White Castle's drive-thru AI: NOT 'Mr. Roboto'

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Can artificial intelligence really help a QSR extend a sense of hospitality in the drive-thru? White Castle leadership certainly thinks so, as evidenced by its…

Taco Bell COO on navigating change: 'It's actually getting … more fun'

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Change is something every restaurateur has gotten a dose of this year, and Taco Bell Global COO Mike Grams said the brand is winning the adaptability game.

Taco Bell rides 'Go Mobile' model to serve 1B drive-thru customers

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

If there are a couple of things we've learned over the past half-year, it's that drive-thru and digital restaurant ordering are here to stay. In this interview…

Sonic 'booms' into future with 'oasis' in QSR design desert

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Shortly after Inspire Brands acquired Sonic Drive-in about 1 1/2 years ago, it began reimagining the brand for the future. That new look has taken shape in a…

QSRs: 'Cleanliness is the new ambiance'

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Coming clean takes on a whole new meaning for QSRs in the time of COVID-19.

QSR customer satisfaction: Dunkin' outdoes Starbucks, Domino's dominates Papa John's

In the fine art of keeping happy customers, there were a few upheavals and a newcomer or two.

Firehouse Subs '5-alarm' tech emergency highlights value of evaluating systems

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

For Firehouse Subs, the emergence of COVID-19 on the American landscape triggered nothing short of a five-alarm emergency to get the sandwich brand in sync…

Making 'masked' hospitality work: Cost, customer engagement challenge QSRs

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

In a COVID-19 world, masks have become a fact of life for restaurant operators and employees. The question now is how to use them safely and cost-effectively…

Meeting QSRs' urgent app-based COVID-19 training needs

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

QSR leaders nationally are urgently seeking training services that can be pushed out quickly to vast numbers of hourly workers across many locales and types of…

QSR customers dissatisfied with delivery, but still won't dine-in

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

A consumer survey and another data analysis show consumers are not racing back to dine in, but are committed to delivery, though many have big issues with how…

May 26 webinar hones in on curbside pickup, delivery transition tips that work

The pandemic has pushed restaurant curbside pickup and delivery practices to the top of operators' priority lists. Check out this free webinar for one brand's…

Top online COVID-19 coverage for QSRs: From borrowing options to menu must-haves

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Need guidance on how to get a loan without the help of a traditional bank? Wondering about your QSR's coffee sales in a pandemic-wary world? This review of…

McDonald's owner/operator relays lessons learned from pandemic

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The rigors of business in a pandemic-ridden world have given restaurateurs a run for their money. But there have also been invaluable lessons learned through…

Is your restaurant speaking the COVID-19-era customer's language?

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The seismic shift that COVID-19 has put on everything about restaurant "life as usual" demands an equally substantial shift in marketing and communication…

Amidst the pandemic's pandemonium, restaurants reach out to help

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

There is no doubt that the current pandemic will have a riveting effect on all business, including restaurants. Despite that, some brands are still reaching…

American QSR customers enter their 'blue mood'

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

What do purple food, an illegal South American bean and a funky blue fungus on corn have in common? According to Technomic, they're all proven, promising food…

Navigating QSR social media 'landmines' on way to customer conversions

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

A digital marketing expert speaking at last week's Mid-America Restaurant Expo in Columbus, Ohio said all the data points to the fact that QSRs and social…

Has your QSR's social media strategy got a hole in it?

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

A digital marketing expert speaking at the Mid-America Restaurant Expo this week said many restaurant brands have voids in their social media marketing…

Moving from pizza to pistachio doughnuts: Chicago restaurateur says it's a natural

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Ask a pizzaiolo the key to mastering the pie and you'll likely hear it's the dough. Chicago restaurateur Rich Labriola won't argue that point. In fact, he's so…

Domino's digs into GPUs' data-churning mega-muscle to transform customer experience

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Domino's has discovered a virtual goldmine in the data-handling computer power of a resource once confined to the picture-heavy needs of video gaming — the GPU.