Latest news with #driveThru
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Nando's to open first Australian drive-thru in major city, giving away free chicken
Nando's is set to open its first-ever drive-thru in Australia, with a flagship restaurant in Melbourne's northern suburbs. The store will open in Roxburgh Park in Melbourne's north on Tuesday June 10 at 11am, giving hungry customers the chance to pick up some Peri Peri chicken for lunch without leaving their car. To celebrate the launch of the flagship restaurant and drive-thru, customers will also be able to grab free quarter chicken and chips on the day of the launch – no purchase necessary and while stocks last. Drive-thru restaurants have become a key driver for revenue, making up approximately 60-70 per cent of overall revenue, according to QSR. The study found that 37 per cent of Australian consumers prefer to use the drive-thru method for ordering fast food compared to going in-store. Nando's Australia and New Zealand chief executive officer Amanda Banfield said the drive-thru marked the start of a new chapter for the restaurants, which has plans to expand further across the country. 'We've been privileged to be part of the Australian restaurant industry for 35 years and this marks yet another milestone of how Nando's is evolving,' she said. 'Over the next three years, we're planning to open another 25 Nando's restaurants across Australia and New Zealand, growing our workforce by 1000 people. 'Our goal is to open 70 new restaurants by 2030 – and Drive Thru's like Roxburgh Park are a key part of that growth story.' The new flagship restaurant will feature some of the business' 32,000 pieces of South African artwork, bustling Afro-Luso music, as well as bottomless drinks and the beloved sauce station.
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Developer wants City of Whitehorse to allow a drive-thru in Whistle Bend
Social Sharing A Whitehorse developer says it is "vital" that the city approve a zoning amendment that would allow for a new drive-thru restaurant in the Whistle Bend neighbourhood. Northern Vision Development's request is now before city council. It's for a 2.3-hectare parcel of land that fronts Whistle Bend Way, one of the main entrances to the neighbourhood. The vacant property is currently zoned for commercial use, which would allow restaurants, grocery stores or convenience stores, but not a drive-thru. The company's CEO Michael Hale says a drive-thru is "needed" because it would help ensure that the larger development of the property is economically viable. "[Fast food chains] are the kinds of businesses that can sign long-term leases, because they're confident that the community is going to continue to come to them," said Hale. He says he's heard from residents that what they want in the neighbourhood is a grocery store. He says the company is planning to include one on the property, but that those businesses tend to produce less revenue per square foot than drive-thrus. "[Grocery stores] take up a lot of economically, it's much more important to have these small, high-volume businesses — because those are in a position to pay lease rates that justify the development," said Hale. He said Northern Vision Development will spend somewhere in the ballpark of $50 to $70 million developing the property. "So you need at least 20 to 25 years of predictable revenue, even just to service the debt," said Hale. At a committee meeting this week, city councillors asked whether the company already had a drive-thru business interested in setting up shop there. Hale said there are several that are potentially interested. Potential traffic, environment impacts There are currently no food and beverage retailers in the Whistle Bend subdivision which is home to more than 4,000 residents. It's the newest and fastest-growing neighbourhood in Whitehorse and it's projected to grow to as many as 10,000 people by 2030. It's already home to more people than Dawson City and Watson Lake combined. Erin Suggitt has been living in Whistle Bend for five years. She says having walkable food and beverage options is long overdue. "It feels forgotten, to be honest. When we moved in we were told other things were coming really quickly, then they kept getting re-zoned to residential instead of commercial," said Suggitt. She says she has no problem with a drive-thru in the residential neighbourhood. "I have kids, and drive-thrus are convenient," she said. She just hopes the zoning will consider rush hour. "Traffic here gets a little crazy so I hope they're making sure it doesn't hold up anything else," she said. As part of its application, Northern Vision Development undertook a traffic impact assessment. According to the developer and the City of Whitehorse staff who reviewed the application, it shows a drive-thru "would not adversely affect the safe functioning of adjacent roadways." City staff also considered the potential environmental impacts of a drive-thru, in light of the city's Climate Action Plan which aims to reduce green house gas emissions. Darcy McCord, the city's acting manager of planning and sustainability services, said drive-thrus "encourage idling," but said the difference in greenhouse gas emissions between a drive-thru and sit-down restaurant are overall "anticipated to be negligible." Hale also suggested that customers who go to a drive-thru in Whistle Bend would likely be seeking out a fast food dinner either way. "It's just, are they doing it in their own community, or are they going to line up downtown?" Hale said. City councillors are expected to discuss the zoning application in the coming weeks. A public hearing will also have to take place as part of the process, though a date for that has not yet been set.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
National chain restaurant under construction on Route 13 in Camden
The new building under construction on Route 13 south in Camden near Lowe's is going to be a restaurant with a drive-thru. Popeyes is planned between Shore United Bank and Dover Federal Credit Union. Although the restaurant is on Route 13, there is no direct entry from the highway. A service road from Route 13 leads to Walmart Drive where the entrance to the Popeyes will be. The Camden Planning Commission approved the preliminary site plan more than two years ago, on Jan. 25, 2023, with conditions including a change in building color. The planning commissioners said the usual Popeyes color scheme was too bright to fit in with the earth tones of the buildings along Route 13, and so the commissioners recommended similar earth tones for this restaurant. More business news: Retailer new to Delaware moving into former Big Lots stores in Dover and Seaford The applicant, Camden Associates, plans a 1,900-square-foot brick and stucco building with a drive-through, 30 parking spaces, landscaping, a monument-style sign, a bike rack, hitching post and lighting fixtures that meet the town code. Less than three months ago at the Camden Council meeting March 3, Town Manager Harold Scott Jr. reported the town staff had issued the construction permit for the restaurant. More restaurant news: Tim Hortons coffee, donuts and sandwiches to open in Dover with more planned in Delaware Founded in 1972, Popeyes has over 4,900 locations in the U.S. and around the world including 13 in Delaware, according to Restaurant Brands International which owns Popeyes, Burger King, Tim Horton's and Firehouse Subs. The Popeyes menu features food inspired by Cajun and creole flavors including New Orleans-style spicy fried chicken, chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, fried shrimp, fries, side dishes and biscuits. Requests for more details on the Camden restaurant's opening date and estimated number of employees were not answered by the company as of May 21 at 3 p.m. Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, development and business news. Reach him at rmace@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Popeyes under construction on Route 13 South in Camden near Lowe's
Bloomberg
22-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Checkmate's CEO on Voice AI, Kiosks, Catering: Choppin' It Up
Voice AI at the drive-thru is one or two years away from being ready to be rolled out to hundreds of thousands of locations, Checkmate's CEO and Founder Vishal Agarwal tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin' It Up podcast, Agarwal sits down with BI's senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the rapid evolution of voice AI technology. He also comments on how kiosks have become a must have, the rapid growth of catering and what problems AI is best suited to solve.
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
OLIPOP's LA Pop-Up Is Instagram Bait—And That's The Point
Olipop's LA drive-through experience celebrated the return of its Orange Cream flavor. Functional soda brand OLIPOP debuted its first-ever OLIPOP Drive-Thru pop-up in Los Angeles this week, held at a converted lot on Beverly Blvd, to celebrate the seasonal return of its Orange Cream flavor. But more than a launch party, the activation was a strategic play at the intersection of nostalgia, wellness, and viral culture—three pillars that are increasingly driving purchase behavior in the functional CPG space. To accomplish this, the pop-up invited fans to sample inventive OLIPOP mocktails on the drive-through menu, including Cereal Milk Soda, Dirty Protein Soda, and even Spicy Pickle Soda. Limited-edition merchandise was another focal point of the event, and attendees were welcomed to participate in the brand's collaboration with Crocs, featuring orange platform Crocs and a soda-themed Jibbitz charm bar where they could choose from brand-themed accessories. Embroidered tees and tanks were also available on-site, and guests could customize their pieces with their initials or an OLIPOP-themed flavor icon. Those who attended the event could also take home other pop-up-themed items, such as branded air fresheners, a CD, and tote bags. Not wanting to exclude those who couldn't attend in person, OLIPOP also launched a Virtual Drive-Thru running through May 19 online, which offers fans a chance to win limited-edition kits and 12-packs of Orange Cream. The digital layer helped drive direct-to-consumer traffic, capture first-party data, and amplify national awareness—all crucial metrics for retailers evaluating a brand's marketability. For Nate Rosen, founder of Express Checkout and a CPG consultant, OLIPOP's approach is emblematic of a larger trend that helps brands create moments for visual content that performs well across social media, sometimes even presenting opportunities for virality. 'I love these types of brand activations; they create memorable experiences that deepen the connection consumers have with the brand,' he said. 'Even if it's a one-off, it makes the brand feel more tangible and real.' Experiential marketing moments are not a new tactic for OLIPOP; last year, it launched the 'Dream Job Contest,' which awarded two content creators the opportunity to get paid to travel and create content for the brand during the summer months. According to Kendall Dickieson, social media consultant and creator of the No Filter newsletter, this kind of experiential marketing is becoming table stakes for brands that want to build community both online and off. 'At the end of the day, if you're building online, you should be able to show up offline,' she said. '[In-person gatherings] are important for community building, especially when you know you have a community that will show up and show out.' That in-person turnout is crucial, but so is the content it generates. Dickieson went on to say that events like these work to generate more social media tags, thus increasing a brand's surface area for potential buyers, customers, and followers. With this latest activation, OLIPOP isn't just selling soda—it's selling a story, a moment, and excitement. For retailers looking to bring more buzz to their brands, it seems the future of functional CPG is rooted in fun, flashy, and highly photogenic activations.
