All articles tagged with #food service
Delaware has the most generous diners with an average tip of 22.1%, while California has the lowest at 17.3%, according to data from Toast. The national average tip is 19.4%, with full-service restaurants tipping slightly more than quick-service eateries.
A Taco Bell worker shared a TikTok video recounting an interaction with a customer who got offended when he recommended upgrading to a $1 medium drink during Happy Hour instead of ordering a more expensive small drink. The customer complained and demanded to speak to a manager, causing frustration for the worker. Many viewers on TikTok agreed that the customer's reaction was unreasonable, labeling her as a "Karen."
Chipotle is testing an automated digital assembly line in partnership with Hyphen to fulfill digital orders, with the potential for a robot to assemble burrito bowls in the future. While an employee will continue to assemble burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, the automated line will create salads and burrito bowls by positioning bowls under each specified ingredient and portioning them out. Bowls and salads currently account for 65% of Chipotle's digital orders, and the company is exploring how these technologies can complement each other. However, the robotic assembly line is still "months away" from being tested in a restaurant.
American Airlines has constructed a new 214,000-square-foot kitchen at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, utilizing robots and automation to prepare up to 15,000 meals per day for over 800 daily flights. With the aim of keeping up with increasing passenger demand and minimizing catering delays, the facility represents the next generation of catering for the airline. As global travel demand is expected to double by 2040, airlines are under pressure to offer better food options, particularly for passengers purchasing premium seats.
Bull & Bear Roadhouse received an unsatisfactory inspection from the Onondaga County Health Department, while 67 other establishments had satisfactory inspections during the same period.
Restaurants such as Panera and Chipotle are piloting artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline food service, from predictive ordering for consumers to automating kitchen flow and driver dispatch. Analysts say AI has the potential to ease workforce challenges in an ongoing tight hiring market and drive sales through suggestive selling. However, there are still hurdles to broad adoption, including getting franchisees on board and navigating language barriers and menu nuances. The industry shift is reminiscent of the emergence of third-party delivery services five years ago.
Kraft Heinz has announced a prototype of a dispenser called Heinz Remix, which allows customers to mix and match dipping sauce flavors. The dispenser will be showcased at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago this weekend, and pilot programs will begin in late 2023. The company plans to use customer choices to inform its product decisions in retail. Kraft Heinz is focusing on innovation to drive growth, with a goal of an additional $2 billion in North American retail revenue from innovation through 2027.
Kraft Heinz has developed a customizable sauce dispenser called the Heinz Remix, which offers more than 200 condiment combinations for food-service clients. The machine will be piloted in restaurants by the end of the year and allows customers to select a base of ketchup, ranch, 57 Sauce or BBQ sauce, add in "enhancers" such as jalapeno, smoky chipotle, buffalo and mango, and set one of three intensity levels. The company plans to use data from the dispenser to decide what new products to release in grocery stores.
Hy-Vee, Iowa's largest private employer, has introduced a new employee discount program offering a 10% discount on groceries and food service. The program comes after the previous discount program was discontinued in February due to fraud. The company has also highlighted other benefits for employees, including mental health assistance, a 401(k) plan, holiday pay, and career development opportunities.