Design Trends – Foodservice Equipment Reports Magazine

How Renovations Increased Efficiencies at a Texas High School

FER Edit — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:06:48 +0000

Michael Francis faces a challenge that’s not uncommon for K-12 food service directors in major cities. “We are landlocked,” says Francis, Director of School Nutrition Services for Spring Branch Independent School District in Houston. “We can’t get any bigger and won’t be adding any new schools.” The district’s 41 existing schools include early education centers as well as elementary…

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Here’s the Deal: Hitting the Target With Custom Fab

Christine Lafave Grace — Fri, 01 May 2026 15:48:17 +0000

Having clearly defined goals and precisely established specs going into a custom fabrication project can make all the difference between a finished product that’s “just right” and one that’s “not quite.” Kristen Horn, COO of Johnson-Lancaster and Associates in Clearwater, Fla., knows this, as she helps oversee Johnson-Lancaster’s own custom fabrication shop and works with specialty fabricators…

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Exclusive: Foodservice Design Best Practices

Karen M. Alley — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:26:13 +0000

For any operator considering a new design or looking to refresh a brand, understanding the current landscape of foodservice is important. From the real estate market to the labor force, a variety of factors make an impact on planning and implementing a new design, but one of the most important things to consider is the customer. “People are looking for convenience…

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Freddy’s Launches First Military Base Location

FER Edit — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:46:18 +0000

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers opened its first-ever U.S. military base location this past week. Situated within the Fort Lee Army installation commissary, the restaurant operates within a smaller footprint than a traditional Freddy’s. It features a streamlined kitchen and a simplified menu designed specifically for the space. “We had to be flexible in how we approached this location…

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A Look Behind the Scenes at Feeding Music Festival Fans

Allison Rezendes — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:26:18 +0000

From the Innings Festival in February to Austin City Limits in October, and Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza in between, music festivals run year-round. Part of the experience includes dining, of course. In fact, it’s a critical component, says Kevin Noonan, senior food and beverage manager for C3 Presents, based in Austin, Texas, which produces each of these events. Kevin Noonan…

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Consultants Highlight Catering Equipment Trends

Lisa Arnett — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 15:17:02 +0000

Catering continues to be a profit center for many operators. Here, three foodservice consultants—David B. Hammersley of TBCI Design in St. Petersburg, Fla.; Ryan Rongo of Chicago-based S2O Consultants; and Matthew Anderson of Rippe Associates in Minneapolis-St. Paul—share the latest in equipment they’re recommending for their catering clients. Rongo often works with sports teams on stadiums…

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Bubble Tea Brand Launches Redesign

FER Edit — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:55:34 +0000

Gong cha, a global bubble tea brand with about 2,440 locations, is introducing a “next-generation design” powered by automation and digital self-order kiosks. The chain’s beverage automation platform—called the Super Wu system (named after Gong cha founder, Wu Zhenhu)—is now being rolled out globally following a two-year pilot at 40-plus stores across 13 countries. The system dispenses tea…

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Roti Opens First Delivery-Only Kitchen

FER Edit — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:55:37 +0000

Fast-casual brand Roti Modern Mediterranean has opened its first ghost kitchen, located near its Atlanta headquarters. The ghost kitchen, offering delivery through third-party platforms, allows the brand to serve the Greater Atlanta Area without the footprint of a traditional dine-in restaurant. “Nontraditional locations like ghost kitchens play a critical role in how we grow,” says Sara Berthen…

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Five Guys’ Flagship Restaurant Boasts a Full Bar

FER Edit — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:18:12 +0000

Five Guys has opened a flagship restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip that features a full bar and breakfast all day. It’s the brand’s first restaurant in the country to feature a full walk-up bar serving beer, wine, frozen cocktails and specialty alcoholic milkshakes. The restaurant also serves Five Guys’ signature burgers and hand-cut fries. “We wanted to deliver what people have always loved…

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White Castle Opens Automated Kiosk

FER Edit — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:55:30 +0000

White Castle announced today that it has opened an automated kiosk, serving freshly heated, ready-to-eat sliders, at Boston Logan Int’l Airport. White Castle opened the kiosk in partnership with Just Baked, an automated food kiosk company, and Evolvending, the operator and manager of automated dining solutions. The kiosks boasts a menu featuring classic sliders along with new options…

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