Part 1:  Cool technologies at the NRA Show 2026

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Editor Mandy Wolf Detwiler spent time in the tech pavilion at the National Restaurant Association Show.

SynergySuite Wins Three Gold Stevie’s for Restaurant AI

SynergySuite earned three Gold Stevie Awards at the 2026 American Business Awards for its AI-driven restaurant technology innovations. The recognition…

Hungry Howie’s to implement Toast technology suite across national footprint

May 13, 2026

Hungry Howie's has selected Toast's enterprise technology suite and will deploy it across the pizza chain's approximately 500 restaurant locations, according…

Rice and Noodle Selects SynergySuite to Power Operations and Fuel Franchise Expansion Across Canada

SynergySuite has partnered with Rice and Noodle to streamline operations and support franchise growth across Canada. The restaurant brand will leverage…

Papa Johns, Wing launch drone delivery pilot in North Carolina

May 11, 2026

Papa Johns and Wing have launched a pilot program to deliver food by drone, beginning with a selection of toasted sandwiches for customers in the Charlotte…

From scribbles to savings: Why precision labeling is the new profit protector

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Star Micronics is showcasing its versatile mC-Label series at the National Restaurant Association Show this weekend, highlighting how high-precision labeling…

Presented by Star Micronics America

SynergySuite & Sightline OS Announce Integrative Partnership

SynergySuite and Sightline OS announced a new AI-powered integration connecting restaurant sales, operations, and supply chain intelligence in real time. The…

SynergySuite Wins Three TITAN Business Awards in 2026, Including Third Consecutive Platinum in Restaurants

SynergySuite earned three 2026 TITAN Business Awards—including two Platinum and one Gold—marking its strongest showing yet. The recognition highlights its…

Papa Johns introduces Google Cloud-powered AI ordering tool

April 29, 2026

Papa Johns has launched Lou AI, a digital assistant integrated into its mobile app designed to automate the process of coordinating group food orders…

Lynora’s Partners with SynergySuite to Power AI-driven Restaurant Operations Across South Florida

Family-owned Italian restaurant group adopts AI-powered back-of-house platform to streamline multi-location operations and scale its growing hospitality…

Little Caesars, Flytrex partner for 1st drone meal delivery

April 23, 2026

Little Caesars and Flytrex have partnered to expand drone delivery services with the introduction of a new aircraft capable of transporting meals for an entire…

Pizza vending at Ontario university goes viral

April 23, 2026

A pizza vending machine at the University of Guelph in Ontario is attracting renewed attention after operators installed a camera that captures customers while…

SynergySuite Makes the 2025 FoodTech 500

Forward Fooding Recognizes the AI-Powered Restaurant Platform Among the World’s Most Innovative AgriFoodTech Companies.

Little Caesars launches AI ordering feature through ChatGPT

April 17, 2026

Little Caesars has launched a feature that allows customers to order pizza through ChatGPT by integrating the AI's conversational abilities with the company's…

One Stop Nutrition Taps SynergySuite and CBS NorthStar to Fuel AI-Driven Growth Across Franchise Network

One Stop Nutrition selects SynergySuite and CBS NorthStar to power AI-driven growth across its franchise network, unifying POS and back-of-house operations to…

Toast launches integrated drive-thru platform for quick-service restaurant chains

April 14, 2026

Toast has launched Toast Drive-Thru, a digital platform designed for quick-service restaurants to manage order accuracy and labor efficiency through a single…

PAR Technology launches PAR Intelligence AI Platform for multi-unit operators

April 8, 2026

PAR Technology Corp. has launched PAR Intelligence, an artificial intelligence layer designed to automate operational tasks for multi-unit restaurant and…

MOD Pizza using PAR to protect delivery operations from third-party errors

April 3, 2026

In an effort to protect its income streams from errors tied to third-party platforms, MOD Pizza has integrated PAR Technology Corp's Recovery and Delivery…

Synergy in a slice: Inside the dual-concept model driving Hungry Howie’s Texas expansion

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Entrepreneur Jay Dhaliwal is leveraging a high-traffic "one-stop-shop" model in Fort Worth by operating a lean Hungry Howie’s franchise within a co-branded gas…

Pizza vending off to a rough start in Houston

March 25, 2026

PizzaForno, a Canadian company known for its automated pizza vending machines, announced ambitious plans in 2022 to expand across Texas. The concept centered…