News & Media From Elliot Maras

Smoke’s Poutinerie founder: 'We are entertainers'

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Ryan Smolkin, whose Smoke's Poutinerie has opened more than 150 locations in North America in less than 10 years, insists he is in the entertainment business…

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KFC to deploy 5,000 kiosks by 2020

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

KFC will become the next major restaurant chain to get on the kiosk bandwagon.

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If your QSR ever considered kiosks, or maybe especially if it didn’t, read on

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Self-serve kiosks were dominant at this year's National Retail Federation Big Show earlier this month. The options ran the gamut in this realm, from AI and…

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Keeping screens clean of pathogens unseen: A challenge for self-service age

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Bacteria found on McDonald's U.K. touchscreens have raised concerns about kiosk sanitation, presenting what many consider to be the first public health issue…

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Kiosks, digital signage: Issues, but benefits worth it

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Global food service operator, Sodexo, and travel plaza operator, Love's, told an audience at the recent Dallas ICX Summit that even though there are…

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Location, location, location: What makes a good one?

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Finding the best location for a restaurant is a matter of knowing about the site's people, accessibility, visibility and energy, according to Subway…

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How to respond to the third-party restaurant delivery challenge

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Halal Guys COO Mike Speck offers insight into how he addresses the need to provide third-party delivery to customers, a rising restaurant industry challenge.

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Free webinar: How Buffalo Wild Wings uses technology to optimize supply chain

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

A free webinar explores how state-of-the-art technology can help restaurants maximize the quality and efficiency of their supply chain.

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On the QSR operator's radar now: Robotics, 3D printing, blockchain

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

International Food & Beverage Technology Association president tells restaurateurs why it's critical to keep their eyes on robotics, 3D printing and blockchain…

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Pair pioneers virtual currency, blockchain tech model for restaurants

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

The new "FudiToken" gives QSR customers a convenient way to pay for orders, while giving operators a new approach to menu item promotion.

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Long John Silver's woos 'em at the drive-thru with 'do-it-all' menu boards

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Animation and video-capable order-taking menu boards at Long John Silver's are "grabbing" customers right out of the drivers' seats at Long John Silver’s.

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Garbanzo 'rolls' out roving approach to new market entry

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Garbanzo's approach to entering a new market's competitive fray takes a decidedly mobile bent in St. Louis.

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Blaze, Beefsteak, McAlisters chefs offer innovation ideas QSRs can sink their teeth into

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Menu development is a team effort consisting of culinary, financial and logistics input. A balance is needed for a menu item to succeed.

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Salata, Donatos, Cinnabon, Chicken Salad Chick leaders talk growth success

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Growth is key to QSR brand success and achieving growth goals demands the kinds of resources that also require savvy planning. But, what kinds of questions…

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White Castle’s 'Crave Mobiles' racking up more miles

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

White Castle food trucks have allowed the company to extend its presence in markets that aren't as well served by its brick and mortar restaurants, helping to…

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Caliburger’s CEO offers vision for automated restaurants

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Automated restaurants, driven by artificial intelligence and robots, is closer than many think, according to the CEO of a company involved with automation…

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Kiosks killing restaurant jobs? Don’t let the doomsayers distract you

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

In time, the consumer media will get tired of pursuing a story that isn’t a story. The real challenge facing the restaurant industry is finding enough workers…

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Looking for ways to find and keep employees? NRA leaders offer insights

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Given the reality of fewer young employees in the work force, the only options are to recruit more from other age groups or be more successful recruiting…

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3 commonalities among Lyfe Kitchen, Urban Plates, Baskin Robbins brand-building strategies

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Building a successful brand has three parts: storytelling, club making and country building, according to a branding expert at the National Restaurant Show.

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Investing in technology? Restaurants share hits and misses

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

Companies need to do their research, and management has to be supportive for technology initiatives to succeed.

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