Latest news with #MyPanera
Miami Herald
24-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
The self-service revolution: How kiosks are reshaping fast-casual dining
The self-service revolution: How kiosks are reshaping fast-casual dining Ordering a burger used to just involve a quick chat with the cashier. Now, you're probably just tapping a screen. In the last five years, self-service kiosks have quietly taken over fast-casual spots, changing the way we order food. This isn't just about speed. It's about saving money and making the entire experience smoother. Chains like McDonald's and Panera were early adopters, showing that kiosks can cut wait times and keep things running more efficiently. In this piece, breaks down how the biggest players - and a few smaller ones - are using kiosk tech to change the game. You'll see when they made the switch, how their systems work, and what it all means for the future of dining out. 1. McDonald's: How the fast-food king went digital McDonald's first tested self-service kiosks way back in 2003, but things really took off in 2015. That's when the company committed to bringing kiosks to all 14,000 U.S. locations. By 2018, they were upgrading 1,000 stores every quarter under a big push called the 'Experience of the Future.' Their bet paid off fast. In the first year, sales jumped 5–6%. The next year, they climbed another 2%. Former CEO Steve Easterbrook said kiosks made people linger and order more, basically leading to bigger tabs without any upselling. Now, kiosks are standard in places like Canada, the U.K., and Australia. The U.S. is still rolling them out, but it's moving fast. 2. Panera Bread: Fast-casual's kiosk trailblazer Panera jumped ahead of the curve in 2014 with 'Panera 2.0,' a major digital upgrade that introduced iPad-based 'Fast Lane' kiosks. These systems work alongside cashiers, not in place of them. Backed by a $42 million investment, roughly $125,000 per store, Panera took a big swing to make the customer experience smoother. The kiosks let you build your order visually and customize every detail. The machines can get smarter thanks to the MyPanera integration, which gives personalized suggestions to customers. Panera also rethought the flow inside stores, setting up different lanes for dine-in and takeout to keep things moving. Panera started small, launching in 14 cafes across two markets. But by 2015, they had rolled out more than 700 kiosks in over 100 locations. Former CEO Ron Shaich said it was all about removing the pain points - long lines, slow service - and making sure orders came out right. 3. Shake Shack: Where premium burgers go high-tech Shake Shack jumped into the kiosk game in 2017 with a few test runs. Fast forward to 2023, and nearly 250 locations had kiosks, with plans to roll them out across every store by year's end. And it's working. Kiosks are now Shake Shack's top-performing in-store channel, pulling in bigger orders than the front counter. They've also cut 50 labor hours a week per location and doubled year-over-year sales at stores with kiosks. Customers are all in, too. CFO Katie Fogertey said most people head straight to the kiosks without a second thought. 4. Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea: Kiosks meet custom bubble tea Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea has brought kiosks into the bubble tea world. Many shops now have tap-to-pay stations and big display screens that show live order updates and wait times. It's a slick setup that makes customizing fruit teas and toppings faster and easier. Plus, it cuts down on miscommunication, which is especially helpful for international customers, so people get exactly what they want. Even with the tech boost, the vibe stays the same. Reviews say the kiosks help Yifang keep service consistent across different spots. 5. Homegrown (Seattle): A digital-only ordering experience Seattle's Homegrown has fully embraced self-service. No cashiers, no counter talk; just digital kiosks. Every order runs through a touchscreen, tip prompts included, with minimal face-to-face interaction. It fits their fast-paced, health-focused setup. Regulars breeze through the process. But for first-timers, customizing orders can be a bit clunky. Still, for the tech-comfortable crowd, the kiosks do their job: fast, efficient, and on-brand with Homegrown's grab-and-go style. Industry trend: Fast-casual goes fully digital Some chains are skipping the counter altogether and going all-in on digital. In 2022, Panera rolled out its first 'Panera To Go,' which currently only provides takeout and delivery. Staffing is minimal, and everything runs through digital channels. It's not a one-off. With 81% of Panera's sales now coming from off-premise options like app orders, rapid pickup, and delivery, this setup just makes sense. It slashes overhead and gets food out faster. As more brands test the same model, fast-casual spots are starting to look less like restaurants and more like sleek, efficient pickup stations. The future of restaurant tech Kiosks aren't just a passing trend; they're changing how restaurants run. Chains that use them are seeing the payoff: lower labor costs, bigger orders, faster service, and fewer mistakes. They also make it easier for customers to tweak their meals just the way they want. There are some downsides to this setup, however. Considering that some installs run up to $125,000 per store, it doesn't come cheap. Some customers get tripped up by the interface, and staff still need to know the tech so they can jump in when things go sideways. Kiosks will keep evolving. Expect tighter links with apps and delivery services. More regional players will also likely get on board. The real trick will be keeping things efficient without losing the personal touch that makes dining out feel human. Kiosks are setting the stage for smarter, more flexible restaurants. This story was produced by and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. © Stacker Media, LLC.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
How to score free drinks at Panera Bread this summer
Panera Bread customers can score free beverages at participating US locations this summer. The restaurant chain is offering free drinks for the next three months to new Unlimited Sip Club members who sign up today through June 30. Beverages that are part of this deal include iced or hot teas and coffees, and several fountain drinks like Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and Mountain Dew. The special, dubbed 'Summer of Free Sips', was created in collaboration with Pepsi Starry soda brands. The chain also enlisted athlete and Dancing With the Stars contestant Ilona Maher to help announce the offer. Customers interested in joining the club can sign up online or through the Panera app after creating a MyPanera account. They must then choose a plan, which usually costs $14.99 per month or $119.99 per year. Customers are also able to get a new drink every two hours, according to the chain. Unlimited refills of self-serve beverages at participating locations is one of the perks that come with guests' existing accounts. The 38-year-old chain has been launching several new items and a menu haul since last year. Panera has made a variety of changes with its menu and axed its controversial Charged Lemonade . The beverage was said to have been linked to multiple deaths, including 21-year-old Sarah Katz. Katz, a loyal Panera customer, died in 2022 after suffering cardiac arrests following Charged Lemonade consumption. Her death led to lawsuits on behalf of others who allegedly died or were left with health conditions after drinking the beverage. The restaurant chain also faced backlash after closing its fresh dough factories to shift toward frozen bread . The factories were located in several states, including California, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Kansas, and North Carolina. The closures led to hundreds of layoffs for employees that Panera said would be offered job fairs, benefits, and reassignment opportunities. Besides 'Summer of Free Sips,' Panera Bread is busy promoting a variety of special store and menu items. The restaurant chain made headlines after offering a croissant clutch. The limited-time purse, which sold out in less than 48 hours, was worn by comedian Ego Nwodim at the Met Gala . The chain also began offering its all-new Croissant Toast Sandwiches in April, limited-time items Panera called an 'innovative gamechanger.' These sandwiches, along with its limited-time Strawberry Caprese Salads and its Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Sandwich, are still available at participating locations.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
How to snag free soda all summer from your favorite brands...including Pepsi, Dr. Pepper and Mountain Dew
Panera Bread customers can score free beverages at participating US locations this summer. The restaurant chain is offering free drinks for the next three months to new Unlimited Sip Club members who sign up today through June 30. Beverages that are part of this deal include iced or hot teas and coffees, and several fountain drinks like Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and Mountain Dew. The special, dubbed 'Summer of Free Sips', was created in collaboration with Pepsi Starry soda brands. The chain also enlisted athlete and Dancing With the Stars contestant Ilona Maher to help announce the offer. Customers interested in joining the club can sign up online or through the Panera app after creating a MyPanera account. They must then choose a plan, which usually costs $14.99 per month or $119.99 per year. Customers are also able to get a new drink every two hours, according to the chain. Unlimited refills of self-serve beverages at participating locations is one of the perks that come with guests' existing accounts. The 38-year-old chain has been launching several new items and a menu haul since last year. Panera has made a variety of changes with its menu and axed its controversial Charged Lemonade. The beverage was said to have been linked to multiple deaths, including 21-year-old Sarah Katz. Katz, a loyal Panera customer, died in 2022 after suffering cardiac arrests following Charged Lemonade consumption. Her death led to lawsuits on behalf of others who allegedly died or were left with health conditions after drinking the beverage. The restaurant chain also faced backlash after closing its fresh dough factories to shift toward frozen bread. The factories were located in several states, including California, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Kansas, and North Carolina. The closures led to hundreds of layoffs for employees that Panera said would be offered job fairs, benefits, and reassignment opportunities. Besides 'Summer of Free Sips,' Panera Bread is busy promoting a variety of special store and menu items. The restaurant chain made headlines after offering a croissant clutch. The limited-time purse, which sold out in less than 48 hours, was worn by comedian Ego Nwodim at the Met Gala. The chain also began offering its all-new Croissant Toast Sandwiches in April, limited-time items Panera called an 'innovative gamechanger.' These sandwiches, along with its limited-time Strawberry Caprese Salads and its Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad Sandwich, are still available at participating locations. Panera, which has over 2,200 locations worldwide, aims to recover from last year's 5 percent sales dive. 'We're in the middle of a turnaround. We are taking a strategic look at where we are today and where we want to be three years from now,' said Brooke Buchanan, Panera's chief corporate affairs officer. has reached out to Panera for comment about the 'Summer of Free Sips' deal. 'Summer of Free Sips' beverages Hot Coffee Iced Coffee Hot Tea Iced Tea Lemonade Blueberry Lavender Lemonade Citrus Punch Pomegranate Hibiscus Tea Pepsi Diet Pepsi Starry Mountain Dew Bubly Lime Brisk Raspberry Tea Dr. Pepper Canada Dry Ginger Ale
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Want to save some green on St. Patrick's Day? Here's a roundup of deals and promos in honor of the holiday.
This is your reminder that St. Patrick's Day is Monday, March 17, meaning it's time to finalize those pub crawl plans or make those treats for your kid's classroom party. About 61% of American consumers are planning to celebrate the holiday. If you want to join in the fun of partaking in some St. Patty's Day-themed treats without spending a lot of green, you don't need to look to the end of the rainbow for a good deal. Here's a roundup of some of the promotions U.S. restaurants and fast food locations are offering in honor of the holiday. No rainbow? No problem. Panera will have a 'Pot of Gold' right on its menu, which features a green version of its famous sourdough bread bowl filled with its signature mac and cheese. The restaurant said the 'first-of-its-kind' dish will only be available in limited quantities on March 16 and March 17 in the greater St. Louis, Boston, New York City and Chicago markets. Panera fans who aren't lucky enough to find a 'Pot of Gold' at their location can enter for a chance to win free Panera mac and cheese for a year. Participants can text the word 'LUCKY' to 31261 between March 16 and March 21 to enter for a chance to win. MyPanera members nationwide can receive $2 off any size mac and cheese on March 16 and 17. Customers who wear green to Krispy Kreme locations, either in-store or in the drive-through, can get one free O'riginal Glazed Doughnut from March 15 through March 17. The O'riginal Glazed Doughnut is the chain's famous Original Glazed Doughnut but dyed green. Additionally, customers can enjoy a limited-edition St. Patty's doughnut collection featuring four festive flavors: Pot of Gold, Over the Rainbow, St. Patty's Swirl and Choco-Shenanigans. Royal Perks members can get free onion rings, any size, with at least a $1 purchase only on March 17. In addition, the fast food chain's combos promotion lets customers 'have it their way' and offers free fries upgrades to Chicken Fries, Mozzarella Fries or Churro Fries through April 11. Customers can get a free corned beef reuben sandwich with a minimum $15 purchase. Make note that the deal is only through Sunday, March 16. Caniac Club members can get a free Leprechaun Lemonade on March 17 at participating locations. The chain posted on social media that customers can get a free Lucky Mint Trio drink with a $5 minimum order on the app during Saint Patrick's Day weekend. Flavors include the Oreo mint shake, mint twisted soda or the Oreo mint mocha sweet cream iced coffee. For the first time in five years, Dairy Queen's mint Oreo Blizzard has emerged from the depths of the freezer and is back on the menu for a limited time for St. Patty's Day. Last but not least, the OG of Saint Patrick's Day-themed fast food. The iconic mint green Shamrock Shake is back for a limited time. It's made of vanilla soft-serve ice cream blended with the McDonald's minty Shamrock Shake syrup, topped with light whipped cream. For every Shamrock Shake purchase, 25 cents will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities through March 23.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Want to save some green on St. Patrick's Day? Here's a roundup of deals and promos in honor of the holiday.
This is your reminder that St. Patrick's Day is Monday, March 17, meaning it's time to finalize those pub crawl plans or make those treats for your kid's classroom party. About 61% of American consumers are planning to celebrate the holiday. If you want to join in the fun of partaking in some St. Patty's Day-themed treats without spending a lot of green, you don't need to look to the end of the rainbow for a good deal. Here's a roundup of some of the promotions U.S. restaurants and fast food locations are offering in honor of the holiday. No rainbow? No problem. Panera will have a 'Pot of Gold' right on its menu, which features a green version of its famous sourdough bread bowl filled with its signature mac and cheese. The restaurant said the 'first-of-its-kind' dish will only be available in limited quantities on March 16 and March 17 in the greater St. Louis, Boston, New York City and Chicago markets. Panera fans who aren't lucky enough to find a 'Pot of Gold' at their location can enter for a chance to win free Panera mac and cheese for a year. Participants can text the word 'LUCKY' to 31261 between March 16 and March 21 to enter for a chance to win. MyPanera members nationwide can receive $2 off any size mac and cheese on March 16 and 17. Customers who wear green to Krispy Kreme locations, either in-store or in the drive-through, can get one free O'riginal Glazed Doughnut from March 15 through March 17. The O'riginal Glazed Doughnut is the chain's famous Original Glazed Doughnut but dyed green. Additionally, customers can enjoy a limited-edition St. Patty's doughnut collection featuring four festive flavors: Pot of Gold, Over the Rainbow, St. Patty's Swirl and Choco-Shenanigans. Royal Perks members can get free onion rings, any size, with at least a $1 purchase only on March 17. In addition, the fast food chain's combos promotion lets customers 'have it their way' and offers free fries upgrades to Chicken Fries, Mozzarella Fries or Churro Fries through April 11. Customers can get a free corned beef reuben sandwich with a minimum $15 purchase. Make note that the deal is only through Sunday, March 16. Caniac Club members can get a free Leprechaun Lemonade on March 17 at participating locations. The chain posted on social media that customers can get a free Lucky Mint Trio drink with a $5 minimum order on the app during Saint Patrick's Day weekend. Flavors include the Oreo mint shake, mint twisted soda or the Oreo mint mocha sweet cream iced coffee. For the first time in five years, Dairy Queen's mint Oreo Blizzard has emerged from the depths of the freezer and is back on the menu for a limited time for St. Patty's Day. Last but not least, the OG of Saint Patrick's Day-themed fast food. The iconic mint green Shamrock Shake is back for a limited time. It's made of vanilla soft-serve ice cream blended with the McDonald's minty Shamrock Shake syrup, topped with light whipped cream. For every Shamrock Shake purchase, 25 cents will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities through March 23.
