Self-ordering kiosks are a focus in A&W Food Services of Canada's new Urban Concept restaurant. The first Québec location opened this morning. According to a press release, A&W is the first quick-service restaurant chain in Canada to offer customers self-order kiosks, which were initially introduced on a trial basis at Vancouver's airport in 2010.
Located at the front of each restaurant, the kiosks allow customers to use their debit or credit cards to place orders and bypass the ordering line.
A&W has more than 700 units across Canada, so most of its other restaurants operate under the more traditional setting. However, more and more Canadians, especially Montréalers, are living and working in Canada's fast-growing downtown urban centers, CEO Paul Hollands said in the release.
"This is a major innovation for A&W, and with the strength and the vibrancy of Montréal as a major urban centre we are delighted to open the first of our new prototypes here," he said.
Besides kiosks, the urban restaurants also offer free WiFi and a waste-reduction initiative.
