News Briefs

FreedomPay has announced a strategic partnership with Subway. The collaboration will utilize FreedomPay’s unified end-to-end payment orchestration platform to enhance operational efficiency and improve the guest payment experience.

Through its robust data-driven commerce platform, FreedomPay will help unify and modernize Subway’s payment processes, by supporting in-restaurant, mobile, and online transactions on a single platform— creating a more seamless and secure guest experience, while helping provide franchisees with consistent reporting.
“FreedomPay’s payment solutions provide us with the flexibility to work with multiple processors across the globe, while also offering increased visibility, routing optimization and security,” said Dave Blankenship, Subway’s Chief Information Officer. “Our partnership with FreedomPay allows us to improve the ordering experience for consumers and support our franchisees by maximizing efficiencies and capabilities at checkout.”

FreedomPay's platform’s flexibility and scalability will empower Subway to deliver the same exceptional service their guests know and love, with seamless and secure transactions at any franchised location.

In addition to strengthening Subway’s ability to manage payments effectively across various channels and regions, FreedomPay’s technology provides the brand with actionable data insights designed to drive future growth and will be an important asset as Subway continues to expand its digital footprint.

GK Software, a provider of commerce solutions for global retailers, has successfully acquired Nomitri GmbH, a Berlin-based deep tech startup for computer vision. This transaction will expand GK’s commerce capabilities with complete out-of-the-box SCO (self-checkout) and store operations solutions to expand the company’s global portfolio of leading retail customers.

Nomitri will continue to exist as a wholly owned subsidiary of the GK Software Group. Founders Trinh Le-Fiedler and Max Fiedler will remain in managing positions. The company had already been part of the GK partner ecosystem for several years. The Nomitri solutions will be presented as a new product suite within GK’s product portfolio under the name ‘GK Vision’.

With a total market value of more than 600 million Euros annually within the top 250 grocers alone, the SCO market is currently among the fastest growing in retail. With self-checkout solutions, retailers are already decreasing waiting times for customers and adapting to increasing labor costs. However, the implementation of such technologies is generally hardware-intensive and costly. Furthermore, while self-checkouts increase the flexibility of unmanned checkouts, an increase in thefts and fraud reduces their profitability. Addressing the profitability during the implementation of fraud detection is the primary focus of GK Vision.

GK Vision software allows retailers to take a cost-effective, retrofit approach, leveraging existing hardware and linking it directly to the cloud services of GK. This approach leads to up to ten times lower hardware investment for retailers and only takes around two business days to go live. The embedded computer vision and AI capabilities of GK Vision additionally enable age verification as well as fruit and vegetable recognition. In addition, the solution can be used regardless of which POS software is in use. This makes GK Vision an ideal complement to GK, which last year launched GK Engage, a loyalty platform that can also be used independently of the POS software provider.

“Nomitri has been an integral part of the GK partner ecosystem for some time, and its innovative capabilities have consistently impressed both our team and leading retailers. Retailers are demanding fast, scalable, and cost-effective self-checkout solutions, and Nomitri has delivered time and time again. Today, we’re proud to take this partnership to the next level by welcoming Nomitri’s groundbreaking technology into the GK portfolio as GK Vision. With a strong foundation of collaboration and trust, we are ready to scale GK Vision and redefine the self-checkout experience for retailers worldwide. Integrated into our GK CLOUD4RETAIL commerce platform, this addition further cements our commitment to providing cutting-edge, end-to-end solutions for our global customers,” says Michael Scheibner, CEO of GK Software.

Golden Corral is redefining its all-you-can-eat buffet experience with a large-scale technology transformation, aiming to enhance operations, expand digital ordering, and future-proof the brand for long-term growth.

The company has partnered with Qu to deploy a next-generation cloud-based commerce platform that unifies in-store and off-premises sales channels. This shift enables Golden Corral to optimize its buffet model while expanding digital and off-premises capabilities, including online ordering, drive-thru, and kitchen automation.

“Partnering with Qu means more than just acquiring new hardware and software; it’s about embracing a holistic transition strategy,” said Dawn Gillis, CIO at Golden Corral Corp. “Their solutions are not only highly intuitive, but also tailored to support the unique aspects of our business.” 

The Cloud Corral

Dubbed “Cloud Corral,” Golden Corral’s new technology platform integrates with Qu’s point-of-sale, native online ordering, drive-thru, and kitchen solutions to streamline sales and operations across all locations. Franchisees now have the flexibility of day-part pricing management by location.

Since implementing Qu’s technology, Golden Corral has experienced a significant reduction in training time—from several days to just 30 minutes.

The Qu platform will drive Golden Corral’s transition from a traditional in-store model to a comprehensive digital approach. Franchisees now benefit from modern, intuitive systems and the Notify app, which provides real-time AI-based alerts on sales, inventory, and labor data. This advancement allows for effective management at both the store level and across the entire brand network. 

Golden Corral and Qu completed the full brand rollout to Qu’s unified platform over the course of 7 months during 2024.

Founded in 1973, Golden Corral Corp. and its franchisees operate 351 locations across 39 states and Puerto Rico. The Golden Corral system has reported a 31% increase in Average Unit Volume (AUV) since 2019.  

Fast-casual restaurant concept Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers  promoted Erin Walter to chief marketing officer (CMO).

Walter will oversee all aspects of the company's marketing initiatives, working closely with the executive team to drive brand awareness, guest engagement, and overall business growth. Her innovative leadership style and strategic thinking are expected to bring a fresh perspective to the company's marketing strategies.

"Erin's talent and dedication have greatly benefited our team. Her strategic vision and creativity have been crucial to our success, and I am confident she'll excel as CMO," said Chris Dull, Freddy's President & CEO. "Her exceptional ability to inspire and collaborate, combined with her deep understanding of our brand, will be instrumental in taking Freddy's to new heights. Erin's commitment to excellence and her forward-thinking approach make her the perfect fit for this role, and I am excited to see the positive impact she will continue to make."

Walter, with more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant franchising industry, brings considerable expertise to her position. In 2021, she was appointed Vice President of Brand Marketing at Freddy's. Prior to joining Freddy's, she held several roles at Global Franchise Group, including Director of Marketing for Round Table Pizza.

Boostly, a provider of automated SMS marketing and feedback solutions for restaurants, has raised $22 million in growth capital. This significant Series A round comes just six months after Boostly's $5.6 million Seed round. The fresh capital will fuel innovation and expansion as Boostly continues to empower restaurant owners to unlock the value of their first-party customer data and drive revenue with proven marketing tools and strategies.

Customer Connections

The restaurant industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation, driven by evolving customer behaviors and digital engagement channels including online ordering systems and delivery services. Boostly addresses this shift by providing an SMS marketing platform that leverages behavioral-based marketing and gamified texting experiences, delivering engagement rates 10x higher than standard text marketing offers. With a patent-pending process that aggregates restaurant customer data and accelerates SMS subscriber opt-in 5x faster than traditional solutions, Boostly is redefining how restaurants connect with their customers.

Boostly currently serves over 1,200 restaurant locations across the U.S. and Canada, demonstrating the rapid adoption and the effectiveness of its platform. Founded by restaurant-tech veterans Shane and Mikey Murphy, who previously built and sold an online ordering company and led a restaurant operations software firm, Boostly is driven by a deep understanding of restaurateurs' needs and challenges.

"Restaurant owners are among the hardest working individuals in our country, managing operations while actively working alongside their staff everyday," said Shane Murphy, Co-Founder and CEO of Boostly. "They need a marketing system that operates on autopilot, provides clear ROI, and makes their life simple. We've gamified the SMS marketing experience in order to produce exponentially more engagement and revenue than traditional marketing options available to restaurant owners. Our success is directly tied to our customers' success, and our platform is designed to provide rocket fuel that helps them grow."

Restaurants accumulate vast amounts of valuable customer data through daily operations, yet many struggle to leverage it effectively. Boostly's platform transforms this untapped resource into actionable insights, enabling restaurants to drive repeat business and enhance customer loyalty. By integrating first-party data from multiple sources, Boostly builds fully compliant, opted-in audiences, empowering restaurant owners with automated, intelligent marketing campaigns that generate millions in incremental revenue and thousands of real-time customer reviews.

Boostly's dedication to restaurant owners extends beyond technology. The company delivers an intuitive, elegantly designed platform supported by transparent reporting, revenue attribution, and white-glove customer service, ensuring measurable impact while allowing restaurateurs to focus on running their businesses. 

VDA Telkonet, a global leader in energy management and automation solutions for the hospitality industry, has published its 2025 Tech Report, based on a survey of 500 hospitality professionals across North America, Europe, APAC, and Latin America. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the barriers and opportunities in adopting Energy Management Systems (EMS), shedding light on how these solutions are transforming the hospitality sector’s approach to energy efficiency and sustainability.