{"id":84559,"date":"2026-02-10T23:43:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T02:43:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/891245807"},"modified":"2026-02-10T23:43:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T02:43:41","slug":"3-restaurant-brands-tap-tech-chiefs-to-scale-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/10\/3-restaurant-brands-tap-tech-chiefs-to-scale-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"3 restaurant brands tap tech chiefs to scale operations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"text-to-speech\"> <button class=\"text-to-speech__button button\"> <img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"text-to-speech__button__icon\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ciodive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725&ssl=1\" alt> Listen to the article <span class=\"text-to-speech__button__audio-length\">3 min<\/span> <\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls\"> <audio controls class=\"js-text-to-speech\" preload=\"none\">  <\/audio> <\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls__text\"> This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ciodive.com\/contact\/\">feedback<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>A trio of companies in the restaurant sector added IT chiefs in recent weeks to strengthen their digital capabilities and respond to shifting customer patterns.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Freddy&#8217;s Frozen Custard &amp; Steakburgers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> on <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Tuesday<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> announced it brought on <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>its <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/freddys-frozen-custard--steakburgers-names-todd-paladini-as-companys-first-chief-information-officer-302683384.html\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>first-ever CIO<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, tapping <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Todd Paladini<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> to lead the company&#8217;s enterprise tech strategy and improve the guest and franchisee experience.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Paladini<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> joined the company from <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Cafe Rio Mexican Grill<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, where he spent nearly six years as the Utah-based chain&#8217;s chief technology officer. The executive brings more than <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>two decades of experience managin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>g IT strategy, with a focus on modernization.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In a Tuesday statement, President and<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> CEO Chris Dull<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> highlighted the role of technology in empowering franchisee experiences. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Paladini&#8217;s<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> track record leading technology for high-growth organizations &#8220;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>makes him the right leader to build this new function and help us scale with intention<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>,\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Dull<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>CEC Entertainment<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, the parent company behind <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, also updated its tech leadership structure this month. The company said Monday it promoted <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>CISO and VP of IT Infrastructure Nathan Hunstable to VP of IT and CIO<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, effective Feb. 2.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The restaurant company is currently undergoing a broader leadership transition. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>CFO Scott Drake will take over for David McKillips as CEO<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> and president <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>effective Feb. 13<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantdive.com\/news\/cec-entertainment-ceo-scott-drake\/811199\/\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>the company said last week<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Nathan has done an excellent job elevating our cybersecurity efforts and contributing greatly to other innovation and technology projects<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>,\u201d said <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Drake<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> in an announcement. \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>We\u2019re excited for the next chapter of innovation and technology leadership under Nathan\u2019s direction<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Starbucks last month appointed a new <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>EVP and CTO to replace outgoing chief Deb Hall Lefevre<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantdive.com\/news\/starbucks-amazon-chief-technology-officer-anand-varadarajan\/808482\/\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>who departed the firm in September 2025<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Anand Varadarajan<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> joined the coffee giant effective <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Jan. 19,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> after nearly <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>two decades leading technology efforts in Amazon&#8217;s grocery division<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>CEO <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Brian Niccol<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> praised <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Varadarajan&#8217;s<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> role in building customer-centric technology at Amazon, and tasked him with leading <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/about.starbucks.com\/press\/2025\/message-from-brian-welcoming-anand-varadarajan\/\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Starbucks&#8217; technology organization<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, reporting directly to him.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"standard-heading\"><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Sector focus on technology<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The leadership changes at several leading restaurants reflect the sector&#8217;s ongoing effort to sharpen their use of technology amid shifting customer patterns. Economic concerns tightened consumer wallets last year, and restaurants are aiming to attract spending from <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantdive.com\/news\/six-restaurant-trends-2026-outlook\/809073\/\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>a more discerning clientele in 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In response to economic pressure, nearly <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>one-third of restaurants<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> plan to invest further in technology by introducing new tools into their operations, according to a report from <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.touchbistro.com\/blog\/state-of-restaurants-report\/\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>payment tech provider <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>T<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>ouchBistro<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Almost three-quarters of operators<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> said they plan to spend more on technology in the next <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>six month<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>s, according to the survey of <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>600 restaurant proprietors<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>. Marketing software, reservation software and staff scheduling software were among the most commonly cited tools attracting spend this year.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>&#8220;Technology is no longer optional, but operators have learned that more isn\u2019t always better,&#8221; the company said in the report. &#8220;The focus has shifted from accumulating features to finding solutions that actually solve problems without creating new ones.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Automation and AI are also top of mind for restaurant operators. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>More than 4 in 5<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> operators say they are using AI in some capacity, often to optimize menus and handle reservation processes.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; &#039;s enterprise <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> strategy and improve the &#8230; highlighted the role of <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> in empowering franchisee experiences. &#8230; Pizza, also updated its <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> leadership structure this month. &#8230; leading Starbucks&#039; <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> organization, reporting directly to &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84559\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}