Yerling Vallejos

We're sponsoring The Dynamic Pricing Debate at QSR's QSR Evolution conference this week. The session kicks off on Wednesday, Sep 4th, at 11:45am. There's no shortage of opinions or strategies on how to execute dynamic pricing in restaurant brands today, and it will be spearheaded by some amazing leaders who will definitely have some opinions on the topic. - Ted Babcock, Fishbowl - Tammy K. Billings, MBA, Consultant - Philip Daus, Simon-Kucher - Ashwin Kamlani, Juicer - Michael Lukianoff, SignalFlare.ai - Colin Webb, Sauce Uber does surge pricing. Hotels and airlines charge based on demand. Grocery stores have had access to Electronic Shelf Labels for decades, though it was just in the last 30-days that two Senators decided to probe Kroger about using them to "squeeze profit". What do you think the most commonly used word will be in the session? AI? Dynamic? Guest? Data? Something else? Looking forward to the conversation!

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🚨 Don't miss our live Webinar TODAY at 1:00 PM ET! 🚨 Join Larry Pethick, Director of Customer Experience at Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions, LLC - A Yum! Brands Co-op and Jeff M., Sr. Strategy Consultant at McFadyen Digital, for an exclusive webinar: "Transforming Franchise Procurement: Leveraging Online Marketplaces for Strategic Growth" 🔗 Register Now: https://lnkd.in/gpY7xwZi With 10.5% of U.S. businesses operating under a franchise model, the time to optimize procurement processes is NOW. In this live session, Jeff and Larry will explore: ✅ The current state of franchise supply chain operations—what's working and what's not ✅ How the marketplace model can solve common procurement challenges ✅ Actionable strategies to align marketplace models with your business objectives and enhance operational efficiency As franchises continue to expand, leveraging digital solutions is key to improving cost-effectiveness and supply chain resilience. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights for your franchise's procurement success! #Franchise #Procurement #OnlineMarketplaces #SupplyChain #Webinar #DigitalTransformation #McFadyenDigital #YumBrands

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Are you a member yet? 🌴🫶🏽 Check your email for more information. @calrestaurants The California Restaurant Association is the uniting force of the restaurant industry. Bringing together the community, they impact legislation, cultivate relationships, and provide valuable resources and discounts to help you run your business more profitably. Who is eligible for CRA Membership? Restaurant Operators – for those who own or manage an eatery, including caterers, food trucks, breweries, and more! Service Providers/Allied Members - for those organizations who provide a service or product to eateries Benefits to becoming a CRA Member: ADVOCACY: We are the voice of the industry, supporting your business by representing your business on all political fronts at local and state levels. We listen to your needs and lobby for the ultimate interest of restaurants. RESOURCES + SUPPORT: Free Legal Advice every month, Helpline guidance, White Papers, Checklists, Weekly Newsletter, News You Need to Know, Buyers Guide + more TRAININGS + CERTIFICATIONS: We offer discounts on essential trainings like ServSafe and Sexual Harassment Prevention and resources to keep you and your staff knowledgeable and compliant. COMMUNITY + NETWORKING: We have chapters throughout California that host meetings, events, seminars, and educational webinars year-round. DISCOUNTS FROM OUR MARKETPLACE PARTNERS: We negotiate valuable discounts, programs, and services on behalf of our members. DUAL MEMBERSHIP: As part of your membership, restaurant members also receive a membership with the National Restaurant Association. PHILANTHROPY: Give back to the industry through our Foundation that gives hardship grants to employees and supports the future hospitality workforce.

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Shake Shack (SHAK), a growing restaurant chain, ended 2023 strongly with successful sales strategies and margin expansion. CEO Randy Garutti highlighted the opening of 41 new U.S. restaurants and 44 international locations, with same-store sales rising 2.8% year-over-year despite inflation. Potential for further expansion in 2024 if Federal Reserve maintains or lowers interest rates. With 518 locations (334 in the U.S.) by end of 2023, significant growth potential remains. Bullish on SHAK above $87.00-$88.00, targeting $145.00-$150.00. Investors should monitor sales growth and expansion efforts. #SHAK #Investing #StockMarket 

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In celebration of #NationalCoffeeDay, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Amaris Gutierrez-Ray, our VP of Coffee at Joe Coffee, to explore our sourcing values and discuss why we prioritize transparency, integrity, ethics, and collaboration in everything we do. Key takeaways from our conversation: 🌍 Gender Equity: Women are a tremendous force in coffee, comprising 70% of the labor in fieldwork and harvesting—roles essential for quality. Yet, they face barriers to career growth, land access, and education, with only 20-30% of farm ownership. Investing in women leads to sustainability, as they are more likely to reinvest in their families and communities, ultimately improving both quality and livelihoods. ☕ Green Coffee Sourcing: Responsible purchasing is at the heart of our values. We not only seek the finest coffees but also the right partners, fostering alignment and shared interests that create meaningful collaborations. 🤝 Collaboration: We embrace a multidirectional value exchange, cultivating ongoing conversations that enrich our partnerships and enhance transparency in our business practices. 🐸 Rainforest Alliance Certification: This certification asks as much of our partners as it does of us, demanding high environmental, social, and economic sustainability standards across the board. It ensures fair wages and safe working conditions, promotes conservation, and reduces chemical use. By helping farmers adopt climate-smart practices, it opens new market opportunities, enhancing their livelihoods and supporting their communities. Every cup of coffee we serve reflects the incredible care and dedication of the producers who bring it to us. 📸 Check out the full interview below! 👇 https://lnkd.in/eQMve--c

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CHIPTOLE MEXICAN GRILL: A SIZZLING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY 💪🌯📈 Summary: Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) continues to outshine its peers in the restaurant industry, defying expectations with exceptional quarterly results. With impressive earnings, revenue, and same-store sales growth, CMG has captured investors' attention. Notably, the popular burrito chain experienced a substantial increase in customer traffic, recording a remarkable 5.4% boost in the first quarter. 📈 Invest in CMG for Unmatched Growth Potential! 💰💼 Heading: Raising the Bar: CMG's Unwavering Success Story Subheading: Surpassing Expectations with Resilience and Outstanding Performance Heading: Beating the Odds: CMG's Strong Financials Subheading: Delivering Impressive Earnings, Revenue, and Same-Store Sales Growth Heading: Winning Over Customers: CMG's Remarkable Traffic Surge Subheading: Captivating Diners and Fueling Success with a 5.4% Increase Heading: Join the Burrito Revolution: Invest in CMG Today! 💪🌯 Subheading: Don't Miss Out on This Sensational Investment Opportunity Are you ready to make the most of your Health Savings Account? Invest wisely in CMG and harness the potential for unparalleled growth. Act now to secure your spot in the burrito revolution! #hsa #investing #healthcare #health #family #wellness 🚀💼💪

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FDA's FSMA Rule 204 is coming sooner than you think. See these eight leading organizations collaborating to assure readiness for compliance among all restaurant and foodservice industry trading partners. GS1 US The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) International Foodservice Manufacturers Association - IFMA International Fresh Produce Association Association of Food and Drug Officials FMI- The Food Industry Association Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) NASDA - National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Food and consumer safety is not an optional discipline! Are you ready?

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When the pandemic caused chicken wing prices to spike by 125%, Wingstop Restaurants Inc. had to act fast to avoid a major hit to its margins. The Strategic Shift: Direct Sourcing: Wingstop secured direct poultry partnerships, helping stabilize costs and ultimately cut wing 🍗 prices by 40% from their peak. Menu Diversification: By introducing thighs through “Thighstop,” they reduced their dependence on wings and offered customers a value-driven option. 💰 Digital Strength: With a strong online presence, Wingstop leveraged its digital channels📱 (which now make up 65% of all orders) to seamlessly introduce and promote new products, driving continued growth. The Result? Despite industry challenges, Wingstop maintained profitability and grew same-store sales by over 27% in 2023. 📈 Keep pushing Michael Skipworth and team! #SupplyChain #Wingstop #DigitalTransformation #BusinessResilience #CrisisManagement #RestaurantGrowth

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Our CEO David Karam recently shared insights with Convenience Store News regarding the benefits of adding branded foodservice programs like Sbarro in the c-store space. "Operators have the opportunity to get a return on investment not only on the restaurant itself, but also at the c-store — [things like] fuel revenue, additional in-store sales — from customers drawn there by the branded concept," he explained. "It offers a way for operators to differentiate themselves, and to gain higher visibility and higher ticket on additional spend." Check out the full article below! https://lnkd.in/gjSBp3a3

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Few QSR brands, let alone ones with nearly 900 locations open 24/7, 364 days a year, can serve burgers that are made-to-order when ordered, using 100% pure, never-frozen beef in each store, every day.    But Whataburger is no average QSR brand. Founded with a goal to serve burgers so big they need two hands to hold and so good that after one bite, customers say, “What a burger!” the San Antonio-based chain plans to grow beyond 1,000 stores by 2026. In order to keep pace to achieve its growth goals, Whataburger needed to scale operations across all 800+ restaurants. Whataburger's Senior Manager of Restaurant Operations joined Crunchtime’s Ops Summit 2023 to share the impact that Crunchtime's Operations Execution Platform (Zenput) has had on Whataburger: https://lnkd.in/evEZYS6u

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Value means different things to consumers. In her session “Future of foodservice,” Erin Merritt of California Restaurant Association established that some consumers see price, portion, food quality or food taste/flavor as the most valuable aspect of the dining experience. While Millennials are considered the very first “foodies,” Gen Alpha has a powerful influence when it comes to deciding on a restaurant to visit with 84% of consumers deciding on one that both kids and adults can enjoy. #QuirksEvent #QuirksNewYork #MRX #Insights

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Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) 1Q24 Earnings Call Takeaways (from EarningsDigest.ai) Chipotle‘s 1Q saw +7% comp sales growth, driven by transaction volume. Sales hit $2.7 billion, helped by in-store sales growth of +19%. Marketing campaigns, including those for Barbacoa and the reintroduction for Chicken Al Pastor, contributed as well. With a +27% increase in adjusted diluted EPS to $13.37 and the opening of 47 new restaurants (43 featuring Chipotlanes), management raised annual comp guidance to mid- to high-single digits. Key strategic priorities include cultivating top talent and international expansion, with a notable first opening in Kuwait. The call also highlighted several risks, including: 1/ Inflation Pressures: CMG experienced inflation across several ingredient costs, particularly beef and produce. They anticipate cost of sales inflation to be in the mid-single-digit range for the remainder of the year, which could impact margins if not mitigated by price increases or cost-saving measures. 2/ Labor Costs and Minimum Wage Increases: With the minimum wage in California increasing to $20 an hour, the company's wages is the state went up ~20%, prompting a menu price increase of 6% to 7% in California restaurants. This wage increase will have a negative impact on overall company restaurant-level margin by about 20bp. Additionally, labor cost pressures may continue as wage inflation steps up, potentially affecting profitability. 3/ Supply Chain Volatility: Challenges in obtaining ingredients such as avocados are expected, with a step-up in prices anticipated over the next several quarters. Supply chain volatility could affect the stability of cost of sales and necessitate further adjustments to menu pricing. Want to learn more about 1Q Earnings? See us at https://lnkd.in/dKWuxsz6

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Calling all Convenience Store Retailers! 📣 We're thrilled to share that the Pass-Through Pickup Pod™, propelled by Minnow™ (Minnow Technologies, Inc.), has been named a finalist in the Foodservice: Equipment category for CSP's 2024 Retailer Choice Best New Products Contest! 🎉 Here's how the game-changing Pass-Through Pickup Pod elevates c-store operations: 📱 Touchless Technology: Customers and delivery personnel can configure pickup times and easily access their reserved cubby with their smartphones. 🔥❄️ Flexibility & Versatility: Available in two different models — the MPP-8PT is for ambient holding only, and the MPP-8HPT can hold both hot and ambient items. ↔️ Dual Access: The pass-through design allows staff to load food from one side while customers retrieve their orders from the other, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing congestion. 💡 Smart Features: Powered by cloud-based software and compatible with third-party delivery services such as Uber Eats, DoorDash and more. Cast your vote for the Pass-Through Pickup Pod through July 31! 🔗: https://lnkd.in/e6ViDnH2 🗳️

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Unlocking the Future of QSR Guest Experiences: Delve into the Impact of Technology 🚀 In the fast-paced world of QSR, speed, convenience, and quality reign supreme. But what truly drives customer satisfaction beyond just good food? Our latest blog explores the tech-driven revolution shaping guest experiences. Discover why over 60% of diners believe technology enhances restaurant convenience and how it influences return visits, especially among the under-45 demographic.📱 Based on insights from our survey on Consumer Perceptions of Restaurant Tech, we analyze what factors truly matter to QSR patrons and how technology is reshaping their choices. Ready to uncover the game-changing insights? Let's explore together! #QSR #GuestExperience #TechImpact

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Data is more than just numbers; it’s a narrative that can reveal hidden strengths and expose blind spots. As leaders, it’s not enough to merely track KPIs—it's about interpreting them to uncover the why behind the what. By dissecting data, you can identify high-impact opportunities that might not be obvious on the surface. It’s about finding the leverage points—those often-overlooked, scalable aspects of your business that drive exponential growth. When data guides strategy, you can zero in on what makes your business resilient and profitable, even as you expand. Look past the averages, dig into anomalies, and find where you can make the most meaningful difference. That’s where true growth lies. #DataDrivenStrategy #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership #Profitability #FranchiseSuccess

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