Labor-Saving Technology: Self-Checkout Is for Everyone

 

When your competitors evolve and you don’t, trouble often follows. Consumers may say they prefer gradual change, but what truly captures their loyalty is discovery, according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA-based Foodservice Solutions®.

Johnson explains, “Customer migration occurs when a company introduces a flavor, technology, or messaging that offers an interesting twist on the familiar—not something completely different. Are you looking a customer ahead?”

The Evolution of Self-Checkout

Consider this familiar story: Five years ago, Amazon Inc. disrupted the convenience channel with its Amazon Go stores featuring Just Walk Out technology. While the idea of skipping checkout lines was once met with skepticism, today, self-checkout and cashierless technologies are thriving across the retail and restaurant landscape.

By 2025, autonomous checkout is not only mainstream—it’s expected. A recent survey by PYMNTS Intelligence found that 67% of Gen Z and Millennials prefer stores offering self-checkout options, compared to just 38% of Baby Boomers, indicating a clear generational tilt toward digital-first experiences.

Three Recent Global Success Stories

Olímpica S.A. Supermarkets in Colombia partnered with Toshiba to implement AI-powered self-checkout systems. These systems not only reduced wait times but also introduced behavioral detection tools that enhance security—an important consideration in high-traffic retail environments.

MAPCO Convenience Stores launched checkout-free stores powered by Grabango, allowing customers to shop without barcode scanning. This innovation delivers frictionless transactions and enables staff to focus more on customer service than cashier duties.

BP’s Amoco Brand has expanded its use of Grabango’s autonomous technology at multiple locations. This move not only shortens checkout lines but also sends a clear message: convenience is non-negotiable.

Age-Based Adoption of Self-Checkout Technology

Different age groups are adopting self-service technology at their own pace:

·       Gen Z (born 1997–2012): Digital natives. They expect touchscreen interfaces, mobile payments, and personalization. At chains like Sweetgreen, Gen Z customers embrace app-based ordering and prefer customizing their meals digitally.

·       Millennials (born 1981–1996): The bridge between analog and digital. Millennials are heavy users of self-checkout at Target and Whole Foods, especially when combined with loyalty apps and digital coupons.

·       Gen X (born 1965–1980): Open to self-service, but want it to work smoothly. They appreciate the hybrid model—self-checkout lanes that offer staff assistance if needed. Retailers like Kroger have earned Gen X trust by offering “Scan, Bag, Go” systems alongside staffed checkouts.

·       Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964): More hesitant to adopt. Concerns often include usability, fraud, and lack of human interaction. However, stores like Publix are addressing this by staffing self-checkout zones with “guides” to offer support, blending technology with customer care.

Restaurant Chains Leading the Way

Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) have become pioneers in customer-facing automation:

·       McDonald’s has rolled out touchscreen self-ordering kiosks at most locations globally. These kiosks don’t just reduce labor—they boost average check size by 30% due to upselling suggestions.

·       Taco Bell has integrated digital ordering kiosks with its mobile app. A real-world example? The Las Vegas Cantina location, where nearly 80% of orders come through self-service platforms.

·       Burger King has expanded its kiosk footprint and is testing voice-activated ordering in select cities, targeting younger, tech-savvy customers looking for fast, seamless service.

The Role of AI and Food Marketing

Self-checkout is no longer just about speed—it’s about precision, personalization, and safety. AI now plays a key role in:

·       Loss prevention: Systems can detect suspicious scanning patterns and alert staff.

·       Personalized offers: Retailers like 7-Eleven use AI to serve tailored promotions via their apps, based on individual buying habits.

·       Queue optimization: AI helps determine the optimal number of open checkout lanes, both staffed and self-service, improving traffic flow.

From a marketing perspective, AI-powered analytics now guide everything from menu design to limited-time offers. Chipotle, for instance, uses AI to identify top-selling combinations and suggest new bowl options that mirror those preferences.

At the same time, sustainability messaging is becoming critical. Brands that promote digital receipts, reusable packaging, and carbon-neutral checkouts find strong support among younger demographics. Social media plays a powerful role here. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and influencer reviews are now central to how younger consumers discover and interact with foodservice brands.

The Future of Checkout-Free Retail

The most successful implementations of self-service don’t eliminate humans—they reallocate them to higher-value roles, such as customer engagement, store experience, and product education.

Retailers and QSRs adopting this philosophy are building loyalty ecosystems around convenience. Whether through a mobile app that remembers your coffee order or a kiosk that learns your dietary preferences, the future belongs to those who combine tech-enabled efficiency with human empathy.

At Foodservice Solutions®, we specialize in outsourced business development, helping brands identify untapped opportunities in food retail, technology adoption, and menu innovation. As the global leader in the Grocerant niche, we continue to explore how labor-saving technologies can enrich—not replace—the human experience of food.

Drive Sales. Boost Profits. Stay a Step Ahead.

The Foodservice Solutions® team is dedicated to helping you grow your top-line sales and bottom-line profits.

Are you looking a customer ahead? We have the strategies to get you there.

🌎 Visit GrocerantGuru.com
📩 Contact us: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us

Increased Tech Adoption Once Again Insights on What’s Next

 

The team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® has not talked to an operator in any sector of retail foodservice that wants to spend more money on technology. That said, you will and accoding to our own Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson,  Paul Damaren, Chief Revenue Officer at RizePoint is one of the ones you should at least listen too.

Here is wat Paul had to say about 2024 recenlty, “many within the restaurant industry wish we could see into the future and anticipate what’s on the horizon for 2024. While we, unfortunately, don’t have a crystal ball that can predict the future, we do have some indications about what’s in store for our sector in the new year. The anticipated 2024 theme is increased adoption of advanced technologies, including AI, IoT, blockchain, and machine learning. These innovations will help us optimize and improve all aspects of our businesses.

In the new year, expect restaurants to leverage tech solutions to:

§  Optimize operations – Many restaurants harnessed tech solutions to enhance inventory management, streamline supply chains, improve food safety, and more. These tech solutions also provided brand managers with critical data, allowing them to make more informed business decisions on everything from purchasing to scheduling.

§  Boost automation – Labor typically accounts for one of restaurants’ largest operating expenses, so many brands are hoping to cut costs by automating certain tasks, especially as the labor shortage continues. For instance, Sweetgreen has added automation to their kitchen in certain locations, improving accuracy, quality, consistency, productivity, and profit margins. This tech-driven automation dispenses ingredients into 500 bowls per hour, saving labor costs, improving efficiency, and boosting quality control. Interestingly, Sweetgreen is experiencing 50% higher visits at locations with automation vs. their stores without it, and the chain plans to add automation to all its restaurants within the next few years. In 2024, expect more restaurants to follow suit. Chipotle, for example, is testing automation for their salads and bowls. By 2026, the automated food market is expected to be worth an astounding $28 billion globally.

§  Elevate convenience. Technology is making the guest experience far more convenient. In the coming year, more restaurants will feature a one-button checkout experience using stored payment details. Anticipate more tech-enabled, contactless solutions, including mobile ordering and payment, QR code menus, and self-serve kiosks, which will likely enhance convenience and safety. Restaurant tech will also suggest customized offers, add-ons, and new items based each guest’s purchasing history, personal preferences, and dietary needs.

§  Gain data-driven insights – In the new year, expect an increased focus on leveraging data analytics to gain insights into customer behavior. Restaurants will use this valuable data to anticipate customer preferences, track dining habits, and predict peak hours. This will help managers make smarter decisions about every facet of their business, from purchasing strategies to optimizing staff schedules.

§  Improve customer engagement – Restaurants are wisely using tech tools to intensify customer engagement, such as using data analytics to drive personalization and loyalty programs. Accessing a deeper level of insights into customers’ evolving needs allows restaurant brands to meet (and exceed) guests’ expectations. When brands focus on customer service innovation – and personalizing customer experiences, offerings, and recommendations – it boosts customer relationships, loyalty, and retention.

§  Enhance personalization – Did you know that 79% of consumers want personalized menu items based on their purchasing history? Therefore, an important trend for 2024 will be personalized menus, recommendations, and service that meets guests’ individualized needs and dietary requirements. Savvy restaurants will use tech tools to customize all aspects of the dining experience. Expect to see more tailored marketing messages, as well as customized recommendations based on guests’ past purchases. In short, technology will help restaurants connect with customers on a deeper level.

§  Offer omnichannel experiences – Restaurants will continue to invest in their online presence and mobile apps technology, providing elevated, consistent omnichannel experiences. This means that whether a customer dines in, orders takeout, or gets delivery, they’ll receive the same high level of personalization, convenience, quality, and engagement. Additionally, anticipate more loyalty rewards and targeted promotions tailored to individual preferences.

§  Amplify food safety – Food safety and quality remains a focus for restaurants, who are increasingly relying on advanced technologies, including AI and IoT, to maintain the highest food safety standards. Innovative equipment – from smart refrigerators to Bluetooth sensors – indicate any anomalies that could potentially cause a food safety breach. For instance, smart refrigerators generate alarms when temperatures deviate out of the safe range so employees can immediately rectify the situation and prevent food spoilage.

§  Boost sustainability – In 2023, sustainability was a priority within the food industry, as consumers demanded more eco-friendly practices. Restaurants met – and will continue to meet – this call, using technology to monitor (and improve) their eco-friendly practices, reduce waste, enhance ethical sourcing, boost supply chain sustainability, pivot away from single-use plastics, etc.

§  Improve supply chain transparency and resilience – Supply chain disruptions persist, so it’s essential to use tech tools to ensure the steady flow (and safety!) of products. In 2024, restaurants will leverage data analytics and real-time tracking to anticipate and mitigate supply chain disruptions. Blockchain technology, in particular, will play a pivotal role in enhancing supply chain transparency and resilience.

§  Improve traceability – As the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) approaches its deadline, restaurants will focus on meeting the document’s guidelines. This includes preventing foodborne illnesses and ensuring traceability across the food supply chain. The FSMA adoption will be driven by heightened consumer demand for enhanced food traceability, as well as tech advancements for monitoring and compliance. The industry will work collaboratively to create and maintain a safer, more secure food supply.

§  Meet regulatory compliance – Although it can be challenging to stay current on ever-changing food safety regulations, restaurants rose to the challenge last year. Many brands took proactive efforts to monitor regulatory changes and implement protocols to ensure compliance and mitigate risks, a trend that’s predicted to continue next year.

The future of restaurants is tech-driven, and the most successful establishments will embrace tech solutions. Innovations like AI, IoT, blockchain, and machine technology will help restaurants improve safety, quality, efficiency, transparency, personalization, and more. Restaurant leadership would be wise to adopt tech advancements, using these solutions to meet (and exceed!) customers’ expectations. The key to success in 2024 is to leverage technology to stay relevant – and boost customer loyalty – amidst increasing competition.

Paul Damaren is Chief Revenue Officer at RizePoint, a technology leader in the food safety, quality management, compliance, and social responsibility space. RizePoint’s quality management software solutions help companies, including Starbucks, McDonald’s, Hard Rock International, and more, keep brand promises through their quality, safety, and compliance efforts. Customers gather better data, see necessary actions earlier, and act faster to correct issues before they become costly liabilities. Check out RizePoint’s website and/or contact the team to learn how these solutions can help your company”

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and brand and menu integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

KFC Partnership with Lifetime will Air a Mini - Movie with Romance

 

Food marketing that is interactive and participatory is the bedrock of the grocerant niche according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. Yum! Brands Kentucky Fried Chicken and Lifetime have a new partnership that is the most proactive, interactive, and participatory food marketing of 2020 according to Johnson. 

So, in an effort to drive new electricity into the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) brand.  KFC and Lifetime are teaming up to bring consumers: the holiday Lifetime Original Mini-Movie, “A Recipe for Seduction.” The title is enough to garner attention of most Gen Z’s and Millennials alone.

The Lifetime Original Mini-Movie will be featuring veteran actor and star of Lifetime’s FelizNaviDAD Mario Lopez as Colonel Harland Sanders, the first-of-its kind 15-minute Lifetime Original Mini-Movie is full of mystery, suspense, deception, “fowl” play and - at the heart of it all - love and fried chicken. “A Recipe For Seduction” premieres on Lifetime Sunday, December 13 at 12 p.m. ET/PT.

The Mini-movie will drive new electricity into the KFC and its branded products according to Johnson. Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply chain and includes such things as; corporate partnerships, fresh foods, online ordering, delivery, self-driving cars, plant-based foods, sampling, toy’s, podcast, movies, cereal, developing brands, grocerant positioning, fresh food messaging, autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, plates, glasses, cash-less payments, digital hand-held marketing.

All food and beverage retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food and beverages that are portable, fresh, with differentiation that is familiar not different.  Does your retail path forward look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Why?

KFC to enhance the viewing experience this new holiday romance, consumers can order KFC on Uber Eats for delivery and get six free extra crispy tenders with a $20 purchase or more. While enjoying the delicious taste of the Colonel’s secret 11 Herbs & Spices, viewers can share in all the drama of this steamy holiday love affair as they watch a young heiress contend with the affections of a suitor handpicked by her mother. But when a handsome, young chef with a secret fried chicken recipe and a dream arrives, he sets in motion a series of events that unravel the mother’s devious plans.

"We’re no stranger to heating things up for the holidays, just like our famous fried chicken scented Firelog. But let’s face it, we could all use a little distraction this holiday season, so why not fill some of your time at home with a suspenseful drama and the comfort of our world-famous fried chicken?” says Andrea Zahumensky, KFC U.S. CMO. “’A Recipe for Seduction’ is a perfect excuse to curl up at home and escape to your own happily ever after.”

“A Recipe for Seduction” is Lifetime and KFC’s first-ever branded custom mid-form content. The Lifetime Original Mini-Movie is a playful addition to Lifetime’s It’s A Wonderful Lifetime movie slate, which continues to be the fan-favorite destination for holiday content. After its linear premiere, “A Recipe for Seduction” will continue to be available throughout the holiday season on mylifetime.com/christmas- movies, all Lifetime apps, and video-on-demand (VOD) platforms.

“Lifetime is the perfect holiday home to bring this spicy, unexpected tale to life,” adds David DeSocio, EVP, Ad Sales Marketing & Partnerships, A+E Networks. “Through a terrific cast, and with a wink to the unique sensibilities celebrated in Lifetime movies, this co-production spotlights each brand’s POV and marries them in a fun and authentic way. A+E Networks delivers custom creative that our audiences and clients love."

Mario Lopez (Colonel Harland Sanders) stars in Lifetime’s FelizNaviDAD, part of It’s A Wonderful Lifetime’s holiday movie slate. FelizNaviDAD will encore on Lifetime directly following “A Recipe for Seduction.”

Battle for Share of Stomach

Remember interactive and participatory food marketing while watching this mini-movie as you will note cozy scents for your fireplace like the KFC 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog, to vintage-inspired holiday buckets that bring a sense of nostalgia, KFC is spreading warmth and joy this holiday season with a fun film and a mouth-watering Uber Eats offer to help fans end this unpredictable year on a high note.

So, while the holidays may look a bit different this year, let KFC do the heavy lifting to provide a comforting meal that the entire family will enjoy. The Uber Eats special promotion - six free extra crispy tenders with an order of $20 or more for delivery - will be available to fans between December 13 through December 19 via UberEats.com or mobile app.* How interactive and participatory is your brand this year?

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and brand and menu integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Integrating Foodservice Technology in the Age of Grocerants

Success does leave clues, consumers have moved from impulse to buy while out shopping to intent to buy from fresh prepared meals and meal components while at home according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

While it may sound a subtle shift in direction the shift from impulse too intent is a key attribute all food marketers need to heed. Recent insight reveled that dinner has the highest amount of prepared food buys with 79% of respondents making purchases for that meal, while lunch comes in at 77% and breakfast at 62%. If your restaurant is interested in selling dinners, meals, and meal components you now need a classically trained food marketer equipped with the technology that is hand held and branded according to Johnson.

At the intersection of re-opening restaurants, serving safe food, handling food in the safest manner, and the price, value, service equilibrium consumers are aware that restaurant meal prices are up 3% this year over last year and they will use technology to search for meals, meal components, bold flavors, and price according to Johnson.

According to a recent webinar hosted by CSNews online and Paytronix, “The ability to order food via app or website varies ,… but trends currently shaping the industry indicate that it's important for operators to, at least, consider offering mobile ordering and delivery. WHO IS THE MOBILE ORDER CUSTOMER?

Here is what they reported; “Regardless of the difficulties, mobile ordering and delivery represent the next wave of growth in the c-store industry. Apps that tie these services in with mobile payment and loyalty programs will lead to greater success, as they let consumers earn reward points and enjoy special offers while retailers collect valuable data.

Generation Z is the demographic group driving this growth. Currently aged nine to 22, this cohort is the most diverse generation in history and will make up 40 percent of all U.S. consumers this year. More than five in 10 members of Gen Z (55 percent) use their smartphone five or more hours each day; 62 percent of Gen Z find themselves attracted to brands viewed as "fun" or "cool"; and 65 percent say they want real value for their money.

However, it is more difficult to catch the eye of these consumers. Members of Gen Z have an average attention span of eight seconds, compared to 12 seconds for millennials. Visuals may be a key part of doing so, as this generation of digital natives doesn't know a world without technology and is more image/video driven than text driven.

Gen Z sees the world as a smaller place; they are aware of the many different cultures out there and want to experience them. The most accessible way to do so is through the food they purchase, and technology helps connect them to types of food they might not otherwise encounter on their own.

This generation also cares about social justice and wants to know that brands are doing right by both their customers and employees. Transparency is important.

Fifty-two percent of Generation Z and millennials say they would buy from c-stores more if delivery were an option. The more available that delivery is, the more that younger shoppers will take advantage of it.

So, what are the best options for delivery?

Third-party delivery, such as a 7-Eleven Inc.'s partnership with DoorDash, has some notable advantages, such as:

·         Exposure: Third-party delivery partners can offer smaller retail brands equal exposure to some of the most well-known brands in the world, and make people aware that larger brands are now available for delivery.

·         Convenience: C-stores don't have to handle their own delivery logistics.

·         Expenses: C-store chains don't have to maintain their own delivery fleet.

However, 44 percent of customers who have a negative experience with delivery blame the brand; just 25 percent blame the third-party delivery company.

I know that’s a lot of information but I suggest that you reread it and think about who your customer is today, and who will / can be your tomorrow.  No matter what delivery format you chose, consider the entire order-and-delivery ecosystem, which starts at the point of order and goes all the way to the customer handoff, when the food needs to arrive on time, looking appetizing, and at the right temperature.

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and brand and menu integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter