Services, the new hub signals Bojangles’ evolution beyond traditional quick-service dining and positions the brand …

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Dallas — Taco Bueno has brought fresh food delivery to new heights with the launch of drone delivery in partnership with Zipline. As of May 7, residents within 3 miles of the 7400 block of North Beach Street in Watauga, Texas, can order Taco Bueno through the Zipline app and have it delivered directly to their doorstep via drone. “The drone-delivery partnership with Zipline is just one more example of the work we are doing to combine the heritage of Taco Bueno with innovations across products, service, technology and customer …

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Boston — Toast, the global technology platform built for restaurants and retail businesses, is bringing its enterprise technology suite to Hungry Howie’s where it will be implemented across the pizza brand’s entire footprint of approximately 500 restaurant locations. Toast’s platform supports high-volume operations while Toast’s Partner Ecosystem — with integration partners like Cartwheel, Stream and others — allow pizza operators to build the ultimate, customized tech stack to keep their pies moving, staff and guests happy and business running smoothly. Hungry Howie’s selected Toast to modernize its technology, attract new …

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Research Triangle Park, N.C. — Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions has been named a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Point-of-Sale (POS) Software in Grocery and Food Store Retail 2026 Vendor Assessment. This recognition comes as grocery retailers seek more open, intelligent platforms that can connect store data, support real-time decisions, reduce shrink and help operations adapt as conditions change. IDC MarketScape is the IT industry’s premier vendor assessment tool, providing in-depth quantitative and qualitative technology market assessment. This 2026 IDC MarketScape assesses the capabilities and strategies of enterprise POS software …

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— By Ken Huening — How to mitigate the risks rodents pose to the foodservice and restaurant industries. Rodents have been a problem for the food industry since the first food cart operator started hawking meat pies in the Middle Ages. But the problem has exploded in scope in recent years. According to a recent study published in the journal Science, 69% of cities studied, including Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New York City, Oakland, Buffalo, Chicago, Boston, Kansas City and Cincinnati, had significant increases in rat populations in the period …

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— By Brad Forester — Why the technology business case is not a strategy: For retailers and restaurant operators, the story is becoming uncomfortably familiar. A compelling demo. A polished ROI model. Confident assurances that a new facilities management, workforce scheduling or asset visibility platform will “pay for itself” within 12 to 18 months. The business case is approved; contracts are signed — and 3 years later, the organization is left with underutilized technology, frustrated store managers and the realization that the expected value never materialized. In many cases, the …

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New York City — Prefix, a facility management platform for multi-site restaurant and retail operators, has raised a $7.5 million seed round. The funding was co-led by Collide Capital and Slow Ventures, with participation from Connexa Capital, Kyle Archer of Elevated Inc, and existing investors I2BF, and Bienville Capital. Prefix will use the capital to continue development of its AI infrastructure, boost sales and marketing efforts, and drive scalability to service more than 10,000 locations across the United States. Multi-location retail and restaurant brands spend an estimated $500 billion annually …

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Santa Clara, Calif. — SoundHound AI, Inc., a global leader in voice and conversational AI, has renewed and expanded its long-standing partnership with Casey’s, the third-largest convenience retailer in the United States. The expanded deal highlights the strength of the collaboration, as SoundHound’s AI-powered ordering agents have already supported Casey’s in handling more than 21 million guest interactions, successfully processing millions of food orders. Casey’s has deployed the technology across more than 2,600 locations, helping ensure guests can place orders quickly and easily. Casey’s is focused on delivering convenient, high-quality …

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Philadelphia — NEST, a national provider of integrated facilities management (IFM) solutions, has partnered with MINISO USA to serve as its facilities management partner for more than 300 MINISO stores across the United States. NEST will deliver a full-service IFM solution designed to streamline operations, reduce complexity and support store performance as the MINISO brand continues to expand in the U.S. NEST will manage a broad range of services, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, lighting and general maintenance across MINISO stores. The partnership includes vendor management, service coordination, analytics and operational …

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