The Latest

  • A person is in a car and is in the process of ordering Panera using a phone
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera loyalty members can pre-program meals on app, order with swipe

    The order option is the chain’s latest tech enhancement launched this year, including Amazon Alexa ordering and an Amazon One palm scanner test. 

  • An image of a delivery courier in New York City
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Judge denies NYC motion to dismiss delivery fee cap suit

    A suit filed by DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub to overturn the city’s 15% delivery fee cap can proceed after a judge ruled it is plausible the city interfered with the aggregators’ contracts. 

  • Screenshots of Uber Eats' AI assistant tool
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    Courtesy of Uber
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    Uber adding AI tool and ‘virtual sales aisle’ to its app

    The planned updates to Uber Eats also include the addition of SNAP and healthcare benefits payments starting next year.

  • A photo of a variety of food on a wooden table on trays and in baskets and bowls.
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    Permission granted by ezCater
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    As c-stores level up in foodservice, catering could be an ‘ideal’ next step

    Convenience retailers, especially those in rural areas, can boost revenue and grow their brand presence by offering food that is both delicious and durable.

  • A red stop-work order is taped to a Boston Market door.
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    Kate Tornone/Restaurant Dive
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    Boston Market pays $630K in back wages in NJ, lifting stop-work order

    The New Jersey Department of Labor gave the green light for Boston Market to reopen 27 locations, but it’s unclear how many have done so.

  • A portrait photo of Kitchen United CEO Atul Sood.
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    Courtesy of Kitchen United
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    Kitchen United promotes Atul Sood to CEO

    The ghost kitchen company remains focused on building a sustainable business model for decades to come, Sood said. 

  • Three pocket pizza from Mod Pizza
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    Courtesy of Mod Pizza
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    Mod Pizza makes Pocket Pies permanent

    The menu item, which was first introduced in March as part of Pi Day, echoes Papa Johns’s Papadias and Pizza Hut’s Melts.

  • Donatos pizza
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    Courtesy of PR Newswire
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    Why Donatos sees opportunity in automated vending machines

    The pizza chain’s forthcoming prototype is just one example of how this technology can be an innovative grab-and-go option, but challenges over the perception of quality persist.

  • A photograph of Shipley Do-Nuts
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    Permission granted by Shipley Do-Nuts
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    Shipley Do-Nuts rolls out tier-based loyalty program

    Do-Happy Rewards, which was piloted in company-owned locations earlier this year, already has 40,000 members.

  • Half of the image is a orange background with the other half depicting a person on bike, sipping a coffee.
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    Courtesy of Peet's Coffee
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    Peet’s Coffee brews large integrated campaign with Mischief

    Hold the foam: Consumers’ love of simple, quality coffee sits at the center of what the brand says is its largest campaign to date.

  • The California State Capitol building at dusk.
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    rschlie via Getty Images
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    California state Senate passes major restaurant labor compromise

    The labor deal, which repeals and replaces the fast food council law, AB 257, can take effect if Gov. Gavin Newsom signs it by Oct. 14.

    Updated Sept. 15, 2023
  • An image of a brick building with red Chick-fil-A signage
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Chick-fil-A to return to UK in 2025 with first permanent location

    The fast food chain, which is eying additional locations in Europe and Asia, will invest $100 million during the next decade in the country. 

  • Sweetgreen opened a location at World Trade Center Tower 3 in NYC in October 2021.
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Black Sweetgreen workers sue chain for racial discrimination and sexual harassment

    Managers and coworkers called Black workers racial slurs and female workers faced sexual harassment and inappropriate touching, a lawsuit claims.

  • An image of Moe's Southwest Grill
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    Courtesy of Moe's Southwest Grill
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    Q&A

    Moe’s longer operating hours, new ingredients help traffic

    Since deploying its Project Victory initiative, the TexMex chain has found opportunities — such as slicing whole-muscle beef — in 20% employee idle time, said Chief Brand Officer Tory Bartlett.

  • Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz before the Senate HELP committee.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Howard Schultz resigns from Starbucks’ board

    Schultz’s departure is unlikely to change day-to-day matters at the company, BTIG said, but may deprive Starbucks of his “magic touch” with the brand.

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    Permission granted by Huddle House
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    How Ascent Hospitality reinvigorated franchising at Perkins, Huddle House

    Prior to Peter Ortiz joining Ascent Hospitality as chief development officer, growth was virtually at a standstill for the brands. Now they have signed over 70 franchise agreements.

  • A Flytrex drone can carry up to 6.6 pounds and make five-mile round trips, according to the company’s website.
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    Permission granted by Flytrex
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    Papa Johns, Little Caesars take to the skies with Flytrex autonomous delivery

    Chains participating in the rollout will send orders to drones via a dropdown wire.

  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    EEOC sues Jack in the Box franchisee over sexual harassment

    Operator Rock Strategic allegedly failed to stop a general manager’s sexual harassment of young workers at a Texas location, EEOC said.

  • An image of a Del Taco resturant in Florida
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    Retrieved from GlobeNewswire on November 02, 2022
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    Del Taco gets new president

    Tom Rose takes the helm at the QSR brand as it refranchises large numbers of stores and pushes for a return to net unit growth.

  • An image of Grubhub's mobile ordering for Naval Station Norfolk
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    Permission granted by Grubhub
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    Grubhub brings mobile ordering to its first naval base

    The technology allows over 100,000 people at Naval Station Norfolk to order pickup from on-base restaurants like Panda Express, Firehouse Subs, Burger King and Raising Canes.

  • McDonald's drive thru sign
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s will remove self-serve beverage stations by 2032

    Operators said they are struggling to balance the space needed for drinks stations with slumping dining room traffic and rising digital orders.

  • Headshots of Papa Johns chief operating officer, international, Amanda Clark and chief restaurant officer Joe Sieve
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns makes executive adjustments to support domestic, international growth

    Amanda Clark, currently chief international and development officer, will become chief operating officer, international. Joe Sieve, chief restaurant officer, will assume North American development responsibilities, effective Sept. 18.

  • Two flags flown by fast food workers demonstrating in support of AB 257.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Restaurant industry, labor groups to kill CA’s FAST Act referendum with labor council deal

    A major amendment to AB 1228 would scrap joint-employer liability and set a $20 minimum wage for QSR chains with 60 or more units.

  • Rapper Ice Spice appears with her namesake Munchkins Drink in a Dunkin' ad
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ taps Ben Affleck, Ice Spice to put a name to its new fall drink

    An ad promoting the limited-time Ice Spice Munchkins Drink is the first work since the chain formalized its partnership with Affleck’s Artists Equity.

  • A worker in a red shirt enters the headquarters of the Culinary Union in Las Vegas.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Las Vegas hospitality workers to hold strike vote

    A potential strike would impact major hotels along the Strip, building on the labor movement that’s swept across Southern California.