The Latest
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9 restaurant industry trade shows to attend in 2025
The coming year is brimming with restaurant conferences and trade shows covering key issues for the business sector, from franchising strategy to economic forecasts.
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Sponsored by Masters of Scale
Masters of Scale Live series offers the key to restaurant success
Masters of Scale Live launches their inaugural event in New York City with restaurateur Danny Meyer.
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Sweetgreen to launch points-based loyalty program
The chain is shifting its approach after customers found its tiered program, which includes a free and paid subscription, was too complicated.
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Potbelly signs 15-store Georgia deal
The sandwich brand’s latest move will expand its presence in the Southeast as it targets a nationwide goal of 2,000 units.
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Krispy Kreme will serve doughnuts in 2K McDonald’s by year’s end
To support this rapid expansion, Krispy Kreme will boost production at its existing facilities and may work with third-party logistics firms.
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Column
Campaign Trail: Taco Bell takes on ‘Big Chicken’ through family debates
Fans of the chain’s Cantina Chicken menu are pitted against “trachickenalists” in ads that pitch the QSR as a chicken destination like KFC and Chick-fil-A.
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How QSR pizza chains are competing on value
Domino’s focus on promotions and discounts helped increase sales, while Papa Johns and Pizza Hut struggled with similar offerings.
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Serve Robotics buys Autocado maker Vebu
The acquisition of the Chipotle-backed equipment developer signals Serve’s interests are growing from the sidewalk to the kitchen.
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Papa Johns names new CMO to elevate data-driven creativity
Jenna Bromberg, previously director of core marketing at Pizza Hut, joins Papa Johns as it works to improve perceptions around value and loyalty experiences.
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Here’s what restaurants need to consider when crafting a value menu
Companies have to stay competitive and drive traffic with value-priced items. But they have to be careful not to go too low, experts say.
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Q&A
Cracker Barrel’s new CMO on reconnecting a heritage brand to culture
Sarah Moore discussed changing Cracker Barrel’s approach to partnerships and prioritizing apps like TikTok to keep a finger on the consumer pulse.
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Walk-On’s to open first corporate stores since 2016
The chain will open multiple corporate-owned locations next year that feature a new interior and exterior in addition to updated kitchen equipment.
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Dine Brands wants to open a dozen IHOP-Applebee’s units in the US next year
While the eye-catching new units promise greater profits, they can’t solve the sales pressure that both brands currently face.
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Buca di Beppo to be sold to stalking horse bidder for $27M
Main Street Capital Corporation originally provided the chain a loan of $47 million in 2015 and will buy it out of bankruptcy.
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Popeyes didn’t focus on value in Q3 and paid for it
The chain lacked enough compelling promotions to attract price-sensitive customers during the summer, contributing to negative comparable sales.
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Taco Bell is a winner and KFC a loser in Yum Brands’ Q3
KFC’s value meal did not turn its same-store sales declines around, but Taco Bell’s mix of menu innovation and value messaging drove growth for the company.
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Burger King’s LTOs met with stiff competition in Q3
The chain’s summer promotions, including its Fiery menu, had trouble cutting through QSR value messages, resulting in softer than expected sales in Q3.
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Why TGI Fridays filed for bankruptcy
The casual chain’s fortunes soured this year as scores of stores shut and bondholders took control of its assets, ending a proposed merger.
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe appoints new CEO
Max Wetzel, who previously served as CEO at CKE Restaurants for over a year, joins the smoothie chain months after it was acquired by Blackstone.
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Red Lobster hires Brinker exec as COO
Larry Konecny joins the seafood chain, which recently emerged from Chapter 11, after a 17-year tenure at Maggiano’s Little Italy.
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El Pollo Loco ramps up remodel efforts with low-cost design
A new prototype, which includes furniture upgrades and energy-efficient hoods and HVAC, will help reduce buildout costs from $2.2 million to $1.8 million.
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EEOC alleges Culver’s operators fired a transgender worker who complained about deadnaming
Four workers, including the transgender worker who was the subject of the harassment, were fired a day after reporting the behavior to the general manager, EEOC alleged.
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How Starbucks plans to get back to being a coffeehouse
The coffee giant thinks ceramic mugs, a coffee condiments bar and comfy chairs are a good start toward improving its in-store vibe.
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The restaurant labor market in 6 key statistics
Turnover has fallen in H1 2024, while unemployment and total jobs in restaurants remained steady, indicating a return to pre-pandemic labor market dynamics.
Updated Nov. 4, 2024 -
Paytronix acquired by The Access Group
The deal will expand the offerings available through Paytronix’s platform and help accelerate its growth, executives said.
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7-Eleven crashes the $5 value meal party
Customers can get two of the chain’s “new, bigger” pizza slices and a 20-ounce Coke or Sprite in the latest cost-conscious c-store deal.