Operations: Page 2


  • A photo of four Subway lavash wraps
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway is rolling out a new line of wraps

    The addition of lavash flatbreads, just months after the debut of its Sidekick snacks, is the first time in three years the chain has launched a bread option.

    By April 4, 2024
  • An image of Voicebox Karaoke, Sweet Tooth Hotel
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    Permission granted by Punch Bowl Social
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    Punch Bowl Social acquires 2 eatertainment concepts

    The company is buying Sweet Tooth Hotel and Voicebox Karaoke to diversify its portfolio of concepts and appeal to a wider range of consumers.

    By April 1, 2024
  • Homeroom Restaurant in Oakland, California Explore the Trendline
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    Permission granted by Homeroom
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    Trendline

    Independent restaurants

    In an industry built on in-person interactions and long-term relationships with customers, the pandemic has dealt a serious blow to independent operators, but many have pivoted and found new ways to reach diners.

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • A picture of a Chipotle with a pickup lane.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Fast casuals outperform QSRs as pricing erodes fast food’s low-income advantage

    Chains like Chipotle and Wingstop exceeded analyst expectations for sales and EBITDA last quarter, while QSR giants lagged, per a TD Cowen report.

    By April 1, 2024
  • Dave's Hot Chicken food spread out on a table.
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    Dave’s Hot Chicken tests kiosks, bigger drinks in face of $20 CA wage

    The fast-growing chain is raising prices 9% and testing tech that it says boosts check but doesn’t cut labor costs.

    By April 1, 2024
  • An image of a black building with windows and The Cheesecake Factory signage.
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
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    Restaurant sales rose 12% in 2023 compared to 2019: report

    Consumer spending was up 7% year over year among the top 50 restaurant chains compared to 5% within the overall industry, per Circana data. 

    By March 29, 2024
  • Gas N Wash
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    Permission granted by Gas N Wash
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    Gas N Wash debuts new restaurant partnership

    The c-store retailer revealed the first of two adjacent Mickeys Greek-style restaurants last week as it builds on its history of working with local QSRs.

    By Brett Dworski • March 29, 2024
  • A selection of food items from Clean Juice
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    Permission granted by Clean Juice
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    Deep Dive

    Juice chains are winning new consumers with food offerings

    Brands are retooling their kitchens to accommodate new recipes, such as bowls and wraps, to attract broader demographics and expand occasions.

    By March 28, 2024
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Visa, Mastercard reach landmark credit card settlement

    The two biggest U.S. card networks agreed to cap interchange fees for five years, among other terms, to settle merchant litigation that has lasted nearly two decades.

    By Lynne Marek • March 28, 2024
  • A portrait photo of Jay Rooney, the new CFO for Rave Restaurant Group.
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    Courtesy of Rave Restaurant Group
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    Rave Restaurant Group appoints 6 execs, including new CFO

    The company hired Jay Rooney as chief financial officer as it focuses on growing its buffet concept while overall unit count shrinks.

    By March 27, 2024
  • An image of a drive-thru-only location for Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
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    Courtesy of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
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    Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf opens first drive-thru-only location in CA

    The Rialto, California, restaurant is the first of what will likely be several order-ahead units that will target high-traffic markets.

    By March 27, 2024
  • An exterior shot of a Beyond Juicery
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    Permission granted by Beyond Juicery + Eatery
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    Deep Dive

    How juice chains are shifting operations to create more profitability

    Beyond Juicery and Main Squeeze did in-depth analyses on how franchisees could improve profitability from the cost of goods to construction.

    By March 27, 2024
  • The exterior of a Benihana
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    Permission granted by Benihana/The One Group Hospitality
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    One Group Hospitality buys Benihana parent for $365M

    The transaction will add $514 million in trailing 12-month revenue for the group, which also owns STK and Kona Grill. 

    By Updated March 26, 2024
  • An image of three Krispy Kreme doughnuts and six in a box.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's/Krispy Kreme
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    McDonald’s, Krispy Kreme will offer doughnuts nationwide by 2026

    The rollout, which follows a test at 160 stores in Kentucky last year, allows the fast food chain to expand its menu without having to change operations. 

    By March 26, 2024
  • Inside a Nekter Juice Bar
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    Permission granted by Nekter Juice Bar
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    Deep Dive

    What’s driving juice chains’ aggressive growth

    Brands like Nekter Juice Bar, Main Squeeze Juice and Juice it Up are pushing into new markets and opening stores as demand rises for healthy foods.

    By March 26, 2024
  • A black sign that says Red Lobster that is outside of a building that also says Red Lobster
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Red Lobster appoints another CEO

    Jonathan Tibus, who helped chains like Kona Grill and Krystal during bankruptcy, joins the struggling seafood chain following Horace Dawson's retirement.

    By March 25, 2024
  • A Starbucks store stands in Manhattan on January 30, 2024 in New York City.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks names new chief procurement officer

    Heather Ostis will focus on improving supplier performance and building network resiliency, among other goals.

    By S.L. Fuller • March 25, 2024
  • Corner Bakery storefront
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    How Corner Bakery grew AUV by $200K in 6 months

    Under SSCP Capital’s ownership, the cafe chain seems to be turning a corner using new training, customer feedback tools and dayparts.

    By March 25, 2024
  • A photo of the interior of Sadie's diner.
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    Permission granted by Paragon Solutions
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    Back to Basics: Building a dining room

    Indoors or outdoors? Tables or bar stools? There’s a lot c-store retailers should consider when designing a dining space, experts say.

    By Christine Blank • March 22, 2024
  • A portrait photo of Ravi Thanawala, Papa Johns incoming CFO.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns CFO takes interim-CEO post

    Ravi Thanawala, who has been CFO since 2023, will step in to lead the company as Rob Lynch leaves to take the helm at Shake Shack.

    By , March 21, 2024
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack hires Papa Johns’ Rob Lynch as CEO

    Lynch will succeed Randy Garutti, who has been at the burger chain for over 20 years, on May 20.

    By Updated March 21, 2024
  • An image of a Smashburger restaurant in the evening light
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    Permission granted by Smashburger
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    Smashburger appoints Starbucks veteran as CEO

    Denise Nelsen, former SVP of U.S. operations at Starbucks, started her new role overseeing Smashburger’s growth and menu innovation in January.

    By March 20, 2024
  • A exterior shot of the blue and yellow building with CosMc's signage
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    Permission granted by CosMc's
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    CosMc’s opens first Texas location

    The McDonald’s spinoff launched its second site as it gears up for a major expansion in the Lone Star State. 

    By March 20, 2024
  • An image of Jennifer Schuler, Handel's Ice Cream CEO
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    Permission granted by Handel's Ice Cream
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    Handel’s Ice Cream hires former Wetzel’s Pretzels chief as CEO

    Jennifer Schuler joins the 130-unit brand after nine years at Wetzel’s, including five years as CEO, as the chain expects to surpass $130 million in systemwide sales this year.

    By March 19, 2024
  • An exterior image of a Wonder food Hall
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    Permission granted by Wonder
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    Wonder raises $700M, plans to reach 90 units in 2025

    After transitioning from food trucks to food halls last year, the company has already grown to 11 brick-and-mortar units with more in the works.

    By March 19, 2024
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Minimum-wage delivery drivers must be 100% reimbursed for using their own vehicles, 6th Cir. says

    The court didn’t say how employers should calculate these reimbursements, but it warned that underpayment may cut into a driver’s minimum wage and violate the FLSA.

    By Laurel Kalser • March 18, 2024