Food & Beverage News

The quirky, oft maligned “quick response” barcodes have found a niche in restaurants amid the coronavirus, when social distance is the name of the game and human contact is best kept to a minimum. Operators are placing the codes at the hostess stand, on table tents or outside the door, allowing guests to scan them with…

When restaurants were forced to close dine-in operations at the start of the coronavirus crisis, a number converted their spaces into grocery stores. Since supermarkets were deemed essential businesses, a storefront selling food and other staples for housebound consumers fell under the same umbrella. In the beginning, most operators offered a limited selection of produce, meat,…

Startup restaurant matchmaker Franklin Junction finds restaurants with spare kitchen space, and marries them with brands that want to expand their delivery-only reach. Ruby Tuesday, which has permanently closed several restaurants in recent months, has found a new way to generate revenue during the pandemic: sell hot dogs from Nathan’s Famous. Dozens of Ruby Tuesday restaurants…

Starbucks announced it will expedite the rollout of its new “Pickup” store concept, powered by mobile ordering, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It will also expand access to curbside pickup, drive-thru and walk-up counters in less dense, suburban markets, the company said. These changes aren’t going to arrive as new additions to Starbucks’ existing…

Starbucks announced that starting July 15, customers will be required to wear face masks in all company-owned café locations in the U.S. Customers, however, will not be required to wear facial coverings in the drive-thru or picking up curbside “unless locally mandated,” Starbucks clarified in a tweet announcing the news. Customers who prefer to not…

Sales of plant-based meat alternatives increased by 23% when merchandised in the meat department at grocery stores, according to new research from the Plant Based Foods Association and the Kroger Co. The placement of plant-based proteins was tested during a 12-week period prior to the coronavirus pandemic at 60 stores in Colorado, Indiana and Illinois.…

Not the traditional ones with tables and wait staff, where the right space and location matters, rather they are renting space in industrial kitchens and using third-party delivery services. Known as ghost kitchens, with most facilities lacking signage or any visible branding, this concept helps bring new cuisines and menu concepts to urban areas. “A…

The 100+-location, Annapolis, Md.-based regional pizza franchise Ledo Pizza has announced Will Robinson as the company’s first chief marketing officer. With 12 years of experience as Ledo Pizza’s vice president of restaurant marketing, Robinson was promoted to CMO where he will oversee the company’s sales and marketing budget and technology, manage franchise partners and third-party…

Offering restaurant health care benefits can help you attract and retain loyal staff. Yet these benefits come with many regulations that are important for small businesses to know. As you begin the process of rehiring employees, learn about common mistakes — and how to avoid compliance penalties. 1) Ask only limited health questions, even with…

Nothing says summertime like outdoor dining. Sidewalk tables have always been major business for restaurants, but with many states still in reopening phases that require indoor dining to be closed down, what will outdoor dining look like during summer 2020? New York, the original center of the coronavirus crisis when it first came to the…