Wahlburgers Moves On From Hy-Vee And Finds Growth In Off-Premises Channels
In movie terms, the news in January that Wahlburgers was ending its partnership with grocery supermarket Hy-Vee, a relationship that lasted eight years and spawned 79 locations, seemed as juicy as the Brangelina split. But Wahlburgers CEO Randy Sharpe insists it...
A Mood Media Survey Confirms Drive-Thrus Are In and Dining Rooms Out
It’s been trending this way for a while but Mood Media just took a Sharpie and underlined the obvious: in the QSR world, consumers prefer using drive-thrus over dining rooms, with 54 percent of respondents saying so in its recent survey. And that percentage may grow....
Off-Premises Dining Now Essential for Restaurant Traffic
Nearly 75 percent of all restaurant traffic now happens off-premises. That means almost three out of four orders are through takeout, drive-thru, or delivery. The data comes from a report made by the National Restaurant Association earlier this year. “Off-premises...
XRobotics Raises Millions To Produce More Pizza-Making Robots
Last year brought a lot of headlines about the tight labor market and how operators just couldn’t find enough bodies. Might that make now an ideal time for a kitchen-automation solution like XRobotics to make a pitch? Sure. It doesn’t hurt. But Igor Buchatskiy says...
Seattle Named ‘Most Expensive Delivery Market’ as DoorDash Raises Fees
DoorDash is raising delivery fees in Seattle, again. Amid ongoing battles with strict gig worker regulations, the company calls Seattle “the most expensive market to facilitate delivery in the U.S.” The city’s PayUp law, effective January 2024, required app-based...
Golden Corral Relaunches Its Off-Premises Offshoot With a New Tech Partner
Golden Corral made a splash in 2023 when it launched Homeward Kitchen, a fast-casual concept with a leaner dine-in area, enhanced pick-up area, and tricked-out drive-thru. And it worked. Sort of. Consumers who ordered from the North Carolina location seemed pleased...
Naya Caters Pop-Up Events As a Key Part Of Its Marketing
When you have dishes as tasty as Naya, which is known for Lebanese food, offered in 34 locations on the East Coast, the challenge isn’t always persuasion, but trial. Try it and you will like it. That’s the bet. But how to get food on new forks? One solution: catering...
From LAX to Hollywood, Venhub Expands 24/7 Automated Smart Stores
As contactless shopping grows, Venhub is rolling out its automated Smart Stores in places where convenience is key, such as transit centers, entertainment districts, and underserved neighborhoods. “People can expect a seamless transaction, interface, and process....
University of Chicago Economists Reveal a Surge in QSR Labor Productivity
The litany of ailments that troubled restaurants in 2024 have been well-documented. Price inflation? Yes. Employee turnover? Sure. Rent increases? Often. But was it all migraine city? No. There was a silver lining. In real labor productivity, which assesses how much...
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.