News Briefs

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.

Domino's Emergency Pizza program is back. Domino's Pizza Inc.  is once again offering customers a free medium, two-topping pizza to use whenever they need it most. Any Domino's customer who places a qualifying online order today through Jan. 19, 2025, can earn an Emergency Pizza, available for redemption from their Domino's Rewards account.

"We launched our Emergency Pizza program last year and customers loved it so much we knew we had to bring it back in a big way," said Kate Trumbull, Domino's senior vice president – chief brand officer. "Life can throw unexpected curveballs, and sometimes a hot, delicious pizza is just what you need to turn things around. Maybe you tested a new dinner recipe that turned out to be a disaster, or perhaps you ran out of time to buy groceries – whatever your emergency, Domino's is here to help with a free pizza."

The 411 on Emergency Pizza
To receive an Emergency Pizza, customers simply need to place a delivery order online or a digital carryout order of $7.99 or more. Once the order is confirmed, customers will automatically receive a Domino's Emergency Pizza under "My Deals & Rewards" within their Domino's Rewards account. 

• Related:  Domino’s Revamped Loyalty Pays Off

"Not only is Domino's Emergency Pizza program back, but it's in more places than ever," Trumbull said. "We're excited to launch a series of new, unexpected brand partnerships that consumers can have fun with. Domino's has partnered with Amazon and Twitch, as well as Olive & June to bring Emergency Pizza to life in two completely different, yet very entertaining ways. But that's not all – we have even more fun brand integrations planned for Emergency Pizza in the future, so be on the lookout!"

Gaming: Domino's Joins Forces with The Glitch – Amazon and Twitch's Newest Game
Domino's is making its debut in gaming by teaming up with Amazon and Twitch to integrate Emergency Pizza into their new Fortnite game, called The Glitch. Domino's dedicated brand experience within The Glitch launches on Oct. 14, 2024. Within it, players can:

• Experience a Domino's-branded "Red vs. Blue" player map where teams can compete against each other for "Domin-ation" by capturing and maintaining control of a Domino's storefront.
• Have access to a secret weapon: Emergency Pizza! In case of an emergency, players can "break the glass" to collect it and fully restore their health.

Domino's is also collaborating with gaming influencers to host live streams as they explore Domino's dedicated brand experience within The Glitch. 

Glam: Domino's Partners with Everyone's Favorite Nail Brand, Olive & June
Pizza and beauty enthusiasts can purchase the following items exclusively at oliveandjune.com, starting on Oct. 17, 2024:

• Domino's and Olive & June Emergency Pizza Mani Kit
  • This limited-edition kit comes with two exclusive Domino's nail polish colors – carryout (red) and delivery (blue) – as well as quick dry top coat for the perfect nails. It also features pizza topping nail stickers for a delicious finishing touch.
• Domino's and Olive & June instant mani press-on nails
  • Give yourself an instant manicure by choosing from three press-on nail designs: "I Heart Pizza French," "Secret Sauce Velvet" or "Extra Cheese Please." "Extra Cheese Please" comes with an assortment of mouthwatering pizza topping nail stickers.

Hospitality industry veteran Skip Kimpel is tapping his passion for XR (extended reality), AI and next-gen tech to power up Magicgate, an exciting new consultancy laser-focused on bringing the art of the possible to restaurants, hotels and hospitality venues worldwide. 

Focused on personalized experiences and digital transformation, Magicgate provides tailored strategies, VR training, AI-powered solutions, and XR innovations to enhance guest experiences, streamline operations, and drive growth in the rapidly evolving hospitality landscape resulting in operational efficiencies and reducing labor costs.

According to Accenture, 83% of Gen Z expects companies to personalize experiences. They also expect seamless experiences fueled by advanced technologies like AI and ML, while younger Gen A is even more immersed in tech. “Research suggests the newest generations will grow up with the most sophisticated understanding of emerging technologies like AI, AR and VR,” said Kimpel. “It’s time for companies to embrace next-gen tech if they want to win over and stay relevant with future generations.”

Under the Magicgate banner, Kimpel will offer guidance to help organizations navigate increasingly blurred lines between what’s real, what’s virtual, and how these multiverse worlds are becoming ever more connected. “Our approach goes beyond just adopting new tech—it’s about reshaping entire business models,” says President and CEO, Skip Kimpel. “We help companies stay ahead of digital disruption by offering tailored strategies that combine XR, AI, and more to deliver real business value.”

Key Offerings:

• Custom Strategy: Tailored roadmaps for XR, AI, spatial computing, metaverse and other disruptive technology integrations.
• XR Solutions: XR strategy from immersive customer experiences to advanced training techniques.
• VR Training & Onboarding: Reduce learning curves, ensure employees are job-ready faster. Minimize travel costs, particularly for global organizations.
• Remote AR Support & Maintenance: Procure AR solutions to enhance real-time remote support, allowing technicians to overlay digital instructions onto physical objects in real time.
• AI-Powered Innovation: Discovery, procurement and implementation of AI / ML tech, like predictive analytics, chatbots, and business operations including the use of advanced Computer Vision.
• Digital Twins: Optimize facility management, enhance guest experiences, and improve sustainability by providing real-time data on operations, predictive maintenance, and personalized guest services.

“We’ve tapped Skip’s expertise to help navigate the training processes into the VR world,” added Cam Crowder, Former Franchise Owner, Tim Hortons. “We see the potential of positive ROI - and it will be an absolute game-changer.”

According to Zarnik and EHL Hospitality Insights, the global market for smart hotel technology alone is projected to reach $24.46 billion by 2027, driven by the adoption of AI, XR, IoT, and other innovative solutions. And according to QSR Magazine and Mordor Intel, AI is rapidly transforming the restaurant sector, with the market for AI-powered solutions expected to reach $49 billion by 2029, up from $9.68 billion in 2024.

“There’s no doubt XR and AI will transform hospitality,” commented Michael Cohen, Managing Partner, Growth Advisors International Network (GAIN). “Skip is already a go-to source for organizations looking to navigate this world, so this represents a natural next step for him, and a big win for the industry at large.”

“We’ve seen XR adoption start to transform industries like aerospace and healthcare” said John Cunningham, COO of the VR/AR Association. “Hospitality is the next horizon, and this consultancy - with Skip at the helm - will help accelerate the industry.”

Sapia.ai, a provider of AI-driven recruitment solutions, launches  Live Interview , a tool designed to simplify interview scheduling for hourly hiring. With a focus on ease of use, Live Interview  makes scheduling as intuitive as booking a restaurant - especially benefiting store managers overseeing hourly workers.

Building on Sapia.ai’s Smart Interviewer  platform, which automates the screening & assessing of candidates, Live Interview™ enhances the interview process, offering more personalization, intelligence, and efficiency at a critical hiring stage. Integrated with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) like Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, and iCIMS, Live Interview  supports bulk scheduling without relying on external calendars, ensuring managers can focus on people, not logistics.

"Our mission is to humanize hiring while driving efficiency," says Barb Hyman, CEO of Sapia.ai. "While AI simplifies screening, the human interview remains pivotal. With Live Interview™, users can add a personal touch, like sharing values or introducing themselves via video - bringing personalization to scale for high-volume hiring."

Following the success of Talent Hub, which reduced recruiter workloads by aggregating candidate data and cutting clicks by 90%, Live Interview™ extends Sapia.ai's commitment to delivering intelligent, user-centric solutions. Leading brands such as Woolworths Group and Starbucks have already experienced the impact, reporting Net Promoter Scores (NPS) exceeding 80 for improved candidate and hiring manager experiences.

Live Interview™ is now available via the Sapia.ai platform