Darden Restaurants, the parent company of popular dining chains including Olive Garden, The Capital Grille and LongHorn Steakhouse, has adopted a strategic shift in its marketing approach. Instead of relying heavily on short-term promotions, the company is focusing on building brand equity — the value...
As consumers increasingly demand quicker and more convenient digital ordering and payment, Panera Bread has added a feature that allows them to make restaurant purchases with one swipe. The fast-casual giant, which has more than 2,100 locations across the U.S. and Canada, announced Wednesday (Sept....
At a Skechers location in Gardena, Calif., shoppers can buy not only shoes, but also a burger and fries — the latest instance of a non-food company opening up a restaurant to build brand loyalty. The footwear brand’s “Food Spot” quietly opened back in May,...
As own-device self-service catches on across industries, restaurants are leveraging kiosks to reach consumers who have not adopted mobile payments, according to GoTab. The restaurant technology provider’s CEO Tim McLaughlin told PYMNTS in an interview, following the launch of the company’s Self-Ordering Kiosks last week, that the technology enables food...
This week in restaurant news, technology providers are unveiling more specialized offerings to cut through the noise. Toast launched a solution specifically for cafes and bakeries, Oracle introduced its offering for independent eateries, and Uber Eats expanded its white-label capabilities. ResTech company Toast, known for...
Chick-fil-A is reportedly testing out robo-waiters as consumers grapple with mixed feelings around automation in the restaurant industry. The quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain, which has more than 2,800 restaurants across the country, is testing out in-restaurant robots at select locations to get customers’ orders to...
This week in restaurant news, Subway rethinks its rewards strategy, Chick-fil-A expands its mobile order drive-thru lanes and Whataburger opens its first digital-only location. As restaurants’ economic challenges have stretched on for years, many brands are rethinking their loyalty programs in an effort to find...
With the advent of remote work, limited time and the increasing demand for convenience, ready-to-eat meals have experienced a surge in popularity among consumers. Cost, too, was a key driving force behind the rise in ready-to-eat meal demand. While restaurant takeout meals provide convenience and...
In an effort to combat the challenges that economic pressures have posed for Disney’s U.S. resorts, the media giant is looking to its restaurant offerings to entice consumers back for the holiday season. The company announced Wednesday (Sep. 6) the offer of a “Disney Dining Promo Card,”...