Beware, Be Kind of Viral Influencers

Send us a textIn this episode of The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Emmy Award–winning storyteller Mike Duffy of Yum Crunch. Together they break down five timely stories shaping restaurants and tech:McDonald’s bets on web ordering through DoorDash—does convenience outweigh control?Yum Brands’ Byte platform fuels $9B in digital sales and rewrites the restaurant tech stack.Social listening lessons: Cracker Barrel’s backlash vs. KFC’s potato wedge comeback.Drone delivery’s tipping point—new FAA rules, Texas rollouts, pizza robots in LA, and the Ghost Kitchen 3.0 vision.The power and peril of influencers—when viral moments can make or break restaurants.Tune in for insights on how digital disruption, AI, and influence are shaping the future of food.00:50 – Big Macs without an app? McDonald’s and DoorDash team up on a web-based ordering channel. Does this remove friction or hand too much control to a third party?06:20 – How Byte is fueling Yum’s digital revolution Yum Brands surpasses $9B in digital sales with its in-house AI platform Byte, reshaping marketing, operations, and delivery.14:35 – Social listening: when to hear and when to act KFC wins big with a potato wedge comeback while Cracker Barrel faces backlash over redesigns. Lessons in consumer engagement.22:55 – Drone delivery is set to take off Regulations shift, GoTo Foods tests drones in Texas, Serve robots deliver pizzas in LA, and Ghost Kitchens 3.0 may be on the horizon.32:00 – Should operators be influencers? The risks and rewards of social media influence: a San Francisco chef’s career collapses after a viral TikTok, while CPK and Pinky Cole show how to turn moments into opportunities.Support the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a textCarl returns from a July break with Bernadette Heier of Food on Demand to unpack five stories that signal where restaurant tech is heading next.01:00 – Olo acquired by Thoma Bravo • $2B all-cash deal • A chance to reset outside the public markets • Could this unlock faster innovation?04:30 – OpenTable’s AI Concierge • Built with OpenAI and Perplexity • Answers 80% of diner questions • Visibility now depends on how up-to-date your listing is09:00 – Golden Corral’s Flybuy-powered pickup • Off-premises rebrand: Golden Corral Favorites • Flybuy tracks customer approach to time food perfectly • Reflects the rise of drive-thru-style formats from legacy brands12:05 – AEO: Answer Engine Optimization • 70% of Google searches now end with no click • Video builds audience—but not search visibility • Q&A-style web content is the key to getting found by AI18:20 – VenHub at LAX • Automated grab-and-go using robotic arms • $250K startup cost, $300M in preorders • A new frontier in frictionless convenienceSupport the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a textThis week on The Digital Restaurant, I’m joined by a new co-host — Alex, an AI avatar — as we break down five headlines showing how delivery, automation, and AI are shaping the next wave of restaurant operations:01:10 – Olive Garden’s off-premise engine is hummingUber Direct integration, buy-one-take-one offers, and nearly 7% same-store sales growth from delivery alone05:25 – Yum China rolls out Q Smartt A voice-activated wearable assistant for managers, designed to surface operational insights in real time11:05 – GPT failed at report building QSR’s Mary Pillow Thompson spent a weekend trying to automate daily ops. The issue wasn’t the model—it was the lack of orchestration13:30 – DoorDash acquires Symbiosis for $175M A strategic bet on local commerce advertising, with closed-loop attribution from ad to order17:45 – Coco raises $80M to scale delivery bots Semi-autonomous, human-guided, and aiming for 10,000 units deployed by 2026Quote of the week: “Coco isn’t replacing humans — they’re redeploying them smarter.”Full episode: https://thedigitalrestaurant.buzzsprout.com#restauranttech #AI #offpremise #DoorDash #OliveGarden #CocoRobotics #YumChina #InvisibleTechnologiesShoutouts: Zach Rash, Joey Simons, Sam Altman, Ryan Graves, Mary Pillow Thompson, Alex (AI co-host)Support the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a textWhat’s Inside This Episode?00:00 – Live from the National Restaurant Show Carl visits Chicago and joins Rich Faltot at Point B’s new Restaurant Technology Innovation Center.“We're stood in a room with 70 screens — and not one is for show.”01:00 – Why restaurant tech stacks are broken Legacy systems, data silos, fragmented integrations, and the cost of doing nothing.POS replacements are “open heart surgery” for restaurantsTransformation takes 18–36 months on averageSuccess requires aligned leadership and future-facing thinking“The best stack isn’t best-in-class. It’s best for you.”06:00 – Customer obsession: the north star for tech decisions Rich outlines how leading brands maintain focus—on the guest experience, not shiny tools.The best operators spend time in-store, watching, listening, learningEvery tool must make things easier for the team and better for the customer“If the tech’s not helping your guest, it’s not helping your business.”13:00 – Point B’s ‘Digital Safari’ and art-of-the-possible workshopsReal-world immersion through drive-thru, kiosk, and delivery UX testingCross-industry inspiration (NASCAR, Disney) drives better solutions“We get rid of mental boundaries so they can dream—just scary enough.”20:00 – Inside the tech center Carl takes a walking tour of the new Tech Center, featuring:Multiple full-stack POS environments: Toast, PAR, Qu, Aloha and moreIntegrated back-of-house systems: Restaurant365, SynergySuite, Decision LogicTraining and deployment environments built for test, learn, and change management“We're not here to sell tech. We're here to help restaurants get it right.”Support the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a textThis week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by restaurant real estate expert and 10Rep founder Kyle Inserra. Together they explore the rise of kitchen automation, curbside robotics, and why DoorDash is pausing its Voice AI. Packed with insights from the National Restaurant Show, this episode covers the latest in tech, data, and operations shaping the restaurant world.Timestamps:00:00:40 – AI Dominates the National Restaurant ShowAI matures beyond hype as operators start real implementationBack-of-house robotics everywhere—from fryers to vid machinesTariff uncertainty stalls investment for some tech vendors 🗨️ “I saw so much automation for the back of house—everyone was there this year.” — Carl00:05:10 – AutoLane Launches Curbside OS for Autonomous PickupThink of it as air traffic control for self-driving food pickupsTesting in SF and Austin ahead of Tesla robo-taxi launchesCuts pickup time from 2 minutes to 1 — massive implications 🗨️ “It’s choreography for self-driving cars—and it's coming fast.” — Carl00:09:40 – Wingstop Goes All-In on Smart KitchensProprietary AI forecasts demand and halves cook timesRollout success across franchise system — rare in the spaceShows power of in-house tech stacks over integrations 🗨️ “Wingstop isn’t trying to beat the competition—they’re trying to beat themselves.” — Kyle00:12:10 – DoorDash Trend Report: Robots, TikTok & Global PalatesMen more likely to trust AI-cooked meals; Gen Z shops by photoGarlic naan, pad thai, miso soup among top 10 DoorDash ordersHalf of users take 5–10 minutes deciding what to eat 🗨️ “If you aren’t in the carousel, you’re not in the consideration set.” — Carl00:20:00 – DoorDash Pauses Voice AI, Names Preferred Tech PartnersVoice AI project shelved—for now—due to underperformanceIntegration partners now include Toast, Square, Otter, CheckmateMore scrutiny coming for tech vendors to meet Doordash standards 🗨️ “Most GenAI projects fail because they’re poorly tested—DoorDash just pressed pause.” — CarlSupport the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a textIn this week’s episode of The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Alayna Sullivan, Senior Director of Corporate Comms at Olo, fresh from Food on Demand. Together, they cover five big stories shaping the restaurant and off-premise landscape, including DoorDash’s mega acquisitions, Chipotle's new catering pilot with Olo, and the rising footprint of Wonder.Timestamps:00:01:30 – Chipotle x Olo Catering PartnershipChipotle pilots Olo’s Catering Plus with promising early featuresAverage catering check size = $350+ 🗨️ “We are going to see more and more improvements when it comes to the digital interface for catering.” — Carl00:05:00 – DoorDash Acquires Deliveroo & SevenRooms$5B+ in acquisitions as DoorDash shifts toward platform dominanceSevenRooms' CRM tools broaden DoorDash’s value prop 🗨️ “DoorDash is betting the next wave of restaurant tech is about owning the guest journey.” — Carl00:10:20 – Huddle House’s Off-Premise RebootThree new footprints designed for off-premise and drive-thruEven breakfast gets a modern makeover 🗨️ “This is a blueprint for aging brands to boost frequency and convenience.” — Alayna00:13:20 – Black Box Data: Industry OutlookTraffic down, oversaturation looming, value now a critical consumer trigger 🗨️ “When joy is greater than fear, economic growth begins.” — Lisa Miller (via Carl)00:21:35 – Wonder Raises $600M, Hits $7B ValuationRapid expansion plans, full-stack food experience, and smart acquisitions 🗨️ “Wonder is playing in spaces like ghost kitchens that haven’t worked for others—yet investors are all in.” — Alayna👉 Follow, rate & review wherever you listen, and don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube!Support the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a textThis week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl and guest co-host Jason Berkowitz dive into:Qu's move toward smart kitchens with integrated IoT systems (0m 50s)A sharp reflection on the restaurant "disruptors" that weren't — from Zume Pizza to Ghost Kitchens (4m 35)Why Chipotle's negative sales aren't just about the economy — and how training and tech are key to recovery (11m 05)A fascinating new look at menu personalization trends with EveryBite data (17m10)How technology can — and should — help restaurants become more sustainable (23m 20)Support the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a textThis week, Carl is joined by Deborah Matteliano, the Global Head of Restaurants at AWS, for a wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from tariffs and avocados to AI strategy, Seamless’s surprising comeback, and the limits of restaurant robotics. Drawing from her experience at Uber Eats and now at Amazon, Deborah offers sharp insights on how data, delivery, and design are reshaping the restaurant landscape.Topics include:1m 15: How Chipotle’s avocado strategy is shielding it from tariff turbulence9m: Why Grubhub's Revival of Seamless Could Be Wonder's Secret Weapon16m 55: The real reason Kernel scrapped its robots22m 20: The DoorDash + Domino’s partnership.30m: Boston's permit requirements on the delivery companies.If you're serious about restaurant tech and the off-premise channel, this one’s a must-listen.Support the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a textThis week on The Digital Restaurant, Carl is joined by Yaro Tsyhanenko, founder of PickPad, to break down the headlines shaping restaurants and tech:⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Meet guest host Yaro, CEO of PickPad 01:00 – Why did Yum Brands partner with Nvidia? 05:37 – What does Qu’s State of Digital 2025 Report reveal? 13:06 – Why did Starbucks acquire Empower Delivery? 18:47 – Are loyalty programs evolving or stuck in the past? 26:02 – Could Bolt disrupt Uber and DoorDash in North America? 30:00 – What is PickPad, and how is it improving restaurant pickup?🔥 Topics covered:Yum’s push into site-level AIWhy loyalty without data is just a discountHow fast casuals are quietly overtaking QSRs in digitalEmpower Delivery’s big leap into StarbucksBolt’s entry into Canada — and what it signals for North AmericaA smart startup (PickPad) fixing off-prem chaos with sensors + MLSupport the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.

Send us a textWelcome to The Digital Restaurant! Carl is joined by Bernadette Heier, Managing Editor from Food on Demand, marking the first time a professional broadcaster joins the show.[00:01:07] Planes, (Trains?) & Automobiles – A New Kind of Off-Premise? Shake Shack is expanding its partnership with Delta Airlines, bringing its brand to first-class passengers. As restaurants seek new ways to expand off-premise, is the future in the skies—or even on freeways?[00:03:04] Dashboard Dining: The Rise of In-Car Ordering – SoundHound AI partners with Chrysler, Hyundai, and Kia to bring voice ordering into vehicles. while the team explores how Mavi shares insights into how personalized ordering could reshape the drive-thru experience.[00:04:29] Is Tech Fatigue Real? Some operators are reassessing their technology investments. McDonald’s pulls back on voice AI, and Chipotle’s Autocado robot returns to the lab. Are restaurants overwhelmed, or is the industry just demanding stronger ROI?[00:10:15] Wonder Acquires a Media Powerhouse – Wonder, fresh off acquiring Grubhub, now buys Tastemade. With 160 million social followers, this move could redefine how food content drives sales.[00:13:07] Starbucks Rethinks Store Design – As mobile pickup surges, Starbucks looks to rebalance digital and in-store orders. What can the industry learn from their approach?[00:19:24] Agentic AI in Restaurants – Yum Brands is testing AI-powered restaurant managers through its Byte AI Restaurant Coach, signaling a shift toward automated decision-making in fast food.[00:22:32] Food On Demand Conference Preview – Bernadette shares why Food on Demand (May 5-7 in Las Vegas) is the must-attend event for off-premise and restaurant technology leaders.🔊 Listen now to stay ahead in restaurant innovation!#Restaurants #OffPremise #AI #DriveThru #TechFatigue #FoodOnDemand #Wonder #Starbucks #ShakeShackSupport the show🔔 Subscribe to The Digital Restaurant Podcast and follow us on YouTube for more episodes that combine the love of food with the latest in technology. Your next restaurant tech adventure starts here!📖 Get your copy of the Delivering the Digital Restaurant books at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎤 Have Carl come and speak at your company conference! Learn more at www.theDigital.Restaurant🎙️📰Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with Carl's Delivering the Digital Restaurant page on LinkedIn for their twice-a-month newsletter.