Articles

The Produce Distribution Industry Needs Flexibility, Empathy, and a New Generation of Talent

Produce distribution

As inflation reshapes consumer habits and restaurant margins tighten, the produce distribution industry is under more pressure than ever. This high-touch, low-margin, logistics-heavy business is facing rising freight costs, labor shortages, and evolving food safety standards — all while trying to deliver perishable products across a fragmented national landscape. Between 2020 and 2024, the…

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How Hughes is Powering the Future of QSR Connectivity & Fast Food Tech

Quick service restaurants (QSRs) are under increasing pressure to enhance speed, efficiency, and customer experience—all while managing a growing network of digital systems. From AI-powered ordering kiosks to real-time kitchen automation, modern QSRs are more connected than ever. The restaurant AI market was valued at $9.68 billion in 2024, and expected to reach $49…

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

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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storytelling
The Secret to Brand Loyalty: Why Storytelling Is the Best Way to Be Heard in a Crowded Market
July 16, 2025

In today’s fast-evolving digital marketplace, attention is scarce, and trust even more so. In an era of remote work, AI-driven marketing, and constant digital noise, storytelling has emerged as one of the most powerful tools to cut through the clutter. In fact, research shows that people who used storytelling techniques to remember information recalled seven…

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hospitality career development
Leaders Driving Hospitality Career Development Must Embrace Tech, Inclusion, and Risk
July 16, 2025

The hospitality industry is under mounting pressure to modernize to meet guest expectations for seamless, tech-driven experiences and also develop leaders who can drive that transformation. According to Rackspace Technology, only 28% of travel and hospitality companies qualify as “AI leaders”— those aligning strategy, compliance, and training with real-world deployment. Another 28% remain in…

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HR compliance
Seeing What Others Miss: The Art of Problem Solving in HR Compliance
July 16, 2025

In this episode of Professional Quotient: Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham sits down with Andrea Kilburn, the HR EEO and Affirmative Action Compliance Manager at EssilorLuxottica. Andrea has built her career on problem-solving, advocacy, and the power of precise thinking. Andrea shares her unique path from mortgage underwriting to HR compliance, and…

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Ham Radio
Icom’s Germany Trip Highlights the Power of Portability at Friedrichshafen’s Ham Radio Showcase
July 15, 2025

In an era where digital communication happens at the speed of light, it’s easy to overlook the enduring charm and ingenuity of amateur radio. Yet, events like the Ham Radio fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany, remind us that radio isn’t just a relic—it’s a thriving, inventive community built on experimentation and exploration. One striking example is…

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Other Articles
With High Profit Margins and Operational Efficiency, McDonald’s Spin-off CosMc’s Boasts a Recipe for Success
December 21, 2023

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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CosMc’s Demonstrates McDonald’s Ability to Further Expand the QSR Industry and Challenge Its Competitors
December 21, 2023

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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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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