Trendi: chasing a greener future

BC company, Trendi, is using robotics and innovation to help drive a global food rescue movement By Jessica Brill Can you imagine a world where food is not wasted, where it’s sustainably produced and accessible to everyone? Craig McIntosh and Carissa Campeotto sure can. They’re walking the walk, tapping into their over 45 years of […]

Voice technology: a long-term staffing solution?

Ask many experts and they will say that foodservice — despite the pain of the pandemic, inflation, staffing crises, and other problems — is in the middle of a great leap forward in technological advancement right now. Automation in the kitchen, the dining room, and beyond is propelling an evolution of the way restaurants do […]

Restaurant technology trends to watch for in 2023

By Brittain Brown The foodservice industry has seen tremendous change over the past year. Diners returned to restaurants in droves, but as if the pandemic wasn’t enough, we also had hospitality labour shortages and decades-high inflation to contend with. While it was a tumultuous time, the one constant for restaurateurs throughout the year is — […]

Foodservice brands must walk a tightrope between physical & digital experience

By Dustin Hassett Now more than ever, restaurateurs are operating in an experience economy. Customers are interacting with competitor brands over multiple channels every hour of every day, and they expect every digital experience to measure up to the Amazons and Ubers of this world. Just like the behemoth tech brands, foodservice businesses need to […]

QR codes seem here to stay despite diner disdain

Foodservice’s embrace of technological solutions was hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic, safety, and staffing challenges it brought on. But it isn’t just new innovations we’ve seen rise to prominence in the last few years. QR codes, a tool once sidelined, have rebounded in a big way. These days, in the second half […]

Compass Group Canada, SJW Robotics introduce 24-hour automated kitchen

Robotics have a prominent place in the present and the future of foodservice, whether it is automated data collection or a burger-flipping robot. Now, Compass Group Canada and SJW Robotics are introducing a 24-hour automated kitchen, which the latter company calls “the world’s first fully autonomous robotic restaurant that cooks made-to-order meals”. The two companies […]

Many diners keen on metaverse, but restaurants must mitigate

The rapid evolution of technology has long been redefining restaurant consumers’ concept of “normal”. Think of the move from laminated print menus as a standard to QR codes or ordering kiosks. Now, the next step may well be the metaverse. A new Paytronix and PYMNTS Report, The Digital Divide: Technology, The Metaverse, and the Future […]

What do Canadian diners want from technology in restaurants?

When it comes to the foodservice industry, consumer trends have rapidly and significantly evolved over the course of the pandemic. One development that has proven it is here to stay, however, is the integration and use of technology in restaurants. Technology has been there to ease restaurants’ concerns, from labour shortages to changing dining operations to […]

Pandemic innovations & automation will shape restaurants beyond 2022

As they bid to stay ahead of the curve through the persistent and evolving challenges of 2022, restaurants plan to continue at least some of their pandemic pivots and add more automation in order to counter ongoing staff shortages.  That’s the conclusion of recent research from payments and technology solutions provider Square, which recently released […]