News Briefs

A longstanding hamburger chain is entering a new partnership to serve its customers on the go.

White Castle and Automated Retail Technologies (ART) have teamed up to expand access to the brand’s famous sliders through hot-food automated kiosks, marking a significant step in the brand’s growth beyond restaurant locations and frozen food aisles where its products can be found. Starting with 1,000 locations, White Castle Crave & Go kiosks prepare orders for guests on the go through a technology-enabled platform.

ART says the kiosks are an ideal channel to extend White Castle’s reach. The company's Just Baked baked goods kiosks are already deployed in a broad range of high-traffic environments, including colleges, healthcare systems, corporate campuses and transportation hubs. 

“This partnership provides a fun new way for consumers to experience White Castle,” said Jamie Richardson, chief marketing officer at White Castle. “Automated retail allows us to meet consumers when cravings strike – on campuses, in hospitals and at workplaces – while delivering the hot and tasty quality that has defined our brand for more than 100 years.”

[READ MORE: White Castle expands robotic delivery partnership with Uber Eats]

White Castle and ART will also collaborate to test future product innovation and menu expansion specifically designed for automated retail environments. The Crave & Go kiosk rollout has already begun, with expansion expected to accelerate throughout 2026.

“We’re proud to partner with an American icon like White Castle,” said David Chessler, founder of ART. “Together, we’re making it easier for consumers to access authentic White Castle favorites in locations where traditional restaurants may not be available.”

Based in Columbus, Ohio, family-owned White Castle owns and operates about 340 restaurants nationwide.

A Midwest convenience giant is expanding its use of artificial intelligence.

Casey’s General Stores and SoundHound AI have renewed and expanded their partnership. The tech company’s AI-powered ordering agents have already supported Casey’s in handling more than 21 million guest interactions, successfully processing millions of food orders. Casey’s has deployed the technology across more than 2,600 locations, helping ensure guests can place orders quickly and easily.

[READ MORE: Casey’s Q3 earnings soar on expanding margins]

Leveraging SoundHound’s voice AI ordering agents, Casey’s stores can answer incoming calls for pizza even during peak meal times, reducing missed orders and long hold times while ensuring guests can place orders quickly and accurately.

SoundHound AI has deployed its voice and conversational AI tools at several restaurant companies to better streamline operations. Peet’s Coffee, Jersey Mike’s, Peter Piper Pizza and Red Lobster have all implemented the AI-enabled voice ordering technology.

“We’re focused on making it easier for our team members to deliver quality and convenience for our guests, especially during peak ordering times,” said Sanjeev Satturu, senior VP, chief information officer at Casey’s. “Expanding our partnership with SoundHound AI allows us to scale a proven solution that improves the guest ordering experience and helps our team members operate more efficiently across thousands of locations.”

Headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Casey’s operates approximately 2,900 convenience stores. Founded in 1968, the company has grown to become the third-largest convenience store retailer and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States.

The world’s third-largest pizza chain is entering what it says is a first-of-its-kind drone delivery partnership.

Little Caesars Pizza is offering delivery via the new Flytrex Sky2 drone from a test store in Wylie, Texas. The Sky2 drone carries up to 8.8 pounds, which according to Flytrex is the largest carrying capacity of any food delivery drone currently available.

This enables Little Caesars customers to receive two large pizzas and sodas in a single drone delivery, which the retailer says first for on-demand food delivery by air. In another first for drone-based food delivery, the Flytrex platform directly integrates with Little Caesars' ordering systems, allowing orders placed via the Flytrex app to flow directly into existing POS systems at the retailer’s stores.

"Innovation at Little Caesars has always been driven by one thing — making it easier for customers to enjoy our pizza," said Trish Heusel, VP of innovation at Little Caesars."Partnering with Flytrex to bring full family meals by drone delivery is a major leap forward, and a clear example of how we're pushing the boundaries of convenience, speed, and accessibility in our category."

The Sky2 drone has an extended four-mile delivery radius and collects orders directly outside restaurants, streamlining the handoff process. Little Caesars is also delivering orders via Zipline drone from stores in the Rowlett, Texas area.

[READ MORE: Zipline expands Texas drone delivery to Walmart, Popeye’s, and more]

"Flytrex is laser-focused on making on-demand food delivery by drone a reality for everyday families," said Amit Regev, CEO and co-founder of Flytrex. "Until now, drones simply weren't capable of delivering a full family meal. The Sky2 changes that. This partnership with Little Caesars expands what drone delivery can do and better meets customers' expectations."

Chico's FAS is upgrading its loyalty programs and launching its first-ever credit cards for each of its three banners.

The women’s apparel and intimates retailer is introducing refreshed loyalty offerings for its Chico’s (Club Chico's), WHBM (WHBM Prestige) and Soma (Soma My Rewards) banners. The programs are designed to provide simplified program structures, including fewer tiers, extended six-month reward redemption windows and greater opportunities to earn, especially when paired with the new credit cards.

In addition, Chico’s intends to drive stronger engagement and long-term growth by encouraging higher reward redemption and more frequent interaction. 

Chico’s is also partnering with financial services company Synchrony and Mastercard to issue a Mastercard-supported, co-branded credit card and private label credit card in conjunction with each loyalty program. Synchrony will also offer Chico's FAS differentiated underwriting with Synchrony Prism, its credit decisioning platform.

The credit cards are designed to work hand-in-hand with these programs, allowing customers to earn more and obtain curated benefits. The Chico's FAS credit card programs offer customers:

• 7.5% back in rewards on purchases at the card's origin brand.
• 2% back in rewards on grocery store & restaurant purchases and 1% back everywhere else Mastercard is accepted with the co-branded card.
• 15% off their first purchase when they open and use a new credit card at the card's origin brand.
• Exclusive benefits including free shipping, birthday rewards, and exclusive offers throughout the year.
• Mastercard network security offerings including ID theft protection and zero liability.

[READ MORE: Chico’s to go private in $1 billion deal]

The Chico’s FAS portfolio consists of three brands: Chico's, WHBM (White House Black Market) and Soma, with more than 1,000 stores throughout the U.S. and online. Chico's FAS is part of KnitWell Group, a multi-brand retail company comprised of U.S. apparel brands Ann Taylor, Haven Well Within, Lane Bryant, Loft, and Talbots.

Yesway has made its trading debut.

Backed by private-equity firm Brookwood Financial Partners, the convenience store operator has gone public in an initial public offering that raised about $280 million, selling 14 million shares at $20 each for a valuation of $1.21 billion. As of April 22, the shares are trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "YSWY.”

Yesway has gone public with an eye to expanding its store network. In an updated filing with the SEC in April, the company said it intends to open 130 new stores by 2031, most of them new‑to‑industry builds. 

[READ MORE: C-store retailer Yesway files IPO, plans to open 130 new stores by 2031]

Morgan Stanley is acting as lead bookrunning manager for the offering. J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are acting as active bookrunning managers. Barclays, BMO Capital Markets, KeyBanc Capital Markets, Guggenheim Securities, and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. are also acting as bookrunners.

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Yesway operates 449 stores under its namesake and Allsup's banners across nine states in the Midwest and Southwest. 

Tailored Brands Inc. is eying a return to the public market.

The 53-year-old company, whose brands include Men’s Wearhouse and Jos.A. Bank, said that it has confidentially filed for an initial public offering of its common stock. Tailored Brands first went public in 1992. But it filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020 and emerged with a reorganization that effectively handed over control of the business to its former lenders. 

During the past year, Tailored Brands has reshuffled its leadership team, including the appointment of John Tighe as CEO, succeeding Peter Sachse who was named executive chairman of the company’s board.  

[READ MORE: Men’s Wearhouse parent names new CFO, COO]

Tailored Brands said the number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The offering is subject to the completion of the SEC review process, as well as market and other conditions.

Tailored Brands operates more than 1,000 stores under the Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores and K&G Fashion Superstore banners in North America.