News Briefs

Shift4 has acquired a majority stake in Vectron Systems AG, a European suppliers of point-of-sale (POS) systems to the restaurant and hospitality verticals. 

Based in Germany, Vectron has 65,000 POS locations across Europe, representing. Shift4 is expected to acquire additional ownership of Vectron through a public tender offer that is expected to conclude within the next month, with a de-listing and formal integration process to occur shortly thereafter.

The acquisition is expected to provide Shift4 with an expansive customer footprint across Europe as well as a distribution network of ~300 POS resellers. As a result of the acquisition, Shift4 believes it will be able to add its integrated payment services to current Vectron customers and products, while also empowering the sales force with a compelling all-in-one POS and payments solution unrivaled in Europe.

“Shift4 was at the forefront of the convergence between software and payments in the restaurant and hospitality verticals in the US. We see an incredible amount of demand for a similar all-in-one solution across Europe,” states Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman. “With our integrated payments and SkyTab offering, we believe we have the best solution at the right price point. Vectron will provide valuable local expertise, infrastructure, and the distribution necessary to meet the demand. This acquisition is right out of the Shift4 playbook – enabling us to unlock synergies, expand our distribution, and monetize payments for a large existing install base.”

Completes Revel Systems Acquistion

In addition to the acquisition of Vectron, Shift4 has also completed its previously announced acquisition of Revel Systems. Revel has over 18,000 merchant locations across the United States and internationally which Shift4 estimates represents a $17B+ payment opportunity. Revel also has a direct sales and dealer distribution network which Shift4 believes can be leveraged to accelerate SkyTab distribution both domestically and abroad. 

Shift4 has signed a definitive arrangement agreement to acquire Givex Corp., a global provider of gift cards, loyalty programs and point-of-sale solutions. 

The Arrangement Agreement is subject to customary closing conditions and the transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year. 

With across more than 100 countries, Givex serves a wide range of businesses in various industries, including 7-Eleven, Wendy’s, Best Western, Texas Roadhouse. 

The company offers robust gift card and e-gift solutions as well as customizable loyalty programs, and a point-of-sale (POS) system for various business types, among other value-added services.

 “Givex has a considerable footprint around the world which will dramatically increase Shift4’s overall customer base,” states Shift4 President Taylor Lauber. “At the same time, their gift card and loyalty solutions are second to none and will add significant value for our current customers, creating stickier relationships andh 130,000+ active locations enhancing our overall value proposition. Similar to other deals we have recently completed, this acquisition aligns perfectly with how we like to deploy capital – adding blue-chip merchants at a low customer acquisition cost while delivering additional benefits to our customer base.” 

“The Givex team looks forward to joining the Shift4 family and bring our enterprise gift card capabilities and loyalty programs to hundreds of thousands of new customers,” says Don Gray, CEO of Givex. “By combining Shift4’s end-to-end payment solution with our value-added engagement services, we can deliver an unparalleled package to both of our customer bases.”  

Mark Shambura has joined Panera Bread as Chief Marketing Officer. Shambura will lead all aspects of marketing at Panera, including Brand Building, Digital & Loyalty, Product Strategy & Consumer Insights. An accomplished marketing leader with broad expertise in the restaurant industry, Mr. Shambura has previously held marketing leadership roles during pivotal growth periods for top brands including Chipotle, MOD Pizza, and most recently Papa Johns.

"Mark brings an impressive background building brands and leading marketing teams for fast-casual restaurants, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Panera Bread,” said José Alberto Dueñas, Chief Executive Officer. “As Panera continues to evolve our brand, guided by listening to our guests, Mark’s depth of experience and ability will help drive our growth as a brand that serves great food you feel good about eating.”

Shambura previously served as CMO at Papa Johns, where he led a revitalization of the brand by enhancing its iconic “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza” platform, and developing a more modern, innovative omnichannel approach to transform how Papa Johns appealed to both new and loyal consumers. As Executive Director at Chipotle, Mr. Shambura guided the marketing function through periods of both sustained growth and transition, providing leadership over brand strategy, advertising, digital, social, events/sponsorships, promotions, and field marketing, including playing a key role in spearheading its “Real Ingredients” brand strategy.

“I’m proud to join the Panera Bread team and excited to build on the momentum of the brand's transformation as it continues to evolve in service of our guests,” Mr. Shambura said. “Panera propelled and cemented its position at the top of the fast casual restaurant segment through its promise of high-quality ingredients and freshly prepared food, and I’m thrilled to join a highly talented team to help shape its next chapter.”

Prior to his tenure in the restaurant industry, Mr. Shambura gained extensive marketing agency experience, working with a broad array of top global consumer brands for over a decade. Shambura will report directly to José Alberto Dueñas, Chief Executive Officer, and officially assumed the role of Chief Marketing Officer on July 29, 2024.

TRAY, a global provider of cloud-native enterprise-class POS systems, has expanded its existing partnership with Alraedah Finance, a financial and digital solutions provider based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Alraedah has made a significant financial investment in TRAY further empowering the technology provider to develop its cutting-edge POS system and support its Enterprise customers. Alraedah Digital Solutions, a division of Alraedah Finance, will provide additional resources and expertise in data analytics, product development, and third-party integrations. The two parties launched an exclusive reseller agreement in 2023 to power small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as larger Enterprise customers across various industries in the Middle East & North Africa region with cutting-edge POS Solutions, sometimes referred to as Electronic Cash Register (ECR) Solutions in the region.

As the exclusive reseller of TRAY POS in the MENA Region, Alraedah resells, configures, and supports the TRAY solution, which is available in English as well as the local language and currency, making the solution accessible and turn-key for end customers. TRAY-branded financial products are also slated for development including TRAY Capital and TRAY Pay. Given the flexible technology TRAY offers, the same can be done in other international markets with ease.

"We’re appreciative of the partnership and investment from Alraedah,” said Peter Kellis, Chief Executive Officer of TRAY. “Their support and vision are instrumental in propelling our mission to revolutionize the restaurant POS industry. This collaboration not only strengthens our global presence but also enhances our ability to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients.”

caption: Peter Kellis, Chief Executive Officer of TRAY, pictured left, with Paul Melotto, CEO of Alraedah Digital Group, pictured right. 

Over the last year, TRAY's state-of-the-art POS system has enabled Alraedah Digital Solutions to provide customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with easy-to-use and reliable solutions that optimize business operations and enhance customer experiences. The new financial support provided bolsters TRAY’s ability to expand international reach and enhance service for existing US and Canada customers.

“TRAY has proven to be an indispensable tool for hospitality businesses in our region,” stated Paul Melotto, CEO of Alraedah Digital Group. "This growing engagement deepens both party’s ability to support businesses on an international scale. Together, we are poised to set new standards in the industry and drive meaningful growth. We look forward to the continued success of this partnership and the exciting opportunities it will bring."

Hospitality operators in food and beverage, cafes and lounges around the MENA Region have growing access to an efficient, reliable and scalable POS solution that can optimize business operations and enhance in-store consumer experiences through the partnership between Alraedah and TRAY. TRAY’s extensive experience in delivering POS solutions to businesses worldwide, coupled with Alraedah's commitment to championing growth for independent and fast-growing brands, will further empower and enhance existing service offerings such as POS financing, and also contribute to the overall development of the SME sector in Saudi Arabia.     

ParTech Inc. announced the Q4 2024 launch of the PAR POS Fall Release, introducing significant advancements in point-of-sale technology. This update brings a next-generation platform, and cutting-edge features designed to enhance operational efficiency, boost customer satisfaction, and future-proof restaurants in an ever-changing landscape.

From contactless payment options to multi-lane drive-thru innovations, the Fall Release sets a new benchmark for restaurants aiming to meet modern demand with speed, reliability, and flexibility.

"With this release, we’re pushing the boundaries of what restaurant technology can achieve," said Savneet Singh, CEO of PAR Technology. "The PAR POS Fall Release brings forth impactful solutions, like QR code payments, native digital wallets, and new order modes, transforming how restaurants engage with their customers. Our evolved architecture ensures restaurants are equipped to stay ahead of industry and business demands, enhancing every facet of their service delivery."

84% of survey participants plan to add new functionality, features, or modules to their current POS software, according to HT's 2024 POS Software Trends Survey

Key Features 

• Pay-at-the-Table via QR Code with PAR Pay and CheckPlease
  Contactless payments are transforming how restaurants operate. Through its partnership with CheckPlease, PAR Pay now allows guests to settle checks instantly via QR codes on their mobile devices. Perfect for table service, drive-thru, and to-go orders, this solution delivers a frictionless checkout experience with flexible payment options. It helps speed up table turnover, boosts average tips by 16%, and allows staff to focus on delivering exceptional service.
   
• Platform Extensibility and More Control Over Your Data
  Restaurants will be able to integrate kiosks, menu boards, and other external systems directly within the restaurant via local RESTful API endpoints. This in-store integration bolsters independence from the cloud, further strengthening in-store reliability, even during internet outages. Guests will enjoy faster, more responsive ordering experiences since the data is processed locally. Additionally, with this release, PAR POS strengthens restaurant data management by allowing restaurants to organize and categorize information with custom labels, identifiers, and brand-specific terms, making data easier to find, analyze, and export to third-party platforms. This extends data consistency across systems and enables more targeted, informative reporting.
   
• Faster, More Accurate Ordering
  With Rapid Promo Entry, restaurants can now automatically apply promotion items to orders with a simple promo code, speeding up transactions and reducing errors. This streamlined approach ensures both ease and accuracy at the point of sale. Additionally, the new On the Fly, One Behind Ordering feature allows for natural guest ordering by holding items back from the kitchen display until the next one is started. This gives time to finalize modifiers, preventing early preparation, reducing errors, and cutting down on food waste. It’s designed to enhance kitchen efficiency and improve both speed and service quality.
   
• Multi-Lane Drive-Thru Enhancements
  The new Multi-Lane Drive-Thru Enhancements allow a default register to be assigned to an Order Confirmation Board (OCB), persisting day-to-day to eliminate the need for repeated setup. An indicator on the register shows the assigned OCB, improving visibility and order accuracy while reducing labor effort and staff frustration. This feature builds on earlier innovations, including larger order preview panels and drag-and-drop order re-sequencing in-lane and on the kitchen display system (KDS).

Redefining Restaurant Success

The PAR POS Fall Release reflects PAR’s ongoing commitment to evolving technology for the restaurant industry. Its modular architecture delivers faster updates and enhanced in-store performance, ensuring flexibility to meet future challenges.

The Future of Restaurant Management Starts Now

The rollout of the latest version of PAR POS begins in Q4 2024,