Online Grocery Soars as Customer Satisfaction Falls

The growth of online food ordering is nothing short of staggering. In March 2020, consumers shifted the ways they shopped overnight - and there has been no…

Digital ordering, drive-thru and carry-out help drive growth for restaurant industry

January 27, 2021

Throughout 2020, U.S. restaurants demonstrated resiliency against a variety of issues and rose from a 35% traffic decline in April to a 11% visit decrease in…

'The 10-year prototype is dead,' plus other 2021 QSR predictions

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

Restaurant vendors give their takes on how quick-service operation is changing and what that means for restaurant leaders.

Foodservice kiosks adapt during coronavirus pandemic

With the coronavirus pandemic, kiosks are adapting from foodservice digital engagement technology driven primarily by convenience and efficiency to also taking…

Is your restaurant technology ready for 2021?

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

Restaurateurs learned a lot about the potentially business-saving qualities of restaurant tech in 2020, as the pandemic forced brands to find ways to still…

Gimbal’s On-the-Way SDK Creates Curbside Efficiencies for Retailers and Restaurants

Gimbal announced the launch of its On-the-Way SDK, a real-time solution connecting mobile orders with in-store, curbside, and drive-thru pickup options. This…

Study: KFC, Taco Bell, Hardees have fastest drive-thru times

While customers are flocking to drive-thrus for their pandemic-era restaurant fix, they're waiting for their orders 30 seconds longer than last year.

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…

White Castle testing Mastercard AI-powered drive-thru platform

September 1, 2020

White Castle has partnered with Mastercard to launch an artificial intelligence solution that promises to take physical touch out of the drive-thru lanes.

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…

Taco Bell going all in on drive-thru

August 20, 2020

Taco Bell is throwing the whole burrito in on the bet that American diners won't be dining in any time soon, which is why it's creating a new operations model…

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…

Del Taco does 'guac-thrus' for National Drive-thru Day

July 23, 2020

Just in case you missed this one in your Hallmark Holidays calendar book, Friday is National Drive-thru Day in the U.S. And for Del Taco, that is plenty reason…

Fast food drive-thrus: Plan for it now or pay for it later

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

If you're building or renovating a QSR now or in the near future, industry experts increasingly recommend that you find a site and the dollars to include a…

Wendy's launches rewards program nationwide via mobile app

July 22, 2020

Wendy's Co. has launched Wendy's Rewards, a program that lets customers earn points at participating U.S. restaurants.

Partech teams up with Techknow to upgrade drive-thru offerings

June 15, 2020

POS provider ParTech Inc. has partnered with Techknow, a multi-sensor drive-thru management solution company, to equip restaurants with drive-thru timers and…

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…

Moto, QikServe launching mobile ordering at UK rest stops, starting with Burger King

May 18, 2020

Moto, the largest highway service operator in the U.K., is launching a click-and-collect mobile ordering program at 48 of its sites, backed by QikServe's…