The next generation of QSRs Part 2: How AI, personalization are turning loyalty into a growth engine

by Valerie Gritton

Following Part 1’s look at how rising costs and changing consumer expectations are reshaping value, Part 2 examines how QSR brands are using loyalty data, AI…

Opus launches tool to turn franchise data into action

July 20, 2026

Opus Training, a training operations platform used by multi-unit brands, has launched Opus Recommendation Engine, a product designed to convert operational…

McDonald's kiosk update closes rewards loophole

July 20, 2026

McDonald's customers claim the company has closed a loophole that allowed diners to redeem multiple app deals during a single restaurant visit by placing…

Case Study: Kiosk Upgrades Fast-Forward the Fun at Dave & Buster’s

Dave & Buster’s set out to modernize its self-service environment to better align with the fast-paced high-energy experiences guests expect. By partnering with…

Presented by DIEBOLD NIXDORF INC.

Team Communication Tools for Restaurants: What to Look for in 2026

There are a lot of team chat apps out there, but how do you know which one fits how your team works and will get used? Here's what to look for before choosing.

The Summer Reckoning: What Peak Season Reveals About QSR Labor Strategy

Summer traffic is up, but the labor pool isn't keeping pace. New data shows seasonal hiring down for a third straight year while travel spending climbs. Back…

The 1:1 Personalization Playbook: Using AI to send every guest their own offer

In this session, Hang CEO Matt Smolin, whose platform powers millions of AI-personalized offers a month for restaurant brands, and Rev Ciancio, CMO of Salad…

Presented by Hang

Dodo Pizza’s playbook for international success

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

In this Pizza Marketplace podcast, executives from Dodo Brands discuss how the company uses its proprietary technology platform and a balance of global…

Hungry Howie's partners with DoorDash to overhaul digital ordering, loyalty program

July 14, 2026

Hungry Howie's and DoorDash have partnered to overhaul the pizza chain's digital ordering system, website, mobile app and loyalty program, according to a press…

Palmer Digital Group launches standalone digital order confirmation board for QSR drive-thrus

July 13, 2026

Palmer Digital Group has launched the PDG 22OCBSM Order Confirmation Enclosure, offering a standalone solution that adds digital order confirmation to…

Dairy Queen hires Phil Crawford to lead global retail technology

July 8, 2026

International Dairy Queen Inc. has named Phil Crawford as executive vice president and chief technology officer, according to a press release.

Report: Cyberattacks hit 78% of restaurants despite security confidence

by Amy Sorter — Writer and Editor, Connect Media

A 10-unit restaurant chain could lose between $20,000 and $50,000 during a two-hour outage on a busy Friday evening, excluding recovery costs such as forensic…

The 6 Best Team Chat Apps for Restaurant Teams

Restaurant teams all work a little differently, but they all need organized team communication. Here's what to look for, plus the 6 best team chat apps for…

Rethinking the drive-thru experience for today’s conscious consumer

by Michelle Connolly — Director of Sales, Managed Services & Solutions Group, Panasonic Connect North America

To combat modern drive-thru challenges like slow service and order inaccuracies, quick-service restaurants are adopting incremental tech upgrades — such as…

Why Your Restaurant Staff Can Never Truly Clock Out From the Work Chat

When work and personal messages land in the same messaging app, your restaurant staff can never truly clock out. Here's what that costs you.

Free webinar will teach restaurant operators how AI can personalize offers

June 29, 2026

Restaurant operators have long relied on customer segmentation to tailor promotions, but advances in artificial intelligence are making true one-to-one…

Paytronix, Qu launch upgraded menu, order integration for restaurants

June 29, 2026

Paytronix, a guest engagement and digital ordering solutions provider, announced an upgraded integration with commerce platform Qu to automatically sync online…

The Frictionless Frontier: Why Grocery, Convenience, and QSR Need a Reset

In today’s QSR environment, small gains in speed and convenience can drive meaningful impact. This playbook explores where friction occurs in across systems…

Presented by DIEBOLD NIXDORF INC.

Flippy maker Miso Robotics buys Zume IP to launch pizza automation

June 26, 2026

Miso Robotics has acquired the technology and intellectual property of former pizza robotics startup Zume, three years after the company shut down completely…

Miso Robotics Just Became the Food Industry's Largest AI and Robotics Patent Holder

Miso Robotics acquired 300+ patents from Zume Pizza, the food robotics pioneer that raised $450M before closing in 2023. The deal makes Miso the food…