Leadership Insights

It’s official: America’s in a pickle. And not just because it’s National Pickle Day.  The data proves it. Qu’s Insights + Advisory Team analyzed three major trend indicators — restaurant menus, grocery product launches, and search behavior — and found that the humble pickle has become one of the most powerful flavor movements of the […]

The Cloud — Centralized Scale but Costly in the Field AI is reshaping how restaurants think, move, and perform — but its real impact depends on where that intelligence lives. As restaurant tech providers rush to layer AI into aging cloud stacks, few are asking the harder question: where should that intelligence live to deliver

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly moved from “shiny new tech” status to a daily reality in the restaurant industry. At this year’s QSR Evolution Conference in Atlanta, GA, nearly 80–90% of the audience reported they’re already using AI in some form—whether that’s in voice ordering analytics, marketing, or customer experience. The panel, moderated by Jen

At FSTEC 2025, Qu brought together three industry leaders who are deeply connected to their brands and understand their customers inside and out. On stage: Manuel Valdes, CTO, GoTo Foods Chris Tebben, President & CEO, Checkers & Rally’s Damon Thomas, SVP of Operations, Shake Shack Each represented a different corner of the QSR world. But

Is Your POS Holding You Back? Your POS was supposed to be the backbone of your operations—stable, efficient, and enabling growth. But lately, it’s feeling more like a liability. Downtime during peak hours. Broken integrations. Sluggish reporting. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Restaurant leaders across the industry are asking the same question: “How do I

At this year’s Restaurant Leadership Conference (RLC), our Innovation Forum brought together top restaurant executives to explore how data and AI are driving real value—starting with the metrics that matter most: unit-level economics (ULEs). Industry leaders dug into how brands can unlock profitability at scale, increasing ULEs, by focusing on foundational drivers like labor, food

The restaurant landscape is evolving rapidly, and 2025 promises to be a pivotal year for operators who are ready to embrace change. We gathered top industry leaders to discuss the trends surfaced in our 2025 State of Digital Report. They shared what’s working, what’s not, and where the smart money is going. Here are the

The restaurant industry is at a pivotal moment. With operating costs rising and technology ecosystems growing more complex, the need for unified, intelligent solutions has never been greater. At the 2025 Restaurant Leadership Conference (RLC), Qu unveiled a groundbreaking Smart Kitchen platform that promises to redefine how enterprise restaurants manage their back-of-house operations. Addressing the Cost

Hey restaurant innovators, it’s time to talk digital and tech trends!  Qu’s 6th Annual State of Digital Report is here, and it’s packed with insights that will help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of fast casual and quick serve restaurants (QSRs). With over 170 brands and 85,000 locations participating in this year’s survey, we’ve uncovered