News Briefs

Nikka Copeland joined Panera Bread as Senior Vice President of the newly created Office of Transformation & Strategy. In this role, Copeland will manage the strategic execution of Panera’s three-year growth plan, driving business model clarity that will be instrumental as the company transforms for sustained performance and growth. Copeland reports to CEO Paul Carbone.
 

A Transformation Strategist

A respected transformation strategist and thought partner, Copeland brings a strong track record of leading complex global transformations, unlocking performance and scaling growth throughout more than 20 years of experience across multiple industries including food service. She is known for leading enterprise-wide initiatives, aligning people, process and technology around strategic outcomes to foster high-performing cultures.

“I look forward to working closely with Nikka as we develop and execute our strategic plan to build a culture of highly engaged and empowered teams, deliver an exceptional guest experience and increase franchisee profitability,” said Paul Carbone, Chief Executive Officer, Panera Bread. “Nikka brings a wealth of experience in finance, strategy and operations that will prove invaluable as we create the blueprint to scale and grow Panera for the future.”

Most recently, Copeland served as SVP, Business Services Domain Lead and SVP Finance at World Kinect, a provider in the global energy industry. She also held finance and strategy positions at National Grid, Aflac and Burger King Corp. 

“Together, we will focus on delivering a great guest experience, high-quality food and good value to accelerate Panera’s momentum and transform the company for sustained growth and profitability,” said Copeland.

Panera Bread operates more than 2,000 locations.  

Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK) is pleased to announce the return of Shannon McKinney as senior vice president, chief operating officer and new member of the executive leadership team.

McKinney brings more than 25 years of restaurant industry experience with a deep understanding of driving operational efficiency and a proven track record of developing high-performance teams and delivering best-in-class team member and guest experiences. He started out his quick-service and fast-casual restaurant operations career in various operations leadership roles at Taco Bell, followed by serving as senior director of training & field implementation for Outback Steakhouse, vice president of operations at Crispers, Fresh Alternatives, LLC, and vice president of franchise business management at Bloomin’ Brands. After working at Jack in the Box from March 2019 to August 2021 as vice president of operations and brand performance, he most recently served as regional vice president of operations and vice president of operations, PLK, America at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

Ryan Ostrom, Jack in the Box chief customer & digital officer, will continue to lead the broader customer experience and strategy. McKinney joins Ostrom’s team to drive operational excellence and scale execution across the Jack in the Box system. “As COO, Shannon will oversee Jack’s operations team, with a focus on strengthening the core of our business to deliver great experiences for both our team members and our guests,” said Ostrom. “Those who have worked with Shannon in the past describe him as a hands-on leader who listens first, positively leads and influences with purpose, and empowers his team, which are qualities that make him a strong fit for our culture and the reason why we are excited to have him back.”

“I am so excited to step into this role as Jack’s chief operating officer,” said McKinney. “I look forward to helping the brand reach a higher level of quality, while partnering with Ryan to unlock growth by delivering consistent, craveable guest experiences that keep our brand top of mind and drive long-term loyalty.”

Fast-growing breakfast chain Keke’s Breakfast Cafe has selected PAR Technology Corp. to support its next phase of growth, implementing PAR POS, PAR Pay, and hardware solutions across its locations. This technology partnership provides a modern, scalable foundation for operational efficiency and connected guest experiences.

Since its acquisition by Denny’s in 2022, Keke’s has expanded beyond its Florida roots, with 73 locatiosn open and more than 140 units in development. This tech upgrade aligns with a larger brand transformation—including brighter, more inviting store designs and a reimagined menu aimed at families and food lovers alike.

Tech-Powered Transformation

Amid this rapid growth, Keke’s is embracing technology to improve service and streamline operations. With mobile tablets running PAR POS and PAR Pay, team members can take orders more efficiently, reduce wait times, and deliver faster service—without losing the personal touch that defines the brand.

“Keke’s has always been about providing the best for our guests,” said David Schmidt, President of Keke’s Breakfast Cafe. “Partnering with PAR allows us to bring that philosophy into the digital age. With PAR’s innovative solutions, we’re creating efficiencies that empower our team and enhance every guest interaction.”

PAR’s cloud-based platform and open API architecture ensure seamless integration across systems, creating a tech stack that’s flexible, reliable, and ready to grow with the business. Behind the scenes, this infrastructure enables smoother operations and aligned data—creating experiences guests may not see, but always feel.

“Who doesn’t love breakfast? It’s the one meal that brings everyone together,” said Savneet Singh, CEO of PAR Technology. “Keke’s knows how to make that experience unforgettable, and we’re excited to help them take it even further. We’re bringing together the warmth of breakfast with the power of smart technology to make mornings smoother, faster, and more enjoyable.”

With PAR’s expertise and technology, Keke’s is not just modernizing its operations—it’s setting a new standard in the breakfast space. By blending speed, convenience, and hospitality, the brand is building a future-ready experience for guests across the country.

IDeaS, a SAS company and a provider of hospitality revenue management software, today announced its latest Lessons in Revenue eBook, “Data-Driven Revenue Management in the Cruise Industry: Navigating the Groundswell,” to help cruise organizations navigate today’s challenging operating environment while capitalizing on opportunities to optimize revenue.

The recent surge in cruise demand presents substantial opportunities for growth, yet cruise lines face significant challenges, including intensifying competition, labor shortages, inflated costs and delayed adoption of revenue technologies. The eBook highlights key capabilities and challenges facing cruise revenue leaders, and shares ways cruise organizations can leverage revenue management technology to maximize the potential of their voyages as they chart their course into the future. 

IDeaS’ Cruise Revenue Management System (RMS) uses advanced data analytics and automation to predict demand, execute dynamic revenue strategies, boost profitability and maintain a competitive edge for cruise operators. By embracing cutting-edge technology and data-driven strategies outlined in the eBook, cruise operators can optimize pricing and inventory management to increase profitability and outperform competitors.

Crystal Pernici, global director – Cruise RMS, IDeaS, said: “Cruise operators are becoming increasingly aware of the potential—and the value—of revenue strategies guided by revenue optimization technology. By basing their decision-making on data-driven insights rather than personal experience or selective reporting, cruise leaders are opening up their vessels to a new range of revenue opportunities.”

Cruise industry forecasting, revenue optimization and more will be on the agenda for the upcoming Cruise Council, an invite-only event taking place at the company’s Converge Client Summit on July 22-23 in London.

The full eBook can be accessed here. For more information, visit www.ideas.com. 

Fingermark is now an official Deliverect Certified Partner.

Deliverect, a global leader in order management and integrations, connects digital ordering channels directly with restaurant POS systems to help QSRs run more efficiently and deliver better customer experiences. Being certified by Deliverect means that Fingermark and its Supersonic Kiosk platform is now formally recognized as a trusted integration partner.

What This Means for Fingermark's Kiosk Customers:

Seamless Integration
Fingermark kiosks now integrate directly with the Deliverect platform, enabling a smoother, more automated connection to POS systems. This eliminates the need for manual data entry, reduces errors, and speeds up service across busy QSR environments.

Accelerated Growth
Certification positions Fingermark to partner with other global brands already using Deliverect that are seeking innovative and compatible self-service kiosk solutions, opening the door to exciting new opportunities in key markets.

Stronger Market Presence
As a certified partner, Fingermark strengthens its position as a leading QSR technology provider in the global market, further reinforcing its vision to empower restaurant operations with intelligent, customer-focused solutions.

Stayntouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management systems (PMS) and guest-centric technology, has partnered with First Hospitality, a nationally recognized hotel development and management company known for its industry-leading performance in revenue and expense management, people-focused culture and exceptional guest service. First Hospitality selected Stayntouch PMS to support its independent hotels—enhancing operational agility, driving mobile-enabled service and delivering a seamless, personalized guest experience.

For First Hospitality, the ideal guest experience blends seamless efficiency for the guest with genuine local connection. At their independent properties, service is intentionally unscripted—designed to feel both personal and consistent. Whether it’s speeding up check-in or creating thoughtful in-room moments, First Hospitality empowers its teams to focus less on systems and more on people. Stayntouch’s mobile, cloud-based PMS helps make that possible.

First Hospitality chose Stayntouch’s Best-in-Class PMS for its:

• Fast, reliable performance, delivering 100-percent uptime and response times over 30-percent faster than their previous legacy system.
• Mobile-first design, enabling staff to assist guests anywhere on property—beyond the front desk.
• Clean, intuitive interface, allowing fast adoption and fewer training hours for new team members.
• Open API structure, providing flexibility to grow and integrate with evolving tech strategies.
• Efficient, tailored implementation, with hands-on support and minimal disruption to hotel operations.

Nick Johnson, SVP of Full-Service & Lifestyle Hotels at First Hospitality, said: “We chose Stayntouch because it matches how we think about independent hospitality: flexible, guest-centric and built for teams who want to move fast and stay focused on people. Their PMS stood out immediately, allowing our team to assist guests from anywhere, not just behind the desk. Its easy interface and seamless integration to our tech stack made adoption easy. The rollout went smoothly thanks to Stayntouch’s hands-on, communicative team. They customized everything for each property and made sure the transition was easy so our teams felt confident right away."

Priya Rajamani, SVP of Implementation and Support at Stayntouch, added: "We’re proud to support First Hospitality with technology that helps hotel teams go above and beyond for their guests. Our platform delivers fast, reliable performance that clears everyday roadblocks and lets teams work more efficiently because we believe technology should make work easier and empower the human touch, not get in the way.”