With workers scarce, some industries are turning to robots

Jun 2, 2022
The pandemic accelerated automation purchases, according to an industry group, especially in agriculture, construction and fast food.
A fully automated fast food restaurant in San Francisco in 2015. Industries like fast food and construction increasingly rely on automation.
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You do want fries with that: Wendy's and Google bet on drive-thru AI

Oct 12, 2021
The deal could include voice-recognition software, mapping apps and other digital tools to improve the drive-thru experience.
Artificial intelligence may be coming to a Wendy's drive-thru near you, thanks to a new pairing with Google Cloud.
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Some restaurant chains deal with supply shortages by trying to pivot

Jun 29, 2021
If chicken wings are hard to find, maybe offer thighs?
The chain Wingstop just launched a brand focused on another part of the bird, calling itself "Thighstop."
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Health risks, low pay affecting fast-food workers' appetite for jobs

Apr 29, 2021
Restaurant chains, including Taco Bell, Chipotle and McDonald’s, are going on hiring sprees. Will the labor force respond?
Fast-food restaurants, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and McDonald's, line the streets in South Los Angeles.
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Fast-food loyalty programs have grown during the pandemic

Apr 28, 2021
Companies are competing with one another — and delivery apps — for your data.
Starbucks costumers who signed up for the loyalty program have bolstered the company's sales in the past year.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Survey finds consumers are concerned about waste from fast-food containers

Apr 27, 2021
That concern won't necessarily translate into a change in consumer behavior.
Young respondents in particular self-reported paying attention to a company’s sustainability practices.
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Restaurants struggling to hire, despite high unemployment

Aug 27, 2020
The pandemic is worsening the labor crunch in an industry that's been short-handed for years.
A chef prepares patrons' meals at a restaurant in Tampa, Florida.
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For public good, not for profit.

Most fast-food franchises have bounced back in short order

Aug 5, 2020
Pizza chains and others that allow for social distancing have done especially well. Those that depend on breakfast haven't.
An employee directs drive-thru traffic at a crowded McDonald's in Scotland.
Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images

With commuting down, fast-food breakfast sales have slowed

Jun 11, 2020
Starbucks and other companies are now competing over delivery and takeout convenience.
The largest share of Starbucks sales happen during the morning commute, but competition over breakfast sales has all but evaporated.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Starbucks is winning afternoon customers with cold brew

Jan 29, 2020
It's typically a sleepy time of day for restaurants but snacking is on the rise.
Offering something customers typically don't want in the morning hours, like iced coffee, is one way to draw in customers.
Courtesy of Starbucks