The need for speed in the restaurant industry has always been priority, but as technology advances, equipment that simply gets the job done isn’t enough. And with the continued rise of off-premise dining leading to an influx of orders putting strain on already busy operators, some are investing in equipment that can trim the time off throughput.
Equipment upgrades were an effective use of dollars for Johnny Rockets, which added clamshell grills and enhancements to its fryers in one test store to speed up cook times. Its equipment upgrades, along with tableside and counter kiosk ordering, helped the store boost sales by nearly 22%.
Other brands, too, are putting money behind new equipment to improve modern operations. Yum Brands CEO Greg Creed said to an audience at the Restaurant Leadership Conference in May, for example, that upgrades to its equipment were among the next steps for a turnaround for KFC.
To meet this need for faster service, suppliers are rolling out new tools to help operators serve guests faster. Here’s a look at what vendors might be pushing next.