IoT, customer-facing robots and VR among topics to be discussed at 2017 ICX Summit

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

The annual conference, which draws hundreds of customer experience leaders and innovators, is June 5-7 in Dallas and features a range of interesting sessions…

Sleep talkers beware: Alexa is listening for your restaurant reorders

Amazon Prime members can now voice-order meals through Amazon Restaurants on Alexa-enabled devices,

Commodities: A rocky 2016 ends with pizza stocks falling

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The last week of 2016 was brutal for pizza stocks, which bled off significant value before the close of trading on Dec. 30.

'If in doubt, leave it out': The lessons in Cinnabon's Carrie Fisher tweet

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Cinnabon's poorly received social media post about Carrie Fisher, upon her death this week, has restaurant leaders talking about how best to prevent such…

5 findings inside diners' minds make great guides for 2017

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

NPD Group recently outlined its top five predictions about the American diner's state of mind as it relates to the dinner plate. Taken collectively, these five…

Commodities: Down, down, down … for all but Domino's

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Commodities traders were invoking Johnny Cash's lyrics during trading in the week before Christmas, as prices on all pizza chain commodities except auto fuel…

A 'post mortem': Looking back at 2016's hard-learned lessons

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Experts weigh in on the eight lessons they learned in 2016 about the fine art of running a restaurant.

How is color coloring customer perceptions?

Color is critical to customer experience since it has a notable and predictable impact on their moods and emotions.

Commodities: Little joy to the world in pizza commodity prices

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Papa John's was the only pizza chain that reported a markedly profitable week, while the other three brands monitored here remaining essentially flat or…

Blast & Brew taps into allure of personal choice

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The new Blast & Brew pizza and beer franchise gives customers creative choice regarding what's on their plates and how they most prefer to wash it down. Here…

Commodities: Supply prices up, stock prices mixed

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

It got more expensive to stock the shelves for pizza restaurateurs last week, but most brands still got a lift in trading over the week.

Starbucks pizza? Yes, it's true

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The chain's ambitious plan will increase revenue by 10 percent, grow earnings per share by 15-20 percent and drive mid-single-digit comp growth each year…

Why Moe's Southwest Grill, A&W focusing on digital marketing

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Digital media is always changing, so it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments.

Commodities: Pizza  stocks fall, gas rises

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The afterglow of a profitable Thanksgiving week of trading on the pizza marketplace is all but gone this week after pizza stock prices returned to a lower…

Fast Casual Summit: 4 questions restaurant brands must answer

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

At last month's Fast Casual Executive Summit outside Los Angeles, restaurant marketing consultant Gerry O’Brion said the difference between winners and losers…

KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell leading Chinese health initiatives

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

The Chinese government wants to help its people live longer, healthier lives and has enlisted the support of the nation’s leading fast-food operator, Yum…

Commodities Report: Thanksgiving week gives pizza traders a lot to be grateful for

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Pizza stocks traders were clearly overjoyed at the news last week of a federal injunction halting enactment of the federal overtime pay laws that were set to…

Fast Casual Summit: 5 lessons learned from m-commerce innovators

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Why restaurants must "adapt to mobile commerce or die."

Last-minute federal injunction halts OT rules

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Less than a week before the overtime regulations were to kick in, a federal judge in Texas has blocked the rule that would have made an estimated 4 million…

Commodities: Most pizza stocks see bump, supply prices mixed

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Commodity prices were truly a mixed bag this week with the cost of some of the most commonly used items in pizza restaurant operation truly varied, although…