Whataburger’s new Digital Kitchen focuses on off-premises
Whataburger has unveiled its new Digital Kitchen format in Bee Cave, Texas, near Austin, which is dedicated to fulfilling off-premises orders. The unit, which is open 24 hours a day, is cashless and features ordering kiosks and pickup lockers. Nation’s Restaurant News
Epic Burger buys Meatheads Burger units in Chicago
Epic Burger has acquired all six Meatheads Burger locations in Chicago and plans to rebrand the units by Dec. 1, which will raise Epic’s unit count from five to 11 in the Chicago area. The move will allow Epic to branch into drive-thru operations at four of the current Meatheads locations with drive-thru capabilities, which […]
Chick-fil-A to expand mobile pick-up lanes
Chick-fil-A will add “Mobile Thru” lanes to 300 drive-thru locations this year and plans to continue adding new mobile pick-up lanes nationwide in 2024. The company began testing drive-thru lanes dedicated to mobile orders last year, and 85% of Chick-fil-A customers say they would use the service again. Restaurant Business
Toastique franchise units to pop up in new markets
Gourmet toast and juice concept Toastique is in growth mode with franchise agreements to add 27 new units to its existing lineup of 19 locations. The Washington, DC-based chain will open its first California location this fall, and the 1,200-to-1,400-square-foot units can generate $1 million in sales. Nation’s Restaurant News
Freddy’s plans cutting-edge innovation facility
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers will create a high-tech National Training and Innovation Center in Wichita, Kansas that will focus on employee training for the chain’s eateries in the US and Canada. KSNW-TV
Burger King, franchisees to buy 70 units
Burger King will pay $4.4 million to acquire 29 of its namesake units in Utah and Montana from franchisee Meridian Restaurants Unlimited, which sold 70 of its 91 locations in a bankruptcy court auction. Four franchisees also submitted winning bids for some of the units, and collectively the auction brought in about $17.5 million. Restaurant […]