Automated technology is showing up in more places than ever as brands seek to offer consumers an enhanced level of convenience with everyday processes, which is what brings us to the 'SmartCup' automated beverage brewer. Working with tea, coffee and more, the solution works by gets liquids to the optimal temperature in a short amount of time...
If any more evidence was needed that the microbrew trend is here to stay, it's provided by Carnival Cruise Lines, as the company has installed brewing equipment on several of their ships, and hired brewmaster Colin Presby to oversee the operations. Presby’s job is to make Carnival a destination for craft beer fans like him — as well as a place...
Alibaba announced its new robot butler, saying they will be delivering meals and laundry to hotel guests this year. Guests can talk to the robots, which come equipped with its Alexa-like voice assistant, AliGenie. The AI-powered voice assistant already appears in its Tmall Genie, a US$70 gadget designed for the home. Alibaba claims that Tmall...
We don't know if is a trend, but it should be. Lufthansa crews are taking off in traditional Bavarian costume – just in time for Munich’s Oktoberfest. As the yearly tradition, Lufthansa's cabin crews are wearing traditional Bavarian costume on selected flights from Munich instead of their uniforms. Additionally, Lufthansa is bringing beer kegs...
Across the globe, McDonald's menu has a variety of unique tastes. From Malaysia’s BBQ McShaker Fries to the McSpicy Chicken from Hong Kong. Now, McDonald’s is testing a Flavors from Abroad promotion at 50 restaurants across South Florida. Menu items include: Grand McExtreme Bacon Burger from Spain, BBQ McShaker Fries from Malaysia, and McSpicy...
Standard Cognition, which is eliminating the hassle of retail checkout by removing it entirely, has opened San Francisco’s first public cashierless store. The Standard Market proof-of-concept store allows consumers to shop and pay without scanning or stopping to check out. An alternative to Amazon Go, the Standard Cognition platform is the...
In a bid to reduce waste and be more green, the French government is requiring bottles made from recycled plastic to be cheaper than those made from new plastic. Specifically, this movement hopes to reduce the price by up to 10 percent. Depending on what you’re buying to begin with, this could be a significant discount. Either way, it’s clearly...
If you live in Seattle and want to pick up a quick snack without having to wait in a checkout line, you’ve now got two options for where you can do so, as Amazon officially opened its second cashier-less convenience store. To begin a shopping experience at an Amazon Go location, a customer must first download the Amazon Go app and swipe it upon...
If you live in certain neighborhoods in San Jose, California, you can now get some of your groceries delivered by a self-driving car. Bright green cars from the self-driving startup AutoX–with a backup driver inside–will pull up with your order in the trunk. In the backseat, the window rolls down to offer a shelf of extra food to buy. “Last...
Back in April, Pernod Ricard announced plans to collaborate with edible plastics company Loliware to produce the “straw of the future”. The firm produces a plastic cup made from edible materials derived from seaweed and has just launched a drinking straw made from the same hyper-compostable matter. A number of firms within the industry like...