For more than a decade, fast casual and QSR restaurants rode a wave of growth powered by fresh ingredients, affordable prices, and a promise of quality that outshined traditional quick service. But the playbook that defined the 2010s is running out of steam. Profits are shrinking, guest expectations are shifting, and TikTok has shown customers […]
Smarter Tools. Smoother Operations. Happier Teams. Running a restaurant means juggling hundreds of moving parts, including staffing, menu changes, payments, kitchen flow, and more. Every second matters. This quarter, Qu focused on making your day a little easier with features that simplify work, boost accuracy, and create better guest experiences. Let’s take a look at
Qu’s Fall Product Release Highlights Read More »
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 Pickle Economy: What the Data Says About Our Tangy Obsession Read More »
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
AI at the Edge, in the Cloud, or Both? Read More »
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
The Long Game: Why Clean Data Makes or Breaks Your Restaurant’s AI Strategy Read More »
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
Discipline Over Distraction: Lessons from Restaurant Leaders Who Know Their Brands Read More »
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
7 Signs Your Restaurant POS Has Reached End-of-Life—And What to Do About It Read More »
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
3 Ways Unified Data Drives ROI & Value for Enterprise Restaurant Brands Read More »
Running a profitable restaurant is all about getting the details right. From knowing where an order is in the kitchen to having instant insight into which upsell recommendations are driving the greatest gains in average order value. When you keep a close eye on these details, you can transform the guest experience and drive real
Qu’s Spring Product Release Highlights Read More »
