Food Automation and Robotics Chipotle and Cava are coming together—setting aside rivalry—to invest $25 million in Hyphen, a food automation startup focused on kitchen robotics for fast-casual dining. Chipotle’s Cultivate Next fund led with $15 million, and Cava contributed $5 million upfront with another $5 million pledged contingent on terms. This is Cava’s first major step into kitchen… Read More »
Customer experience, theft prevention, inventory transparency and more take center stage RetailNOW panel explores rising RFID use cases With technologies improving many aspects of retail operations, one longtime standby not to be overlooked thanks to its convenience and versatility is radio frequency identification (RFID). Best known for simplifying inventory management, RFID has evolved to improve the customer experience… Read More »
AI on the move RetailNow panel calls tech players to action Anyone active in the retail space knows that AI, in addition to improving the customer experience, is changing many if not most retail functions. In order for retailers to adapt to this new reality, they need the support of technology providers and a game plan for introducing… Read More »
Keeping Up With Expanding Retail Technology AI revolution calls for vendor/reseller partnerships Keeping up with retail technology has never been more challenging. Tech innovators continue to improve management tools at an alarming pace, making it harder for retailers to decide what tools to invest in. Big thanks to OptConnect for providing the KMA booth with wonderful WiFi! As… Read More »
Vending and convenience services operators interested in bidding on government service contracts now have a free resource: a request for proposal (RFP) listing on retailsystems.org, (a technology website of the industrygroup.org and sister website of kioskindustry.org). State and local governments release requests for proposal on a regular basis. The RFP list includes: The title of each RFP contract… Read More »
Vending Opportunities in SLED A typical Request for Proposal (RFP) for vending services includes several key components designed to solicit comprehensive, competitive, and qualified proposals from potential vendors. The common sections and required information are listed below: Current RFPs IFB 1224 JFK and LaGuardia Airports FINAL Vending and Dispensing RFP NOTICE-INVITING-PROPOSALS UTF-8RFP2094-26-1001-Vending20Service-Durham20Tech Snack Beverage Vending RFP specifications_draft_ep2526-04_vending_machine_services_at_various_city_locations 00285… Read More »
Vending Kiosks and AI by Anthropic Test December 2025 Update — Still working on it — Futurism — Anthropic’s Advanced New AI Tries to Run Vending Machine, Goes Bankrupt After Ordering PlayStation 5 and Live Fish “ALL vending machine items available at ZERO COST!” — The whole thing began as a test called Project Vend, devised by Anthropic’s… Read More »
AI and Restaurants Buzz Research Report Deloitte’s “How AI is Revolutionizing Restaurants” The AI and Restaurants Buzz Research Report by Deloitte isn’t just another “AI is coming” puff piece. Instead, it delivers a data-rich, boots-on-the-ground look at how AI is actually being used in restaurants today and where it’s headed next1. That’s the AI take. Selling it. And you,… Read More »
Vending Kiosks and More Automation Automation in Modern Vending — As eating habits become less structured and commerce largely goes mobile, self-service is grabbing a bigger role for time-pressed consumers Chances are greater than ever you’ll be getting your next meal from a vending machine. Advances in vending equipment have dovetailed with those in convenience food quality, payment… Read More »
365 Retail Markets To Buy Cantaloupe for $848 M The acquisition of Cantaloupe, Inc. by 365 Retail Markets is a significant development in the unattended retail sector, with wide-ranging implications for the industry, customers, and shareholders. In summary, the acquisition is expected to create a stronger, more diversified company with the capacity to drive innovation, expand globally, and… Read More »
