Speed Meets Hospitality: How Fridays & Go Scaled the Express Dining Model Across the UK

Heritage restaurant brands across the UK are facing a familiar challenge: how to modernise for today’s guests without losing what made them successful in the first place. For TGI Fridays, the answer came in the form of Fridays & Go—a fast, contemporary express concept designed to deliver the brand’s well-known flavours, fast.

Creating a new format is one thing. Making it operationally viable at scale is another entirely; that’s where ConnectSmart® Kitchen plays a critical role.

Bringing a Heritage Brand Into a Fast, Modern Format

Fridays & Go was built with the modern UK guest in mind—guests who value speed, convenience, and digital ordering, but still expect consistency and quality from a trusted brand. The concept blends streamlined menus with express service, offering a quicker way to enjoy Fridays' favourites without the friction of a full-service experience.

To make that work, the kitchen needed to operate differently, supporting a hybrid model that could flex between speed-focused and traditional service demands.

The Challenge: Delivering Signature Quality at Express Speed

Launching an express format introduces operational pressure, particularly for brands rooted in casual dining. Fridays & Go needed to overcome several key challenges:

• Managing high-order volumes during peak trading periods
• Maintaining food quality and consistency with smaller, more efficient teams
• Balancing eat-in and takeaway orders without compromising either experience

Without the right kitchen technology in place, these pressures can quickly lead to bottlenecks, delayed orders, and increased waste.

How ConnectSmart Kitchen Enabled Smarter Operations

ConnectSmart Kitchen provided the structure and visibility Fridays & Go needed to support a faster, more adaptable service model.

• Seamless Order Flow
  • Orders are processed directly from the EPOS (electronic point of sale) system to the kitchen, eliminating manual steps and reducing errors. Teams receive clear, accurate information the moment an order is placed.
• Intelligent Routing and Timing
  • Items are routed to the correct prep stations in real time, keeping production flowing smoothly even during busy periods. Built-in timing tools help prevent congestion and ensure food is prepared and delivered efficiently.
• Clear, Real-Time Kitchen Visibility
  • With a clear view of what needs to be prepared and when, kitchen teams can stay focused, prioritise effectively, and respond quickly as demand changes—leading to calmer shifts and more reliable service.

The Results: Faster Service, Less Waste, Better Coordination

With ConnectSmart Kitchen in place, Fridays & Go saw measurable operational improvements, including:

• Faster service during peak periods
• Reduced waste through improved timing and order coordination
• Stronger communication and alignment across kitchen teams
• Crucially, the operational model proved flexible enough to support both express and dine-in service, giving the brand the freedom to adapt to different locations and guest needs.
  
  

What Fridays & Go Signals for the UK Market

Fridays & Go highlights a broader shift taking place across the UK hospitality sector. As hybrid dining models become more common, kitchens must support multiple order channels, service styles, and fulfilment speeds, all within the same footprint.

Success in this environment depends on more than menu changes or front-of-house design. It requires a smart, connected kitchen system built for visibility, speed, and flexibility.

ConnectSmart Kitchen helps hospitality brands scale new service formats with confidence—whether they’re launching express concepts, modernising existing restaurants, or operating both side by side. Find out more.