You searched: Barbara Castiglia

Starbucks®, Chick-fil-A®, McDonald’s®…these are some of the most popular restaurant industry apps used and downloaded today. To put it into perspective, the Starbucks® app has 17 million users, and almost one in every five of their sales dollars comes directly from the app. These restaurants don’t have elevated app statuses for no reason—it’s because […]

Two words that should be synonymous? Restaurants and technology. Let’s face it, technology is here to stay, especially in restaurants. Not only can it help with staff shortages, but leveraging technology in the restaurant industry can help transform the customer experience. How? On the latest episode of The Main Course with Barbara Castiglia, EVP […]

Shake Shack’s Q1 performance has been nothing short of spectacular, showcasing a brand that understands its market and is not afraid to innovate. The fast-food giant has returned to pre-COVID numbers, proving its resilience in the face of adversity. What can the larger QSR industry learn from Shake Shack and its business model, use […]

Online restaurant reviews: restaurants may love or hate them, but they should not ignore the practice. To do so means operating at one’s peril. Sifting through the noise to gain meaningful insights from reviews left online is integral to the restaurant industry and can lead to success if measured and responded to correctly. Chatmeter, a […]

Owning a bakery is a dream for some people; for others, the vision continues beyond that first cookie sold. For the Co-Owners of Brooklyn, New York’s The Good Batch, Anna Gordon and Steven Hartong, the question isn’t the next type of cookie to sell; it’s what’s the next market expansion. The global market for […]

AI has become a big topic recently, as more companies and businesses use it and play around with the possibilities. As the technology becomes more accessible, more people will use it in different ways and the tech will no doubt advance. Because of this, many are expecting businesses to keep using AI, especially when […]

Reinvention. That’s a word many restaurants understand after undergoing three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through technology innovations to expanded delivery options, loyalty programs, and new concepts like ghost kitchens, the restaurant industry knows a thing or two—or ten—about the ‘adapt or die’ mentality. Refreshing and reinventing a restaurant is one thing, but legacy […]

As restaurants look to make a comeback and put the pandemic on the back burner, new franchises have started to re-enter the landscape. Franchises create opportunities for entrepreneurs, and the industry encourages women to enter the restaurant franchise business. Two women heeding the franchise call are Adenah Bayoh and Elzadie “Zadie” Smith. In October 2022, […]

Takeout and delivery are as much the fabric of restaurants today as a room full of diners. During the pandemic, many restaurants may not have made it out the other side without takeout and delivery services. Still, staffing shortages are a significant issue for most restaurants after the pandemic. Finding the balance between handling orders […]

The outbreak of COVID-19 had a significant impact on the food service industry. Many restaurants were forced to shut down, and workers lost their source of income. However, many restaurants are reopening and quickly adapting to survive the changes after the pandemic. Restaurant managers have entered a rebranding journey to optimize the customer experience and […]

Looking for an upscale lobster experience in the heart of Dallas? Cousins Maine Lobster food truck has you covered with their delectable menu, featuring Lobster Rolls, Lobster Tacos, Lobster Tots, Lobster Quesadillas, Connecticut Roll, New England Clam Chowder, and Lobster Bisque. As a fan of their dishes, I’m excited to share a podcast episode that […]

Greek salad, pasta salad, cucumber avocado salad, garden salad, corn salad, cole slaw, Caesar salad, Caprese salad, macaroni salad… and the list goes on and on. There are an infinite number of salads one can create—not just salads for healthy living. And everyone seems to have a preference for their own unique spin on a […]

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 […]

Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel Corporation, predicted the future of computer processing power (CPU) in stating that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit would double every other year. That has certainly held true, and today, the world of tech is transitioning from the 3rd to the 4th Gen Intel Xeon scalable processor, which […]

As a former cook, I’ve always been fascinated by the ways the restaurant industry adapts and evolves. One of the most exciting developments in recent years has been the rapid growth of ghost kitchens, which have transformed the way restaurants operate and serve their customers. That’s why I was thrilled to come across a podcast […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]