Agentic Discovery Inspires Review Generator from Marqii, Thanx
With the rise of agentic ordering and AI discovery comes increased value of restaurant reviews, a common source of information for chatbots asked about foodservice operations. That trend inspired Marqii Review Generation, a tool announced July 21 from...
Wonder Raises $650M to Expand Footprint and Technology
Wonder has raised more than $650 million in a Series D funding round at a $9 billion pre-money valuation. The round included participation from existing investors Accel, GV and New Enterprise Associates, along with new backing from AllianceBernstein, ARK Invest and...
Meal Costs Continue to Rise as Consumer Prices Drop
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that June saw the largest decrease in prices for urban consumers since April 2020, but restaurant prices strayed from that trend and continued to rise. The BLS’s July 14 report noted a 0.4 percent decrease in the consumer...
Chipotle Venture Fund Invests in Six Agriculture and Restaurant Tech Startups
Chipotle Mexican Grill has expanded its venture fund, Cultivate Next, with investments in six companies focused on agriculture, supply chains, sustainability, food systems and restaurant technology. The new portfolio includes Benchmark Labs, IMIO, Clean Crop...
Smashburger Doubles Down with Streamlined Menu
Smashburger is streamlining its limited-time menu this summer, introducing a simplified selection. The fast-casual chain’s menu includes two burgers and two Häagen-Dazs hand-spun shakes, a smaller selection than previous seasonal promotions. The menu features...
Outstanding Operators
Food On Demand Outstanding Operators features restaurant brands with innovative operations that are taking creative paths to success with delivery and all things off-premises.