This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20260323225291\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n Forget the flimsy coloring sheets. Grub Lab delivers kids menus
\nThe funding will scale Grub Lab\u2019s proprietary platform, which enables independent restaurants to offer licensed, interactive kids\u2019 menus tied to major sports leagues and blockbuster franchises complete with QR-enabled augmented reality (AR) experiences, games, and exclusive retail offers.<\/p>\n \nA Critical Moment for Restaurants in 2026<\/p>\n \nAmerica\u2019s independent restaurant owners are navigating one of the most complex operating environments in decades:<\/p>\n Food costs remain elevated, with wholesale food prices up more than 20% compared to pre-2020 levels.<\/p>\n Labor remains tight and expensive, with restaurant wages up approximately 25% since 2019.<\/p>\n Consumer dining frequency has softened, as inflation-sensitive households pull back on discretionary spending.<\/p>\n Family traffic is increasingly experience-driven, with parents prioritizing value and engagement when choosing where to dine.<\/p>\n \nAccording to recent industry data<\/a> from the National Restaurant Association, operators report that traffic growth in 2026 remains uneven, with families in particular seeking venues that offer more than just a meal.<\/p>\n \n\u201cParents aren\u2019t just buying chicken tenders anymore,\u201d said Mick Carr, CEO of Grub Lab. \u201cThey\u2019re buying 45 minutes of peace, entertainment for their kids, and a reason to come back. Restaurants need tools that help them compete for that experience.\u201d<\/p>\n \nReinventing the Kids\u2019 Menu<\/p>\n \nThe traditional black-and-white, photocopied kids\u2019 menu has gone largely unchanged for decades. Grub Lab transforms it into a dynamic brand and engagement platform with:<\/p>\n Collectible, full-color licensed menus tied to NBA teams and major entertainment franchises<\/p>\n AR-powered digital extensions that bring mascots and characters to life on the restaurant table<\/p>\n Interactive games and creative activities accessible via QR code<\/p>\n Integrated retail promotions, including exclusive discounts to the NBA Store through Fanatics<\/p>\n Custom white-label branding, allowing independent restaurants to feature their own logo and menu alongside licensed IP<\/p>\n \nThe result: happier kids, happier parents, longer stays and more reasons to return.<\/p>\n \nFresh menu editions are delivered every other month, ensuring restaurants always have something new, surprising, and collectible on their tables.<\/p>\n \nThrough partnerships with national distributors and broker networks, Grub Lab enables restaurants, from regional chains to single-location operators, to access intellectual property typically reserved for global QSR giants.<\/p>\n \nDesigned to Be Effortless for Operators<\/p>\n \nGrub Lab was built with independent operators in mind.<\/p>\n \nRestaurants customize their menu once, or as often as they like, through a simple online interface. Grub Lab then handles printing, production, and shipping. New editions arrive approximately every 60 days, ready to go.<\/p>\n \nNo in-house designer. \n\u201cMajor leagues and studios have historically partnered with brands like McDonald\u2019s or Burger King,\u201d Carr said. \u201cWe built a scalable platform so Betty\u2019s Diner in Alabama or a five-unit concept in Atlanta can offer the same caliber of experience.\u201d<\/p>\n \nWhy This Matters Now<\/p>\n \nIn 2026, consumer behavior is shifting in ways that directly impact restaurant profitability:<\/p>\n Families are dining out less frequently, but when they do, they are seeking memorable, shareable moments.<\/p>\n Social media continues to influence dining decisions, with parents increasingly choosing restaurants that offer kid-friendly experiences worth posting about.<\/p>\n Independent restaurants lack the in-house marketing resources to create experiential programs at scale.<\/p>\n \nGrub Lab\u2019s plug-and-play system addresses each of these pain points without requiring marketing teams, in-house designers, or digital developers.<\/p>\n \n\u201cOur goal is simple,\u201d said Carr. \u201cMake it effortless for independent restaurants to offer big-brand experiences that drive repeat visits and increase ticket size.\u201d<\/p>\n \nAbout Grub Lab<\/p>\n \nGrub Lab is a restaurant technology platform modernizing the kids\u2019 dining experience through licensed sports and entertainment partnerships, interactive AR-powered digital extensions, and scalable print solutions. Founded in Australia, the company is expanding across the United States with partnerships spanning professional sports leagues and major entertainment studios.<\/p>\n \nGrub Lab delivers famous brands, fun games, exclusive offers, and fresh collectible menus every other month to help restaurants drive loyalty, repeat visits, and longer family stays without additional operational burden.<\/p>\n \nVisit www.grublab.co<\/a>.<\/p>\n \nFor media inquiries, interviews, or launch event details, please contact:![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260323225291\/en\/2752709\/4\/GRUB_LAB_AR_BOOKLETv31.2WEB_TOM-MESSAGING-GL-HERO-IMAGE.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\npacked with digital games, fun activities and exclusive offers
\nfeaturing the biggest sports & entertainment brands. Easy to
\ncustomize. Printed and delivered to your door. Fresh menus
\narrive every other month.<\/p>\n
\n
No marketing team.
\n
No extra work for staff.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n
Lydia Davey at Attentio PR
\n
lydia@attentiopr.com<\/a><\/p>\n