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If there’s one thing restaurant owners have in common, it’s that they have too much to do and too little time.
That’s why Popmenu uses AI and other modern technologies to assist restaurant owners reclaim more of life’s most precious resource: daylight.
Brendan Sweeney AND Tony Roy are co-founders Pop MenuSaaS company that helps restaurant owners navigate the increasingly complex and technology-driven landscape of the industry. They recently sat down with Shawn Walchef to record an episode Restaurant Influencers podcast.
Popmenu’s vision is not only about using technology, but using it well. Technology should integrate seamlessly into the fabric of operations and be paired with priceless data to make life easier for restaurant owners.
In April 2024, Popmenu carried out nationwide survey of 1000 consumers in the USA about their eating habits.
The company’s research found that buyers are spending 10% less of their food budget at restaurants than before—30% now in comparison with 40% in 2022. Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed said they are spending the same as before but are now tipping less.
As the restaurant industry faces increasing challenges, Sweeney realizes that simply offering great food and service won’t be enough to maintain restaurants open.
Establishments that adapt to the times will proceed to thrive. Great food and service should all the time be available, but now great technology must even be included.
“Restaurants that are doing what they need to do to stay in business or are growing,” Sweeney says.
Sweeney emphasizes that while hospitality alone is not a guarantee of success, adapting to the times is essential. Restaurants that resist engaging with technology and digital marketing are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain up.
“There are just too many options that are in front of you all the time,” she says. “I think that’s beginning to take shape now, more and more. [Restaurants] understand more about what they should do. They consider.”
AI Marketing
Understanding the changing dynamics of the industry drives Popmenu’s innovation.
In an April 2024 study, Popmenu found that almost all restaurant operators listed “creating marketing content” as one of their most time-consuming tasks. Three-quarters said they were open to using AI to avoid wasting time when creating marketing content.
That’s where Popmenu’s AI-powered content calendar, designed to take the pressure off restaurant owners, comes in. It pre-populates an entire month of digital content—social posts, emails, and text messages—based on restaurant activity and trends.
“This puts them in the position of editor-in-chief,” Sweeney says, “and allows restaurant owners to approve or edit content without having to begin from scratch.
The result? Faster, cheaper, and more practical content that consistently outperforms hand-crafted alternatives.
Sweeney is proud to indicate that Popmenu was already using AI long before generative tools like ChatGPT got here along, making them a prime company to integrate latest technologies.
In addition to digital innovation, Roy, co-founder and COO of Popmenu, emphasizes the importance of industry events similar to National Restaurant Association where she opened her own illegal bar — to remain connected and visible in the industry.
“We do it to learn, to meet as many people as possible, whether it’s partners or clients,” Roy says. “We love the shows. I’d like to do more of them,” he says, noting the tangible advantages these meetings bring, including the opportunity to interact directly with potential clients and partners.
Together, Sweeney and Roy are not only addressing the challenges facing modern restaurants—they are proactively leading the change, equipping businesses with the tools and strategies needed to thrive in a world where technology and engagement are key to success.
“It’s about getting in front of your fans and potential fans as many times as possible,” Sweeney says. “Not being afraid, not being shy, not thinking you have to be perfect all the time.”
What if you add AI to the recipe?
“Orders just follow.”
ABOUT Restaurant Influencers
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