Weekly Roundup – Week of 11.6.23
November 10, 2023
Find all the top food and beverage-related news stories of the week – curated by our team of strategists and food enthusiasts:
Top 13 Non-Commercial Arts & Entertainment Menu Makeovers of 2023
Food Management unfolds 2023’s greatest food moments, reshaping menus and customer experiences in arenas, stadiums, and arts and entertainment venues. From seasonal LTOs in major league ballparks and global and regional fare hitting NBA and NHL arenas to new walk-thru services and cutting-edge technologies increasing speed of service, spectators were welcomed with a deliciously tasteful and streamlined foodservice experience. Find all 13, Here.
Sweetgreen Expands Locations Of Its Automated Infinite Kitchens
After the successful opening of its first Infinite Kitchen location in Naperville, Illinois, in May, Sweetgreen will open a second unit in Huntington Beach, California, this quarter. The company has plans in motion to implement more automated kitchens in seven to nine locations and will upgrade two to four retrofits next year. While the technology still requires employees to handle prep work and add personalized touches, the makeline is capable of dispensing ingredients into a bowl at a rate of 500 bowls per hour. Customers enjoy the speed and cleanliness of the system and staff find they can focus more effort on the hospitality experience. Learn More.
Drive-Thrus Take The Fast Lane
Drive-thru service continues to dominate, showing a 30% increase in traffic from 2019 to 2022, as reported by research firm, Technomic. In a surprising twist, the appeal of dining inside fast-food restaurants has experienced a 47% decline in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2019. In addition, drive-thrus command two-thirds of all fast-food purchases, according to a report by Revenue Management Solutions. Notable chains like Popeyes, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A are steering their strategies towards reducing dining room footprints while revving up drive-thru services with expanded lanes. With new mobile strategies and advanced AI systems taking the driver’s seat, the fast-food experience is getting an upgrade to enhance and personalize customer interactions. Read More.
7-Eleven Embraces the Power of AI for Product Innovation
In a groundbreaking move, 7-Eleven’s Japanese division has integrated generative artificial intelligence into its product development strategy. This innovative approach involves applying the potential of AI to analyze store sales data and gather consumer feedback from social channels, ultimately streamlining the product planning process. What’s the goal? To slash product planning timelines by up to 90% and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to emerging trends and customer preferences. When will this technology hit U.S. 7-Eleven stores? Read Article.
New Product Spotlight
This week, Heinz made a dill-lightful announcement with the launch of its Pickle Ketchup. According to a Datassential report cited by Heinz, more than 70% of consumers report they enjoy the taste of pickles. Meanwhile, pickle-flavored products have become one of the top food trends of 2023, with a 55% increase in searches, according to Yelp. Heinz hopes this pairing becomes the next go-to condiment for pickle fans and food adventurers.
DiGiorno is introducing a special Thanksgiving Pizza, perfect for Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving festivities, but the catch is it’s only available online and for a limited time. The festive pizza features a unique combination of turkey, savory gravy sauce, diced sweet potatoes, crispy onions, green beans, and cranberries over mozzarella and cheddar cheeses set atop the brand’s signature thick Detroit-style crust.
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