The food service industry is growing and has been for years. Since the inception of "pop machines", the vending and food service industry has been growing. Companies have been developing and initiating new ways of providing consumers with food and beverages. Performance Statistics for the Industry Annual gross revenues $426.1 billion, which is equal to four percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. The Foodservice Industry employs 11.3 million people, making it the nation's largest employer …showed first 75 words of 1575 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1575 total…pilot testing a phone-ahead service where customers can phone in their orders and charge it to their credit cards. McDonalds is test marketing a fingerprint reader that ties into a database of customer fingerprints and credit cards. Diners can then use their fingerprints to charge purchases directly to their cards. Other chains are piloting hand-held PDA's that can send an order from a customer straight to the kitchen before the server leaves the customer's table.