Co-Manager

Michigan's first self-serve Little Caesars lets customers skip human contact. DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) - Little Caesars recently introduced Michigan's first fully contactless, self-service restaurant in Dearborn Heights. The location is the second of its kind in the nation, allowing customers to order, pay for and pick up their food without ever speaking to an employee. The new location allows customers to walk in, grab items from a self-service station, place them on a scale, pay and head out the door. Those wanting specialty orders can still order online or on their phone, and for anyone who misses human interaction, there's even a bell to ring if assistance is needed. Customers seem happy with the change - so far. Customers interviewed by Bridge Michigan about the new setup seemed impressed with the speed and convenience. "It is way more convenient," one customer said. "Just come in, grab your pizza, go." Before anyone starts imagining robots tossing dough in the back, employees are still making the pizzas. The automation is focused on the customer-facing side of the business, eliminating traditional cashiers and counters. The future is self-serve. Still, the concept is another sign that self-checkout technology continues spreading beyond grocery stores and into other industries. Researchers cited by Bridge Michigan note that automation and related technologies could replace roughly 20% of U.S. jobs over the next two decades. One former employee who stopped by for lunch couldn't help but notice the difference. "When I first got here, there's actually people working over here at the counter and I worked in the back," he recalled. "Honestly, it's kind of crazy. That's the way the world's moving." And perhaps that's the real takeaway. Whether it's groceries, banking, fast food or now pizza, businesses increasingly want customers to do the work themselves. The good news? Your pizza is still Hot-N-Ready. The bad news? You're officially part of the workflow, but somehow not on the payroll. meet the author J.P. Isbell. Jen Isbell has spent nearly 20 years as a journalist. She is a Michigan News Source daily contributor who prefers pets over people because they cause fewer problems.

New Little Caesars in Herndon aiming for May launch. The Burn has got some big Pizza! Pizza! news for Herndon-area residents. Construction is nearly done on the new Little Caesars pizza restaurant coming to town and it should be opening soon. Little Caesars has taken over a vacant 1,600 s.f. space in the Elden Street Marketplace shopping center on Elden Street. Construction is already well underway and The Burn is told it should be wrapping up in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the new store's Google listing lists Tuesday, May 19 as its target opening - although those dates sometimes change. Little Caesars - which is ubiquitous in some communities across the country - has locations scattered around Northern Virginia - but there are none in the Herndon-Reston-Tysons corridor, according to the company's website. This new store will start to change that. Like many locations, the new Herndon Little Caesars will focus on carryout and delivery. There won't likely be a dining room of any sort. The Little Casesars brand is known for its "Ready to Go" cheese pizzas and pepperoni pizzas available without a wait as well as its popular Crazy Bread garlic bread. (Image at top: Little Caesars)

Little Caesars promotes Sally Rampersad to director of non-traditional and development services. PRESS RELEASE: The third-largest pizza chain worldwide elevates Rampersad after her success driving franchise growth across Canadian markets and U.S. global support initiatives Sally Rampersad joined Little Caesars in 2018. Courtesy of Little Caesars Little Caesars, the third-largest pizza chain in the world, announced today that Sally Rampersad has been promoted to Director of Non-Traditional and Development Services. Rampersad joined Little Caesars in 2018 as a Development Manager in Ontario, Canada, where she drove franchise development across key Canadian markets. In this role, she cultivated relationships with prospective franchisees, supported strategic site selection, and helped expand the brand footprint across both traditional and non-traditional channels. Her work played a meaningful role in advancing growth throughout Canadian territories by aligning franchise development efforts with long-term brand objectives. In 2023, Rampersad transitioned to the U.S. Development team as Program Manager for Global Support. In this position, she led cross-functional initiatives designed to strengthen franchise development support, streamline development processes across regions, and elevate collaboration between internal teams. She also supported participation in major industry events and contributed to the expansion of non-traditional locations, including airports and campus environments, reinforcing the brand's focus on flexible formats and innovative real estate opportunities. "Over the past several years, I've had the opportunity to work across markets and teams to help strengthen Little Caesars development strategy, from supporting franchise growth in Canada to leading global initiatives that enhance how we collaborate and execute," said Rampersad. "As I step into this role, I'm eager to focus on expanding our non-traditional footprint and delivering flexible, strategic development solutions that support franchisees and bring Little Caesars to guests in new and innovative ways." As Director of Non-Traditional and Development Services, Rampersad now leads strategy and execution for growth in non-traditional venues such as airports, entertainment destinations, universities, and other high-traffic environments. She also supports franchisee recruitment, site strategy, and integrated development services that align with current growth goals. Through this role, Rampersad will continue advancing flexible development solutions while opening new pathways for consumer access and franchise expansion. With more than 60 years of family-owned history, Little Caesars is known for its signature "Hot-N-Ready" pizzas, the "Pizza! Pizza!" catchphrase, and its emphasis on quality, value, and convenience. Franchisees benefit from an integrated supply chain, innovative menu offerings, and flexible restaurant formats, including the new Elev8 design and modular POD units, allowing the brand to adapt to a variety of real estate options. Little Caesars also maintains a strong community focus through its Love Kitchen(R) program, which has served more than 4 million meals nationwide, and partnerships with local schools, sports teams, and nonprofits. Franchising investments start at around $379,000, with incentive programs available for veterans and first responders. Interested candidates can learn more information at franchise.littlecaesars.com. About Little caesars(r). Little Caesars, the Best Value in Pizza*, was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch as a single, family-owned restaurant in 1959 and is headquartered in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It is the third-largest pizza chain in the world, with restaurants in each of the 50 U.S. states and 30 countries and territories. Known for its HOT-N-READY(R) pizza, Crazy Puffs(R), and famed Crazy Bread(R), Little Caesars uses quality ingredients, like fresh, never-frozen mozzarella and Muenster cheese and sauce made from fresh-packed, vine-ripened California crushed tomatoes. The brand is known for innovation and is home to the exclusive Pizza Portal(R) pickup, a heated, self-service mobile order pickup station. Little Caesars is also the Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL. A high-growth company with over 65 years in the $150 billion worldwide pizza industry, Little Caesars continually looks for franchisee candidates to join the team in markets worldwide. In addition to providing the opportunity for entrepreneurial independence in a franchise system, Little Caesars offers a simple operating system, a reputation for taste and value, and strong brand awareness with one of the most recognized characters in the country, Little Caesar. Little Caesars is proud to be part of the Ilitch Companies family of businesses.