May 16–19, 2026
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL
Peak Season Prep, Issue 3
Serve Peak Crowds at Peak Efficiency
The customer foot traffic is coming. The question is how well you’re set up to handle it.
You’ll find the answer in today’s cutting-edge operational technology. Technomic’s 2026 global foodservice trend predictions describe the shift from experimentation to implementation as robotics, AI and automation become more commonplace in kitchens. These tools can anticipate order volume, reducing waste, cutting prep time, minimizing costs and more.
AI solutions, in particular, have seen a rise in interest and investment. Tech company Qu’s State of Digital report, as covered in Restaurant Business, found that 51% of limited-service chains surveyed were purchasing AI-powered systems, with another 22% planning to do so this year. The areas operators are focusing on include:
purchasing AI-powered systems, with another 22% planning to do so this year. The areas operators are focusing on include:
- Marketing and personalization (53%)
- Predictive analytics (40%)
- Voice ordering (39%)
- Drive-through computer vision (19%)
- Kitchen computer vision (16%)
- Dynamic menu pricing (13%)
To get the most impact, restaurants need to streamline adoption, whether it’s scaling systems to work at multiple locations or creating a unified tech structure to avoid data fragmentation. Operators who achieve that goal will build a more resilient business that can keep up with seasonal rushes.
Beyond this technological efficiency, the deeper opportunity is experiential. When AI and automated systems handle everything from demand forecasting to back-of-house logistics, operators and their teams can redirect energy toward their guests — precisely when summer crowds are at their peak.
Discover the tools making it possible at the 2026 Show. From innovative KI awardees to new solutions in the TECH Pavilion, you’ll discover that the future of foodservice is here now.
Download the 2026 Foodservice Outlook: Operations, Equipment and Technology report for a deeper look at the operational trends driving the industry forward.
