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News Briefs

  • 1/27/2025

    Just Salad Launches 'Salad AI' Recipe Generator to Personalize Dining Experience

    Just Salad ai

    Just Salad launched its newest ordering feature, “Salad AI,” a personalization tool designed to transform how customers discover and enjoy their perfect meal. Through personalized survey results, Just Salad’s Salad AI provides mobile app users with tailored ordering recommendations to best match their culinary preferences, setting a new standard for digital customer engagement.

    Salad AI serves as a personal recipe assistant, delivering customized salad recommendations based on individual lifestyle, nutrition, and flavor preferences. This innovative digital tool aims to simplify menu navigation, reduce decision paralysis, and create a welcoming ordering experience for new guests while introducing exciting new flavor combinations to Just Salad’s existing customers.

    "We've always been focused on empowering our customers to 'Eat with Purpose,' and our new Salad AI program takes that mission to the next level," said Nick Kenner, Founder & CEO at Just Salad. "This technology goes beyond traditional menu recommendations by creating a truly personalized dining journey that speaks directly to our customers’ unique tastes, dietary habits, and nutritional goals, meeting the evolving needs of today’s digital and health-conscious consumers. This groundbreaking innovation will redefine how we connect with our guests.”

     

    How Salad AI Works

    Just Salad’s intuitive AI-powered recipe generator leverages insights collected through a simple survey on the Just Salad app that covers three key areas:

    • Lifestyle Preferences: Including options for vegan, climatarian, and dietary restrictions
    • Nutritional Goals: Ranging from high-protein to low-carb and low-sugar choices
    • Taste: Capturing individual flavor profiles from sweet to spicy and savory to crunchy

    Once completed, Salad AI generates four personalized order recommendations, all of which are custom built recipes that cater to a guests’ health objectives. Each custom option features a unique salad name, selected craveable flavors, a complete ingredient listing with nutritional information, and a personalized dressing suggestion – all tailored to the individual's specific preferences.

    "Salad AI is more than just a recommendation tool – it's a culinary companion that understands and adapts to each customer's evolving tastes and nutritional journey," added Kenner. "By harnessing the power of AI, we're not only enhancing the dining experience but also driving customer retention and acquisition through personalized menu items that excite and inspire our guests.The integration of custom meal suggestions simplifies decision-making while supporting healthier eating habits, reinforcing our mission to make healthy food accessible to all.”

    Salad AI is now available through the Just Salad mobile app, where customers can easily navigate to the Salad AI section, complete their preference survey, and receive instant, customized order recommendations.  

  • 1/21/2025

    Wonder Franchises Buys Pizza Factory

    acquistion merger man hands holding blocks

    Tucker’s Farm Corp. has acquired Pizza Factory Inc., a restaurant franchisor. The acquisition was completed via the Farm’s franchisor platform Wonder Franchises. Founded in 1979 by Danny Wheeler and Ron Willey, Pizza Factory has approximately $94 million in system sales across 84 franchisees and 110 restaurants. Since 2012, the business has been led by owner and CEO, Mary Jane Riva, who will stay on as CEO moving forward.

    In 2023, Tucker’s Farm launched Wonder, a franchise-focused holding vehicle, with $30 million of committed, long-term equity capital. Wonder is dedicated to partnering with and acquiring emerging to mid-size brands with the goal of long-term growth. Wonder’s priority is to be a great partner to sellers and a responsible steward for world-class brands and related assets.

    “We’re extremely excited to be acquiring Pizza Factory and to be partnering with MJ to take Pizza Factory to the next level. We love the longevity and stability of the system, the passion that MJ and her team have for their franchisees, and the community-focused culture of the brand. We feel fortunate to be partnering with someone with as much character and knowledge as MJ and believe there’s a great fit both culturally and in terms of our respective skillsets. We’re excited to have the deal closed so we can now focus on driving value for our franchisees,” said Adam Lewin, a partner on the private equity team at Tucker’s Farm and CEO of Wonder Franchises.

    This is the third franchise transaction for Tucker’s Farm in recent months, after portfolio company VIO Med Spa, the nation’s med spa franchisor, was successfully sold to Freeman Spogli in September 2024, and Wonder acquired The Decor Group, the leading holiday decorating franchisor with 245 franchised territories and $75 million in system sales, in November 2024.

    Riva received HT's Top Women in Restaurant Technology - Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.  

    “I’ve been part of this system for more than 30 years and this company means the world to me. I chose Wonder because I really felt they were the partner that could help improve and grow the system but would do so in a way that took good care of the brand and the franchisees. The Wonder team is smart, young, and energetic – all things that I love – but the thing that really stood out compared to other groups was the way they asked so many questions. They didn’t come in with a ‘we know best’ mindset, they truly wanted to learn about Pizza Factory, understand what’s gotten us this far, and build on what we’re doing. The better I’ve gotten to know their team, the more confident I am that Wonder is the right partner and that the next chapter for Pizza Factory will be a great one.” 

    A community staple in 100-plus communities, Pizza Factory has stayed true to its roots with hardworking operators, family-friendly dining and high-quality products, offering fresh, hand-tossed pizza, pasta, wings, sandwiches, salads, beer, wine and more. With multiple restaurant designs, an Express model, and robust off-premise dining options including delivery and mobile ordering through a custom app, Pizza Factory is built to excel in the restaurant industry moving forward.

  • 1/26/2025

    OPIC Technologies' Spatial Livestream Technology

    AR VR headset happy woman

    OPIC Technologies, Inc., the global leader in Spatial Livestream technology, is transforming the way people explore the world. This innovative 3D livestreaming platform, which provides a more immersive and life-like experience than traditional video, is poised to revolutionize the travel industry by offering new ways to showcase destinations, engage audiences, and connect travelers with unique experiences from anywhere in the world.

    What is Spatial Livestream Technology?

    Spatial livestreaming uses advanced 3D technology to broadcast events and locations in a way that replicates the depth and realism of being physically present. Unlike traditional video, Spatial Livestream technology allows viewers to feel immersed in the scene, whether they're exploring a historic site, walking through a vibrant city street, or experiencing a natural wonder. The content can be viewed using VR headsets for full immersion or on traditional 3D-enabled screens with glasses, making it widely accessible.

    “With Spatial Livestream technology, we’re breaking the limitations of distance and offering a way for people to engage with the world as if they were truly there,” said Bob Douglas, CEO of OPIC Technologies. “This technology opens up incredible opportunities for the travel industry to connect with audiences and share the beauty and diversity of our planet.”

    Transforming the Travel Industry

    The adoption of Spatial Livestream technology offers numerous benefits for the travel industry, including:

    • Destination Showcases: Tour operators and travel companies can livestream 3D virtual tours of iconic destinations, providing potential travelers with a realistic preview of what they can expect.
    • Cultural Experiences: Livestreamed cultural festivals, performances, and local traditions in 3D allow audiences to experience events from across the globe in an engaging and life-like way.
    • Accessibility: Individuals who are unable to travel due to financial, health, or logistical reasons can now explore the world and participate in experiences they might not otherwise access.
    Applications for Tourism and Hospitality

    From small boutique hotels to global tourism boards, Spatial Livestream technology provides a tool for showcasing unique experiences in a compelling and interactive way:

    • Resort and Hotel Previews: Guests can explore resorts and accommodations through live 3D tours, enabling them to make more informed travel decisions.
    • Travel Planning: Virtual travel previews allow individuals to explore destinations and attractions before booking, creating excitement and confidence in their plans.
    • Eco-Tourism and Preservation: Virtual access to fragile ecosystems, such as coral reefs or rainforests, provides a way to promote eco-tourism while minimizing physical impact.
    A New Chapter for Travel

    With its ability to provide immersive and interactive experiences, Spatial Livestream technology is set to become a vital tool for the travel industry. OPIC Technologies is leading the charge, enabling destinations, travel providers, and cultural organizations to share their stories and connect with global audiences in innovative ways.

  • 1/27/2025

    Restaurant chain RASA links with Bikky to enhance guest experience

    guest feedback data from a woman using an iphone

    Restaurant chain RASA has partnered with Bikky, a customer data platform, to gain deeper insights into its customer base and enhance guest experiences.

    The collaboration aims to leverage data analytics to refine RASA’s menu offerings, marketing strategies and overall customer engagement.


    Understanding the Guest 


    RASA, established in 2017 in the Washington DC Metro area, has expanded to five locations, offering bold flavors and customisable bowls. The brand is seeking to understand its guests better and improve every aspect of the dining experience, and Bikky’s platform presents an opportunity to transform guest engagement and marketing.

    RASA chief operating officer Trey Moats said: “With Bikky, we understand our guests at a level I didn’t think was possible — even when I was at brands ten times our size.”

    Since implementing Bikky, RASA has been able to analyse guest interactions comprehensively, including order frequency, return rates and popular menu items. Moats highlighted the platform’s efficiency, stating, “We had demographic insights within four days of launching Bikky.”

    This quick access to data allows RASA to adapt its offerings and strategies to match guest preferences in real time.  RASA utilised Bikky’s insights to test a hypothesis aimed at attracting more male guests. It rebranded Indian “wraps” to “burritos” – which resulted in a significant increase in male patronage.

    Moats expressed his satisfaction with the platform: “This ability to go from idea to test to actionable data is something I’ve never had before, especially in such a short time.”

    The partnership has also enabled RASA to develop stronger guest personas and enhance their paid media and digital marketing strategies. “We are now able to create look-a-like audiences based on the demographics of our top guests, so we can market more precisely on platforms like Meta.”

    Bikky’s technology is leveling the playing field for smaller brands, offering analytics tools that were previously available only to larger, multi-unit operations.

    Commenting on the partnership, Bikky co-founder and CEO Abhinav Kapur said: “Our mission at Bikky is to help every brand turn customer data into actionable insights that drive incremental traffic, frequency and transaction growth. We’re thrilled to partner with RASA and help them scale their bold flavours and superior guest experience to new communities.”

    RASA joins brands such as Robeks, WaBa Grill and Dave’s Hot Chicken in utilising Bikky’s advanced guest data and analytics platform to stay competitive.

  • 1/27/2025

    Datassential Makes Menu Analysis Even Easier with New AI-Powered Menu Tags

    Transactions, Food via an app concept. A man is holding a tablet and menu of food items with introduce as AI. The menu includes items such as sandwiches, cookies, and cakes; Shutterstock ID 2497700181

    Datassential, a food and beverage intelligence platform connecting consumers with the industry, announced the launch of Menu Tags, a feature set to revolutionize how businesses analyze menu trends and track food innovation.

    For subscribers to Datassential’s Menu Trends, menu tags will provide unmatched precision and flexibility, empowering food professionals to unlock deeper, more actionable insights. Using menu tags, users can focus on specific dishes, cuisines and more with ease in an increasingly complicated culinary world.

    For instance, menu tags will open the door to allow more granular item-level filtering, enabling businesses to analyze nuanced menu attributes like descriptors (e.g., indulgent, spicy) or specific foods (e.g., sushi, tacos.). Within seconds, customers will now be able to see with ease examples of tacos that fall outside of Mexican restaurant menus, for example, broadening the understanding of how global flavors are moving and evolving.

    Users can also uncover deeper insights about menu diversification within a specific category, easily uncovering that 30% of pizza restaurants have a Thai pizza, or 20% of U.S. restaurants have a Thai menu item, offering an unrivaled view of the restaurant landscape today, and how it’s changing. It’s also easy to discover insights about foods that cross borders - like a sushi burrito - so no one ever misses a thing.

    The new AI-powered menu tags use a more comprehensive and scalable tagging method that is retroactive, applying the same approach to historical data. As a result, clean trend lines remain over time while tagging at a much more granular level.

    “With more detailed filtering, AI-powered precision and enhanced adaptability, menu tags combined with existing menu filters offers a clearer view of what’s happening on restaurant menus. That’s a critical leg up for foodservice professionals,” said Emily Tang, SVP of Product Management at Datassential.

  • 1/18/2025

    Grubhub Expands Delivery Services with Olo Dispatch

    handshake partnership

    Grubhub, a leading U.S. food ordering and delivery marketplace, and Olo, a leading restaurant technology provider, have expanded their partnership to integrate Grubhub with Olo Dispatch. With Dispatch, restaurants can outsource delivery for orders generated through their own website and apps leveraging a network of third-party delivery service providers, now including Grubhub. This integration builds on Grubhub and Olo's existing relationship where Grubhub orders are directly sent to restaurants' point-of-sale system via Olo Rails.

    Olo Dispatch seamlessly selects service providers, including in-house couriers, based on optimal price, timing, availability, and other criteria. Olo's automated matching technology enables restaurants to get orders out the door and into the hands of customers faster and in the most cost-efficient way. With Dispatch, brands can quickly deploy delivery at a national scale with integration into their POS and kitchen production systems. This allows brands to strengthen direct relationships with their customers while offering a convenient and branded delivery experience through their own channels.

    "As demand for digital ordering and delivery grows across third-party and owned channels, we're proud to expand how we support our merchant partners and create more earning opportunities for Grubhub's delivery partners," said Kyle Emmett, senior director of retail media and merchant solutions at Grubhub. "With our nationwide delivery network, we help merchants manage their delivery operations, reduce costs, and better meet customer demands."

    "At Olo, we always strive to do what's best for our customers, and adding a great partner like Grubhub to our Dispatch network is a perfect example," said Kacie Gonzalez, vice president of product partnerships at Olo. "Giving restaurant brands more delivery service provider options gives them more flexibility, reliability, and competitive pricing, while allowing them to grow their direct ordering channels and own their guest relationships."

    This integration with Olo Dispatch joins Grubhub's On-Demand Delivery and Supplemental Delivery services that help restaurants easily scale up their delivery operations when it's needed most.  

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