USA: the 10 biggest burger chains of 2018
See the highest-ranking burger brands in the limited-service space this year, according to US system-wide sales, from Nation’s Restaurant News Top 200 research. (Slideshow/approx. reading time: 4 min.)
nrn.com
Can Chipotle innovate its way to sales growth?
The company’s stock fell after an analyst downgrade that cited its innovation challenges. (Approx. reading time: 2 min.)
restaurantbusinessonline.com
Cashless conveyor belt concept from Down Under coming to USA
Hey Zeus of Australia will bring automated restaurants to Washington state. There’s hardly any human interaction, which owner Jacob Beye calls the future of restaurants. (Approx. reading time: 1 min.)
restaurant-hospitality.com
3 new limited-service concepts embracing next-level tech
As consumers grow increasingly familiar with tech-heavy restaurant interactions – and operators look for labour-saving hacks – restaurateurs are getting bolder with kiosk-based ordering, delivery-only concepts and even robot cooks. (Sideshow/approx. reading time: 2 min.)
restaurantbusinessonline.com
Dubai to create local food supply with world’s largest hydroponic farm
Upon completion, the 130,000-square foot facility, the equivalent of 900 acres of farmland, will bring on three US farms to produce three tons of herbicide and pesticide-free produce daily that will be served on 105 airlines and in 25 airport lounges. (Approx. reading time: 1 min.)
livekindly.com
French tech bros want to replace pizza chefs with robots
Ekim is a French food tech start-up. Recently, it raised €2.2 million in venture capital to disrupt the pizza business with robots. (Approx. reading time: < 1 min.)
qz.com
Strawless lids coming to Starbucks beverages
The Seattle chain says it will eliminate 1 billion plastic straws per year by 2020. (Approx. reading time: 1 min.)
nrn.com
What's the latest in zero-waste?
With awareness growing about the scope of food waste in America, foodservice operators are ramping up zero-waste efforts—and coming up with more culinary-focused solutions. It’s estimated that 40% of food produced in the USA is wasted, according to the National Resources Defence Council. (Approx. reading time:2 min.)
foodservicedirector.com
You wear what you eat
From White Castle hoodies to Momofuku sneakers, food lovers are representing their obsessions with chains and restaurants in a fashionable way. (Approx. reading time: 5 min.)
eater.com