March 30, 2022
Matt Cook, Editor
We’re tweaking the Drive-Thru Digest a bit. We’re going to limit the number of articles to the 10-15 most important drive-thru-related news articles of the previous week. Just short enough that you could scroll through the headlines while waiting in the drive-thru for your morning coffee, and then you can read them when you get into the office!
And now, the news…
We’re at the very beginning of what could be a golden age of drive-thru tech.
With digital sales booming during the pandemic, chains like Smokey Bones, Jimmy John's, Sweetgreen and Famous Dave's are eyeing drive-thru formats.
This is a simple, yet a great, idea. Sweetgreen is giving guests a look inside the restaurant as they roll by.
Tim Hortons is changing the game when it comes to how you get your morning coffee with new drive-thru technology and walk-up windows in Ontario.
Some will have dual drive-thru lanes and a separate entrance for online orders – take a look inside.
About a third of Applebee’s and Olive Garden customers are now eating their riblets and fettuccini alfredo at home.
CEO James O’Reilly, who once served as CEO of Long John Silver’s, spoke about the initiative, how it’s evolving, and why this might just unlock a new era at the classic brand.
The coffee shop wants to open 150 stores in the next five years, leaning into drive-thrus.
Sonic Drive-In shows strongest comparable sales growth within portfolio.
Virtual restaurants and delivery-only concepts have been on the rise since the pandemic. Among the standout success stories is the young American Jimmy Donaldson and his Mr Beast’s Burgers operation. When Jimmy Donaldson, also known as Mr Beast, launched his food brand it was in a customary bold and attention-grabbing style. Not only did he and his team promise free food to customers but those who turned up to the North Carolina drive-thru were also handed bundled dollar bills with their food order.
Bachman said he sees the chain taking an “omnichannel” approach to serve customers who want to drop in and pick up an order, sit for a bit and have a drink at the bar and, soon, grab their food from an order-ahead drive-thru.
Carl Orsbourn and Meredith Sandland give a quick overview of their top digital restaurant stories of last week.
The combination of AI and live agents is reshaping the industry, streamlining drive-thru operations, call-in orders, and will eventually optimize in-store payments.
PAR will offer the multi-sensor timing solution in conjunction with existing drive-thru communications and Brink POS® products, providing managed installation, customer support and service for a complete drive-through solution.
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