Food & Beverage

Food sustainability is a high priority on consumers’ shopping lists worldwide and they have an increasing appetite for sustainable food that reduces their carbon footprint. According to findings in a new survey from Yara and IPSOS on European consumer demand for sustainable food, when asked if food companies should work to reduce emissions in […]

To the modern consumer, environmental footprint matters. Roughly 90% of Gen Z consumers surveyed in a recent First Insight study said they’d be willing to shell out extra money for sustainable products. Furthermore, Gen Zs were found to be highly influential among their extended circle of consumers, impacting the buying patterns of their parents […]

The West Coast plays host to one friendly kitchen ghost as Chipotle Mexican Grill launches their fresh eatery concept, Farmesa, in Santa Monica, California, this March. While its not the company’s first foray into ghost kitchens, it’s the most focused investment into the decentralized kitchen concept. Farmesa will serve a variety of bowls ranging […]

It’s been a tough couple of years for restaurants and QSRs. The pandemic, supply shortages, and inflation have done the notoriously tight-budgeted industry no favors. But as those issues fade into history, what does the future hold for the restaurant and QSR industry? Recent Revenue Management Solutions quick-service restaurant (QSR) data for January 2023 […]

Ba Da Ba Ba Bah, McDonald’s is lovin’ their Q4 earnings. The golden arches were shining bright when McDonald’s reported their fourth-quarter earnings results Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Mcdonald’s beat Wall Street expectations of $5.75 billion in revenue with a reported $5.93 billion. U.S. same-store sales were up, and McDonald’s adjusted earnings per share were […]

(Bloomberg) — California farmers are facing costly damages from weeks of severe California storms that may trigger more expensive US fruits and vegetables in a time of massive food inflation. “The numbers are going to be somewhere in the hundreds of millions and perhaps in the billions,” Dave Puglia, head of the trade group Western […]

(Bloomberg) — Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. is adding 15,000 jobs across its North American locations — a sign that demand for restaurant food is robust despite high inflation and economic uncertainty. The burrito chain’s hiring push is meant to ensure its more than 3,000 US restaurants are fully staffed for the company’s busiest season, which […]

People say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Thanks to an outbreak of avian flu, and continued inflation woes, breakfast is quickly becoming one of the more expensive meals too. Egg price increases are leaving restauranteurs, grocers, and shoppers reeling. The wholesale trade value for a dozen “Midwest large” eggs went […]

Breakfast traffic is slowing. Revenue Management Solutions said breakfast traffic in the QSR segment dropped 7.4% in a year-over-year comparison from November 2021 to November 2022. Yet dinner traffic for the same month dropped less than 1% from the previous November, and lunch was down 3.9% from 2021’s figures. Morning commuter traffic is up, but […]

Loyalty programs use points, miles, or other currency to incentivize customers to purchase or engage with the brand. Customers can redeem these points for discounts, free products, exclusive access, or other perks. Technology, such as mobile apps and online accounts, allows customers to easily track and redeem their rewards and receive personalized promotions […]

Restaurant franchising allows individuals to operate a business using a proven business model and brand. The franchisor provides training and ongoing support while the franchisee pays an initial fee and royalties. Franchise agreements are detailed, with territorial restrictions and the option to renew or terminate. Franchising reduces risk but requires significant investment. But what are […]

José Andrés, Chef and Founder of World Central Kitchen, once said, “The business of feeding people is the most amazing business in the world.” While this rings true for many chefs and restaurant owners, the last several years have put businesses in delicate financial situations and has resulted in numerous closures across the […]

Necessity-meeting technology played a vital role in the rapid acceleration of ghost kitchens during the COVID-19 pandemic. The global market size of ghost kitchens grew to 56.71 Billion dollars in 2021, and the industry forecasts a 112.53 billion ghost kitchen market by 2027. While one can typically find ghost kitchens in dense urban areas, there […]

Managing a restaurant is challenging, especially when the way restaurants operate is changing all the time. In the last couple years with the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants have had to adapt with the times in unprecedented ways. From staff shortages to supply chain issues, there’s a lot to juggle, but there are always ways for […]

The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a major hit to the restaurant industry, which would see new trends and change it forever. Some of those trends were devastating while there were others that helped improve the success of some businesses, per Forbes. But in managing the new growth that a lot of restaurant owners […]

Online schooling has been around since the late ‘80s but didn’t become more common until the early ‘90s. Today, all types of educational courses can be accessed and completed solely online — even hands-on disciplines, such as culinary schooling and experiential trades. In addition, even though predominantly higher education or certain trades offered online […]

Lobster and franchising are not often two words one would hear in a sentence together. And yet, franchising lobster is exactly what two cousins did from Maine. But how did their journey begin, why did they decide to franchise, and why was franchising the right fit for them? On the newest episode of The […]

Onboarding and training are crucial to success and ensuring long-term employees. It’s their first welcome in the company and essential to keeping them long-term, and this point is proving itself time and time again in industries with a deskless workforce. So, what are the elements of good onboarding, and why is it so important […]

The pandemic accelerated many aspects of the restaurant industry, including the ways in which consumers interact with QSR’s. Bringing in the Global Head of Technology for Xenial, host Barbara Castiglia spoke with Chris Siefken about the changing nature of QSR’s and the technology that is here to address them. Restaurant technology is, and always has […]

The restaurant industry has historically been slow to shift and adopt new technology. Ben Simmons, Co-founder and COO of Table Needs recalled a meeting in 2012 when a restaurant owner was considering building a website. Websites were pretty mainstream, but it shows an example of generalization. Today, as reported by Restaurant Dive, 77% of […]

Groupon has it wrong. Or at least partially. Taking a deep dive into customer data and analytics, Zach Goldstein, CEO & Founder of Thanx, a loyalty, CRM, and guest engagement platform shares his insight on what it means to build customer loyalty with The Main Course host Barbara Castiglia. Our understanding of what loyalty […]

Barbara Castiglia interviews Maribeth Dela Cruz, President of Jollibee North America, to discuss Jollibee and its presence in North America. Jollibee is on the fastest growing Asian restaurant companies in the world. Cruz has been with the Jollibee company for thirty years and has worked her way from shift manger to her current role as […]

The co-CEO and co-founder of Biggby Coffee, Mike McFall, talked with host Barbara Castiglia of the podcast “The Main Course,” about the rise of his coffee chain. Founded in Lansing, Michigan over 27 years ago, today Biggby Coffee is one of the most popular coffee chains in the Midwest region. McFall said decades ago […]

David Novak was the first of his family to graduate from college. He studied journalism at the University of Missouri and started working in advertising. After a few turns in his career, Novak found joy in working in the restaurant industry. He eventually co-founded Yum! Brands and acted successfully as CEO for many years. […]

Healthy Pour is a consultancy whose mission is to improve the mental health and well-being of individuals, communities, and organizations within the hospitality and adjacent sectors through education, coaching, intervention development, and research. Laura Louise Green, Founder of Healthy Pour, joined Barbara Castiglia to talk about this critical concern in the restaurant and hospitality […]

In the latest episode of the podcast “There’s More to IT,” host Jason Claybrook brings on his wife Niki, and diverges from technology to discuss maintaining healthy-eating habits, as more and more people return to work traveling as pandemic restrictions ease. As a holistic nutrition consultant based in Texas, Claybrook consults clients that have […]

Jessica Valenzuela conceptualized the GoGoGuest system while using the free wifi at cafes around Europe. What started as a wifi marketing solution has evolved into a more significant consumer connection. The company’s capabilities connect the consumer to the restaurant amenities and leverage their information back to the restaurant. Today, GoGoGuest services over 300 customers across […]