News Briefs

  • 3/18/2024

    Howard Anderson Promoted to Chief Executive Officer at Odyssey Resorts

    howard anderson headshot

    Odyssey Resorts, Minnesota’s largest resort property developer, announced that Howard Anderson has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer effective May 1, 2024. Kirk Schultz is retiring from the position he has held since 2019 and will stay on in an advisory role during the transition.

    As CEO, Anderson provides strategic direction and leads the day-to-day financial operations of Odyssey Resorts. The company owns and manages a portfolio of nine resorts located in the North Shore of Lake Superior and the Brainerd Lakes area in Minnesota.

    Anderson joined Odyssey Resorts in 2022 as Vice President of Strategic Planning and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2023. He has guided and managed several of the organization’s key functions, including sales and marketing, group sales, and resort operations. During his time with Odyssey, Anderson formed deep partnerships with the company’s guests, team members, and owners. He has overseen key initiatives for the company, including the addition of the Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort in Deerwood, Minn., to the Odyssey Resorts portfolio in 2023 and the creation of new food and beverage programs at Odyssey’s core restaurants at Grand Superior Lodge, Larsmont Cottages and Caribou Highlands Lodge.

    Anderson has more than three decades of experience in the hospitality industry. He served as Vice President of Operations at ZMC Hotels before joining Odyssey Resorts. He is an accomplished leader, skilled at brand development, market planning, hotel management and financial execution.

    “I am humbled to be named the next Chief Executive Officer of Odyssey Resorts. Hospitality is part of who I am and something I care deeply about. I am excited to lead the next chapter of Odyssey Resorts,” said Anderson. “With unbelievable properties in one-of-a-kind locations, we can offer unmatched vacation experiences. I look forward to working with our strong team to deliver lasting memories for our many valued guests and homeowners.”

    Anderson received a B.A. from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He is a past board chair of Hospitality Minnesota, a past president of the Minnesota Lodging Association, and a member of the Minnesota Lodging Association’s “Minnesota Hospitality Hall of Fame.”

    “I want to extend my gratitude to the guests, homeowners, and team members of Odyssey Resorts. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish together, and I will cherish the friendships I made during my time as CEO,” said Schultz. “I also want to congratulate Howard Anderson on this announcement. He is eminently qualified for the position and will continue to build on the strong tradition of excellence at Odyssey Resorts.”

    Odyssey Resorts manages and operates East Bay Suites in Grand Marais, Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen, Lutsen Sea Villas in Lutsen, the Mountain Inn at Lutsen in Lutsen, Breezy Point Cabins on Lake Superior in Two Harbors, Grand Superior Lodge in Two Harbors, Larsmont Cottages in Two Harbors, Beacon Pointe on Lake Superior Resort in Duluth and Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort in Deerwood. Blackburn Investment Management, a Minnesota-based group of private investors, is the lead investor in Odyssey Resorts.

    “Howard Anderson is the right person to be the next Chief Executive Officer of Odyssey Resorts. He has proven to be an invaluable asset to our guests and an advocate for our team members,” said T.J. McMillan, CEO of Blackburn Investment Management. “He has a deep knowledge of the current state of the hospitality business and is a collaborative thinker focused on achieving goals and planning for future success. We are also grateful to Kirk Schultz and his years of service, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He steered Odyssey through some very difficult times with poise and grace.”

  • 3/17/2024

    Loop Raises $6M

    delivery app

    Loop, a SaaS provider enabling restaurants to maximize their third-party delivery service profitability, has closed $6M in seed funding.

    The round was led by Base10 Partners with participation from Afore Capital. Funds raised will support Loop’s accelerated growth, as it continues to partner with top restaurant brands to make delivery a more sustainable revenue stream. Loop will spend this year investing in its expanding suite of products to serve restaurants’ complex back-office needs.

    “We are always looking to back founders that have lived the problems they’re solving with software,” noted Rexhi Dollaku, General Partner at Base10 Partners. “Loop’s co-founders felt all the pain points presented by back-office reconciliation and digital food delivery when they ran a restaurant together. We are honored they have chosen to partner with us and are looking forward to helping them through this next stage of their journey.”

    Loop’s AI-powered platform already serves the growing brands like Dave’s Hot Chicken, Freddy’s Frozen Custards and Mo’Bettahs (Savory Fund Portfolio) across thousands of locations, reconciling over $100M of restaurant transactions. Loop’s solutions mean restaurants of all sizes can spend less on costly accounting thanks to the company’s ability to combine automation, and best-in-class AI technology.

    “Loop is the best-in-class solution and a must-have solution for brands like Dave’s Hot Chicken where 25% of our revenue is powered by third-party delivery,” said James McGeehee, CFO of Dave’s Hot Chicken.

    Third-party delivery is already responsible for more than 25% of revenue for countless restaurant brands, and is set to be a $1T global industry in this decade. Restaurants pay 20-35% in commissions to delivery platforms unlike other revenue channels, challenging their financial models and accounting systems. Additionally, 3-4% of orders that leave the door have accuracy issues that affect guest experience and the restaurant’s brand, decaying revenue.  Loop applies proven technology to help restaurants stay in lock-step with all elements of finances & operations related to third-party delivery. Now, that whole new business vertical, which can often be a pain point for operators, can be a sustainable revenue stream.

    To learn more, visit TryLoop.ai.

  • 3/17/2024

    Ghost Kitchen Kitchen United's IP Sold

    merger handshake deal

    SBE and C3 Founder Sam Nazarian has purchased Kitchen United's IP and ghost-kitchen related assets and has formed Everybody Eats, a holding company comprised of C3, Nextbite and Kitchen United.

    Everybody Eats is a consumer product goods (CPG) and culinary brands company connecting new audiences through food brands in exclusive arrangements. 

    Kitchen United closed its ghost kitchens in November 2023, saying it was focusing on its software business.  

    Since December 23, 2023, Everybody Eats is a 100% asset light IP and premium QSR and CPG Brand company that has secured an equity investment by strategic international platforms such as Legends, and most recently new investments from Alamar Saudi Arabia & Grupo Herdez that join Everybody Eats' roster of strategic investors.

    Everybody Eats will continue to be in the virtual restaurant space by expanding physical footprints and utilizing AI software technology to increase revenue while also introducing chef-driven concepts; brands created and powered by celebrities; and high-quality restaurants and brands to the masses. Everybody Eats has over one billion subscribers within their network of food brands and will expand to various different industries, including: CPG, supermarkets, convenience, casual dining, education, hospitality, limited service hotels all within a brand amplification platform.

    Under Nazarian's leadership, as well as Geoff Madding's, the newly appointed COO of Everybody Eats, (former Nextbite Chief Growth Officer), the new platform will continue to disrupt the food & beverage industry by expanding their capacity to bring together technology, underutilized retail, hotel and kitchen spaces and world-class culinary talent, through the Kitchen United acquisition. 

    "...Since starting C3 in 2019, I have been watching other industry leaders such as Nextbite and Kitchen United in their journeys to change the virtual culinary industry," said Nazarian. "These companies have had incredible ideas and unbelievable instincts but just not enough capital to ultimately disrupt the market. Everybody Eats is the solution; we have created an all-encompassing platform built upon the ideas of the three best thought-leaders in the industry. This is an unbelievable turning point for the industry as I believe the connectivity of a new audience through food is one of the most exciting parts of what we do at Everybody Eats."

  • 3/17/2024

    Panasonic Connect Introduces POS Terminals, Kiosks

    Panasonic

    Panasonic Connect North America showcased its restaurant technology solutions, including its newest Stingray  JS9900 Kiosk Series and JS988 Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals, at MURTEC 2024 in Las Vegas. The new solutions will transform the consumer experience in fast casual or quick-serve settings from a mundane order process to a completely personalized and seamless touchpoint between customers and their favorite eateries.

    The new kiosks and POS terminals were built with Panasonic Connect’s customer needs in mind, focused on flexibility, efficiency, and reliability. These elements are critical not just for QSRs, but also a variety of retail establishments and hospitality operations looking to maximize the consumer experience and increase their reputation as a tech-forward brand. 

    To provide staff members with the tools they need to get their jobs done more efficiently, optimize workflows, and promote data-driven processes, these new technology solutions empower consumers to take control of their own digitally enabled order or check-in process. With the easy-to-use and interactive solutions deployed throughout a storefront, businesses can keep up with fast-paced environments, and offer do-it-yourself and personalized solutions for customers to order and pay as quickly as possible.

    At the Panasonic Connect booth #136, attendees were able to interact with several solutions, including the new Stingray options:

    • Stingray  JS988 POS Terminal: A new all-in-one POS terminal with a small footprint and lightweight design so users can effortlessly move the devices and interact with the terminal. Integrated with the latest Intel® processors, the Stingray JS988 is designed to be fast and powerful, ensuring smooth performance for anyone. Easily customizable to fit a wide range of form factors, the modular terminal can also be integrated with choice of peripherals including a camera, customer-facing display, biometric magnetic stripe reader (MSR), and more – all to enhance the purchasing experience to create personalized pathways for all customers.
    • Stingray  JS9900 Kiosk Series: A new kiosk made with versatility in mind. With flexible mounting options from floor or counter stands to wall mounts and a variety of screen sizes, the kiosks can be configured in over 750 different combinations. To create a truly customizable experience, the modular and durable design will enable stores to place the kiosk anywhere with easily swappable screens and mounts. This also ensures future readiness for any store configuration change while also withstanding busy environments that can be tough on hardware. Designed to be powerful and quick, the kiosk can be used for a variety of solutions through the store for wayfinding, self-ordering, POS, or advertising and displaying dynamic content – pertinent to giving the customer all information needed to enhance their buying experience.

    For more information about the JS988 POS Terminals and the JS9900 Kiosk Series, visit Panasonic's website.

  • 3/17/2024

    Flybuy Adds AI-Driven Capacity Management Solution

    location tech across a city

    Flybuy by Radius Networks, unveiled Flybuy Connect, an AI-driven capacity management solution.

    Flybuy Connect integrates restaurant and customer insights to accurately predict promise times, effectively eliminating wait times and delivering better customer experiences that build brand loyalty.

    Today, most capacity management solutions designed for restaurants focus on managing staff operations in the kitchen. However, Flybuy Connect takes a dual approach synchronizing customer expectations with the reality of the kitchen. Leveraging AI, it delivers remarkably accurate wait times and communicates real-time updates to facilitate the perfect handoff for drive-thru, pickup or delivery. 

    "Current capacity management solutions for restaurants only focus on addressing staff operations and kitchen logistics," said Alonso Vargas, SVP of Product at Flybuy. "Flybuy Connect reinvents this approach by bringing the customer into the process, delivering invaluable insights such as travel time to be aligned with kitchen realities. Leveraging billions of anonymized data points, our AI-driven solution offers more accurate promise times and mobile updates, empowering restaurants to optimize operations, provide superior customer experiences, and maintain a competitive edge in today's increasingly competitive market."

    How It Works

    Flybuy Connect introduces a range of game-changing capabilities that enhance both customer experiences and staff’s operational efficiency:

    Smart Order Readiness: Flybuy Connect communicates precise pickup times by leveraging machine learning to analyze food prep times, kitchen capacity, customer travel time, and staff availability. This dynamic adjustment ensures that customers receive reliable estimates, even during peak periods.

    Order Status Updates: Flybuy Connect provides customers with complete transparency during the order preparation process to set expectations and reduce early or late arrivals. Real-time mobile notifications keep customers informed at every stage, connecting the customer’s expectations with the reality of kitchen busyness and exact order ready time.

    Pinpoint Customer Location: This feature uses ETAi , which leverages proprietary machine learning to incorporate destination-specific and other contextual factors to achieve a much more precise ETA. Real-time insights on the customer’s location and travel time empower staff to facilitate perfectly timed food preparation and an optimal handoff experience. 
    Auto-Order Integration: Flybuy Connect streamlines meal preparation by automatically initiating orders in the kitchen at the appropriate time based on when the customer approaches to ensure efficiency for the staff and ultimate food freshness. Streamlining workflows for staff also reduces stress and burnout and increases job satisfaction and retention.

    Flybuy recently published a White Paper that goes into detail on the need for an AI-powered capacity management solution. 

    Flybuy Connect is now available as part of the Flybuy platform

  • 3/17/2024

    Bounteous x Accolite and Persado Partner to Offer Improved Digital CX Fueled By GenAI

    a close up of a light blue umbrella

    Bounteous x Accolite and Persado announced a strategic partnership that will harness Persado’s proprietary language knowledge base and GenAI tools to advance commerce and marketing experiences across a broad range of industries such as restaurant, retail and financial services.

    "We are thrilled to be Persado’s first certified agency partner and bring the power of the provider’s industry-leading GenAI platform to our clients,” said Keith Schwartz, CEO of Bounteous x Accolite. "Persado’s technology and proprietary knowledge base embody a decade of machine learning, generating copy that outperforms human-only content 96% of the time. Together, we can offer the highest-performing digital messaging that will drive measurably better outcomes for our clients.”

    The collaboration combines Bounteous x Accolite’s deep expertise in customer experience, conversion rate optimization, and personalized marketing activation with Persado's best-in- class GenAI solutions. Bounteous will serve as a trusted advisor and service provider, helping clients design and execute personalized, persuasive experiences that drive conversion, engagement, and loyalty. Now, clients of Bounteous x Accoliate and Persado will benefit from strategic guidance and data-driven insights to maximize the impact of Persado’s powerful Motivation AI technology across channels and customer journeys.

    As Persado's first preferred, certified agency partner, Bounteous x Accolite will apply the team’s knowledge of the Persado platform with their expertise in creating personalized experiences at scale—harnessing the full potential of GenAI to achieve even greater lift across channels.

    “This partnership signifies a commitment to shared success and empowering clients to unlock new levels of customer engagement and propel business growth,” explained Assaf Baciu, President and Co-founder of Persado. "Bounteous x Accolite are at the top of their game delivering unparalleled customer experiences, technology, and analytics for marquee brands. The firm has a stellar record of building commerce and digital marketing programs with an eye on driving engagement and measurable results—aligning well with our vision to create a world where everyone has access to the full power of words and can inspire others.” 

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