Articles

Value Meals Are Fast Food’s Summer Strategy. What’s the Long Game Amid Persistent Inflation?

fast food value meals

This summer, fast food chains are responding with a competitive push towards value meals in an effort to combat the rising cost of living and inflation, which has hit wallets worldwide. And $5 dollar value meals seem to be the magic answer. As families seek ways to stretch their budgets further, the fast food…

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2024 Retail Refined
The Rise of Regenerative Agriculture and Strategies for Generating Capital with Steward CEO Dan Miller

As the global conversation around sustainable food systems intensifies, regenerative agriculture has emerged as a transformative approach to farming that prioritizes ecosystem health, soil vitality, and nutritional quality. This episode of Retail Refined explores why regenerative agriculture is capturing the attention of consumers, policymakers, and investors alike. With nearly 90 regenerative farms funded and…

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Articles
Grocery Retailers Need to Adopt Adaptive Supply Chain Strategies to Stabilize Rising Grocery Prices

As recent reports highlight a cooling in overall inflation rates, the grocery sector tells a different story. Over the past three years, grocery prices have surged by 21%, outpacing the general inflation rate of 18% during the same period. This divergence is particularly pronounced in certain food items, where price increases have reached as…

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Articles
With 800 New Stores in the Offing, How Will Aldi’s Massive Expansion Impact the Grocery Industry?

Grocery chain Aldi recently announced plans to add 800 new stores in the U.S. within five years, focusing on the Northeast, Midwest, western U.S., and Southern California, with a debut in Las Vegas. In the Southeast, Aldi’s massive expansion plans include converting a whopping 400 Winn-Dixies and Harveys locations into Aldi stores, starting with about…

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Articles
Domino’s Pizza’s AI and Robotics Investments Forge a Path for Other QSRs to Follow in 2024

The QSR (quick service restaurant) industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by AI and robotics automation advancements. Among those leading the charge, Domino’s Pizza is launching its own strategy for evolving its operations and customer service ecosystem to take advantage of robotics, AI-powered software, and more proactive tools that elevate the Domino’s experience….

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Articles
With High Profit Margins and Operational Efficiency, McDonald’s Spin-off CosMc’s Boasts a Recipe for Success

McDonald’s spin-off CosMc’s recently debuted its first outlet in Bolingbrook, Illinois, with an ambitious plan to launch 10 additional locations within the next year. Touted as a ‘beverage concept’, the fast food giant’s latest venture tantalizes with a diverse range of snacks, sandwiches, and innovative drinks, including the likes of an Island Pick-Me-Up Punch…

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Articles
CosMc’s Demonstrates McDonald’s Ability to Further Expand the QSR Industry and Challenge Its Competitors

McDonald’s recently threw its hat into the beverage-leaning QSR ring with the launch of its CosMc’s chain. Can this latest innovative strategy in expanding its menu offerings challenge the more established competitors in the industry and enhance customer experience? Joe Reinstein, Executive Director at the Digital Restaurant Association, provided some timely insight into McDonald’s…

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The Art of Communication in Disaster Recovery: Building Trust and Delivering Results
The Art of Communication in Disaster Recovery
February 6, 2025

In this episode of Inside Restoration and Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Chris Matthews, Regional Director for Large Loss at BMS CAT, to explore the critical role of communication, preparation, and adaptability in disaster recovery. Chris shares his personal journey in the restoration industry, including his passion for helping clients during their…

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women’s health
AI and Advocacy Unite: Tackling Women’s Health Disparities with Hologic Mia Keeys
February 5, 2025

Women’s health remains a critical issue globally, with alarming disparities in access and outcomes. A new survey from Hologic and Gallup reveals that while nearly 90% of women recognize the importance of health screenings, less than half undergo them consistently due to barriers like cost, time, and anxiety. The stakes are particularly high in…

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toast
The Framework Series Advantage: Using Toast to Visualize and Refine Business Processes
February 5, 2025

Most organizations face challenges when aligning teams on processes and strategies. According to a 2021 McKinsey Global Survey, fewer than one-third of companies successfully improve performance and sustain those improvements over time, often due to a lack of employee engagement and poor execution. The key to overcoming this? A simple exercise involving sticky notes and…

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Portia Roberson
DisruptED in the D: A Story of Hope with Portia Roberson (Ep. 1)
February 5, 2025

Detroit’s resurgence has been a story of resilience, but the city still grapples with deep economic and social disparities. Once one of the most prosperous cities in America, Detroit faced bankruptcy just over a decade ago. Today, the city is bouncing back, but the gap between progress and community well-being remains significant. With organizations…

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Other Articles
Network Services in Restaurants Improve Customer Experiences When Used in a Balanced Approach
December 20, 2023

Are restaurants losing the human touch in their race to embrace technology, or can network services in restaurants strike the perfect balance between efficiency and customer satisfaction? Signs indicate a seismic technology shift in the industry is underway, with 75% of independent restaurant operators gearing up to integrate new technology systems within the following…

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What’s McDonald’s Spin-off CosMc’s Key Ingredient for Success? Personalized Customer Service.
December 20, 2023

McDonald’s latest venture, CosMc’s, is poised to make a significant impact in the fast-food industry with its recent launch in Bolingbrook, Illinois. This new chain, characterized as a ‘beverage concept’, moves away from traditional offerings like Big Macs and fries, and instead, highlights a variety of lemonades, coffees, sandwiches, and desserts. With plans to…

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Fast Food Customers Want More Convenience and Unique Fare. McDonald’s Answers with CosMc’s.
December 19, 2023

Earlier this month, McDonald’s unveiled its first CosMc’s location in Bolingbrook, Illinois, marking the launch of a new spinoff brand inspired by the McDonaldland mascot CosMc. Additionally, the restaurant chain is set to open 10 locations by the end of 2024, including nine in Texas. CosMc’s is a beverage-focused chain that will feature a…

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Will CosMc’s Take Off? Social Media Response Could Determine the New McDonald’s Subbrand’s Fate
December 19, 2023

McDonald’s latest experiment in the customizable drink and coffee market could make a cosmic splash in the industry if the social media response to the concept turns out positive. McDonald’s is introducing its CosMc’s spinoff in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a new venture combining a unique, beverage-led menu with classic and innovative offerings. This small-format concept,…

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Improved AI Technology is Going to Change How Efficient QSRs Are For Customers and Driving Profits
December 12, 2023

Quick service restaurants (QSRs) and AI are becoming indispensable for improving efficiency, customer satisfaction, and revenue. AI streamlines order processing, enhances inventory management, personalizes customer experiences, optimizes workforce deployment, and adapts quickly to market trends. Collectively this all helps transform the QSR sector with increased efficiency, reduced costs, and superior customer experiences. Additionally, when…

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From Lab to Table: Perfecting Plant-Based Meats for the Meat-Eaters’ World
November 17, 2023

With hopes of targeting traditional meat eaters and vegans alike, Kellogg’s MorningStar Farms has introduced a new plant-based burger that claims to combine the taste and texture of traditional meat with nutritional advantages. Notably, a recent study showed that taste was a key factor in attracting and retaining plant-based product consumers. As consumer interest…

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FBD Frozen’s 77X Frozen Cocktail Series Expands and Prepares Beverage Ready at the Call
October 12, 2023

The art of cocktail-making has evolved with technology at its side and it’s shaping a new frontier in mixology. Gone are the days of cumbersome processes and the labor-intensive nature of preparing exquisite frozen cocktails. The world is in a modern age where efficiency meets innovation. Businesses now have the opportunity to elevate their…

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The FDA is Updating its Food Traceability Rules. AI Food Tracking Technology Can Help Companies Prepare.
October 5, 2023

Thanks to new regulations in Europe and the United States, a spotlight on food traceability is intensifying. Food traceability systems track food products throughout the supply chain, which reduces waste and helps authorities respond swiftly to safety incidents. How should companies invest in food tracing technology to build consumer trust? The new regulations out…

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To Reduce Food Waste, Collaboration and Partnerships with Local Regulators is a Must
September 20, 2023

The United States needs to reduce food waste. Solutions exist to make it happen, but without collaboration, transparency, and partnerships that include local regulators, all those efforts could be for naught. The U.S. saw a significant rise in food waste in 2021, with 91 million tons of surplus food produced, a 4.8% increase from…

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