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Marc Lore Expands Wonder With AI-Driven Restaurant Platform

Redefining The Culinary Landscape

Marc Lore is expanding his food venture Wonder, focusing on AI-driven restaurant creation and automated kitchen operations. The company is developing a system that combines software, logistics and robotics to manage multiple restaurant brands within shared kitchen infrastructure.

Wonder Create: The AI-Powered Platform For Restaurateurs

Wonder Create allows users to generate restaurant concepts through AI prompts. The system produces brand elements, menus, pricing and recipes, which are then deployed across Wonder’s kitchen network. Access is designed for a range of users, including food entrepreneurs and digital creators, who can launch and test concepts without opening a physical location.

Programmable Cooking Platforms And Automated Precision

Operations are based on modular kitchen systems capable of supporting multiple cuisines within a single site. More than 120 such units are currently in use, with plans to expand to 400. Each location operates with small teams supported by automation tools, including conveyors and robotic systems, aimed at increasing output and maintaining consistency.

Strategic Acquisitions And Expansion Of Capabilities

Expansion includes acquisitions of technology and food businesses. Spice Robotics was acquired to strengthen automation capabilities. Additional deals involving Grubhub and Blue Apron expand distribution and supply chain reach. The company has also acquired existing restaurant brands, including Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken, to scale offerings within its network.

A New Era For Food Experimentation And Brand Expansion

The platform allows testing of new food concepts without long-term commitments. Users can introduce menus, measure demand and adjust offerings through centralized operations. Capabilities are strongest in standardized formats such as burgers, bowls and fast-casual items, where automation can be applied more efficiently.

Looking Ahead

Wonder aims to increase annual meal output from 7 million to 20 million without proportional growth in staffing. Long-term plans include operating multiple brands from a single location, with targets of up to 1,000 concepts within one site by 2035.

European Wage Trends: ECB Signals Slowing Growth Amid Persistent Labor Market Disparities

ECB Wage Tracker Reveals Diminishing Wage Momentum

The latest wage tracker published by the European Central Bank points to slower negotiated wage growth across the euro area over the next two years. According to the report, smoothed calculations that include one-off payments project wage growth slowing from 3.2% in 2025 to 2.3% in 2026. ECB estimates are based on wage agreements covering 51.3% of employees in 2025, with coverage expected to decline to 41.9% in 2026.

Methodological Insights And Economic Implications

The ECB noted that its headline wage tracker smooths bonuses, inflation compensation and other temporary payments over 12 months to provide a clearer view of monthly and quarterly wage developments. Unsmoothed calculations, meanwhile, show negotiated wage growth at 3.0% in 2025 and 2.6% in 2026. When one-off payments are excluded entirely, projections indicate wage growth slowing from 3.8% in 2025 to 2.6% in 2026. According to the report, the easing trend largely reflects the fading impact of large one-time payments agreed during 2024, with their influence expected to diminish significantly by the end of 2026.

Wage Growth Projections And Future Considerations

Quarterly projections published by the ECB show negotiated wage growth averaging 1.8% in the first quarter, rising to 2.1% in the second quarter and reaching 2.6% in the second half of the year. More moderate base wage increases compared with previous years are also reflected in the figures, particularly as the effect of non-recurring bonuses weakens. At the same time, the ECB cautioned that ongoing economic uncertainty could still lead to renewed use of one-off payments in future collective bargaining agreements.

Cyprus Wage Data: Bright Spots Amid Persistent Inequality

Separate data released by Cystat showed continued wage growth in Cyprus during 2025. Average monthly earnings reached €2,605, while the median monthly salary stood at €1,968. Differences between average and median earnings continued to highlight uneven income distribution and the influence of higher earners on overall wage data.

Closing the Gap: Gender And National Disparities

The Cystat report also showed continued wage disparities based on gender and nationality. Male employees recorded average earnings of €3,102 compared with €2,718 for female employees, although women experienced slightly faster annual wage growth. Differences were also evident between Cypriot and non-Cypriot workers. According to the data, 42.8% of Cypriot employees earned between €1,500 and €2,999 per month, while 47.7% of non-Cypriot workers earned less than €1,500. Non-Cypriot employees were also overrepresented in the highest income category above €6,000.

Outlook And Strategic Implications

The data point to moderating wage growth across the euro area while also highlighting persistent structural inequalities within labour markets. As collective bargaining negotiations continue evolving amid economic uncertainty, policymakers and employers are expected to remain focused on balancing wage growth, inflation pressures and labour market stability.

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