Torchy’s Tacos expands hiring capabilities with AI, boosts retention by 62%

Torchy’s Tacos, the fast-growing Austin-based restaurant chain, is revolutionizing its hiring process with artificial intelligence to maintain its signature “Damn Good” culture while expanding into new markets. To support its aggressive growth strategy, the company has partnered with LANDED, a generative AI-powered recruitment platform, to enhance efficiency in hiring and employee retention.

With more than 130 locations and plans to expand into over 10 new markets in 2024, the company faces the challenge of recruiting at scale without compromising on quality. By integrating AI-powered hiring solutions, Torchy’s Tacos has already seen a 66% reduction in hiring time and a 62% decrease in employee turnover. The AI-driven recruitment system streamlines hiring by automating candidate matching, scheduling interviews, and engaging with applicants through personalized communication. This ensures that new employees are aligned with the company’s culture, reinforcing its commitment to hiring the right people, not just filling positions.

Why Is AI Recruitment Gaining Momentum in the Restaurant Industry?

The restaurant industry has long struggled with high turnover rates and inefficiencies in hiring, making it difficult for brands to scale while maintaining a strong workforce. Fast-casual and quick-service restaurants, including Torchy’s Tacos, are turning to AI-powered hiring solutions to solve these challenges. The need for fast, reliable, and scalable hiring processes has never been greater, especially in a competitive labor market where retaining skilled employees is crucial for operational success.

AI recruitment platforms like LANDED use machine learning to assess candidates not just on experience but also on personality, enthusiasm, and overall suitability for a role. By leveraging AI-driven insights, restaurants can ensure that new hires are a good cultural fit, ultimately improving engagement, retention, and overall team performance. For brands like Torchy’s Tacos, where the customer experience is deeply rooted in company culture, AI-powered hiring solutions offer a way to expand while maintaining the personal touch that has defined its success since its early days as a food truck in Austin.

How Does LANDED’s AI-Powered Hiring Platform Work?

Torchy’s Tacos’ partnership with LANDED integrates an AI-powered hiring platform that optimizes recruitment while keeping the candidate experience personalized. The system streamlines the hiring process by using artificial intelligence to analyze candidate profiles, match them with suitable positions, and automate interview scheduling. By integrating seamlessly with existing hiring workflows, the AI platform allows hiring managers to focus on strategic decision-making rather than administrative tasks.

One of the key benefits of AI-driven hiring is its ability to engage candidates through personalized text communication, reducing response times and improving overall applicant satisfaction. The system also includes multilingual AI capabilities, allowing Torchy’s Tacos to reach a broader and more diverse talent pool. By automating the screening process, hiring managers can make informed decisions faster, ensuring that new employees are aligned with the company’s values and work environment.

According to Ramon Torres, Senior Director of Talent & Total Rewards at Torchy’s Tacos, the AI-powered hiring solution has fundamentally changed the company’s approach to recruitment. He explained that AI has not only made hiring more efficient but has also ensured that new employees are well-suited for their roles, resulting in stronger team dynamics and improved retention. By reducing the time spent on administrative hiring tasks, managers can dedicate more energy to mentoring employees and enhancing the overall work environment.

How Is AI Enhancing the Candidate Experience at Torchy’s Tacos?

While AI recruitment platforms are primarily designed to improve efficiency, Torchy’s Tacos has taken a people-first approach by ensuring that technology enhances, rather than replaces, the human element of hiring. The AI-powered system reflects the brand’s commitment to creating an engaging and welcoming hiring process for all applicants.

Pamela McAfee, Talent Acquisition Partner at Torchy’s Tacos, emphasized that many of the company’s employees started as customers who fell in love with the brand. She explained that the hiring experience should reflect the same level of hospitality that defines the guest experience. By using AI-driven communication and engagement tools, the company ensures that every applicant feels valued from the moment they apply, reinforcing the brand’s reputation as a great place to work.

Candidates benefit from faster response times, improved communication, and a hiring process designed to be as seamless and positive as possible. This approach not only strengthens Torchy’s Tacos’ employer brand but also increases employee satisfaction from the outset, contributing to long-term retention and loyalty.

How Does AI Hiring Align With Torchy’s Tacos’ Growth Strategy?

Torchy’s Tacos has built its success on a strong culture of authentic hospitality, community engagement, and quality food. As the company continues expanding across new markets, its ability to maintain these values depends on hiring employees who embody its ethos. The implementation of AI-powered hiring solutions plays a critical role in ensuring that recruitment efforts align with the brand’s long-term growth strategy.

By optimizing hiring efficiency, Torchy’s Tacos can scale quickly without compromising on quality. The company’s focus on recruiting the right people for the right roles gives it a competitive advantage in a crowded fast-casual market. With labor shortages and rising wage pressures affecting the restaurant industry, hiring the right employees from the start has become more important than ever. AI-driven recruitment provides the scalability, efficiency, and precision necessary to navigate these challenges, allowing Torchy’s Tacos to sustain growth while maintaining its reputation for great food and exceptional service.

Can AI Recruitment Replace the Human Element in Hiring?

While AI technology has transformed hiring processes across industries, Torchy’s Tacos remains committed to a people-first philosophy. The company views AI as an enhancement to recruitment rather than a replacement for human decision-making. Hiring managers continue to play a critical role in evaluating candidates, fostering workplace culture, and ensuring that new employees integrate seamlessly into the company’s operations.

AI recruitment serves as a tool to support decision-making by providing data-driven insights, automating time-consuming tasks, and improving the overall hiring experience. By combining technology with a strong emphasis on personal engagement, Torchy’s Tacos ensures that every new hire is a great fit for the team. This balance between efficiency and personalization is key to maintaining employee satisfaction and building a workforce that embodies the company’s values.

As Torchy’s Tacos expands, AI-powered hiring solutions will remain an essential component of its growth strategy. By investing in technology that enhances recruitment while preserving its Damn Good culture, the brand is ensuring long-term success in an industry where hiring challenges are a constant reality. With AI streamlining the process, managers can focus on mentoring teams, creating an outstanding workplace, and delivering the guest experience that has made Torchy’s Tacos a beloved brand.