Arby’s Ghost Kitchen Cuts Labor Costs
Arby’s owner Inspire Brands opened its first ghost kitchen in 2021, and it is disrupting the restaurant landscape. The company’s “Alliance Kitchen” marked the first dark kitchen owned and operated by a multi-brand restaurant company. The ghost kitchen features food from Inspire Brands’ Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings’, Jimmy John’s, Sonic Drive-In’s, and Rusty Taco’s and can fulfill respective online ordering platforms or via third-party apps.
The build’s segmented kitchen and cross-trained workforce is a digital, virtual manifestation of the co-branded spaces. In addition to providing choice, compared to five standalone restaurants, Alliance’s setup reduced labor requirements by 54 percent; cut square footage needs by 19 percent; decreased equipment costs by 45 percent; and sliced energy consumption north of 50 percent. Catering to third-party delivery drivers, the ghost kitchen also built a lounge with heated pickup lockers, free Wi-Fi, charging stations, and complimentary Dunkin’ coffee.
Meijer Tests All-Electric Trucks in Cold Weather
Meijer is deploying two of the first all-electric semitrucks outside of California. The retailer is the first operator in North America to implement the Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 near-zero emissions standards in 2009. It is also the first nationwide to track the performance of the Freightliner eCascadia semitrucks in a cold weather environment as part of a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Meijer received the battery electric semitrucks earlier this month and celebrated their inaugural delivery today with a more than 44,000-pound food donation to Gleaners Community Food Bank.
Shell Celebrates 10 Years of Fuel Rewards
Shell and technology partner PDI have announced the final phase of the Fuel Rewards program’s 10-year anniversary celebration. Fuel Rewards members can continue the celebration by taking advantage of limited-time in-store offers and rewards, giving away approximately $10 million in fuel savings.
Fuel Rewards members can engage in “Ready, Spin, Win” to participate in specific activities that educate them on the Fuel Rewards program and spin the wheel to win cents off per gallon savings. New chances will be added every month. Brands participating in the Fuel Rewards program include Dunkin’, Sonesta, American Airlines, T-Mobile, Way.com, Planet Fitness and more, together providing additional ways for members to earn savings on everyday purchases such as fuel and travel.