The Latest
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Informa TechTarget
Note from the Editor-in-Chief
A change in ownership and what it means for our readers.
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Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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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Courtesy of Portillo's
Portillo’s names Jack in the Box exec as COO
Tony Darden joins Portillo’s as the chain focuses on improving operations and building restaurants with high AUVs.
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Permission granted by Applegreen
Applegreen to open larger travel centers in the US as part of $1B investment
The Dublin-based company plans to also expand its foodservice and EV charging infrastructure across the U.S., Ireland and the U.K.
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Permission granted by BurgerFi
BurgerFi sells its assets for $54M
CEO Carl Bachmann has left the chain after holding the post for over a year, joining Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and Wings’ new owner.
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Permission granted by Taco Bell Corp.
Taco Bell’s drive-thru cameras give diners a shot at Super Bowl cameos
Rewards members who stop by the touring camera stations to snap a pic have a chance to be featured in the brand’s big game ad.
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Red Lobster adds happy hour as turnaround continues
The seafood chain is looking to reverse its sales troubles of recent years, and discounts on drinks and apps could help it draw consumers.
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Tim Boyle via Getty Images
Back to Basics: How to find the right site for a new store
Each type of real estate comes with new opportunities and potential pitfalls. Picking the right site requires a deep analysis of the location, its area and the challenges that come with it, experts say.
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Courtesy of Maggiano's Little Italy
Maggiano’s appoints KFC exec to marketing role
Mike Wesley, who spent 14 years in marketing positions at the fried chicken brand, will help the casual chain amplify brand awareness and drive marketing and promotional activities.
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4kodiak via Getty Images
NRA predicts a big year for Korean, Vietnamese and Filipino flavors
The NRA also found that cold brew, sweet and spicy ingredients, and a focus on sustainability are trends to watch for 2025.
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Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive, data courtesy of Brett Dworski
Couche-Tard has a new opponent in sight: QSRs
The retailer is banking on its new value meals to boost same-store merchandise revenue, which has dropped the past four quarters.
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Jack in the Box eliminates COO position
Tony Darden will leave his position as SVP and COO and Ryan Ostrom, current EVP and chief marketing and digital officer, will assume responsibility for Jack in the Box’s operations.
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Permission granted by Chipotle
‘Not just the beef’: How Chipotle’s supply chain helped bring back smoked brisket
The return of the popular menu item required what CEO Scott Boatwright called “a huge cross-muscle effort.”
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Permission granted by Cava
The restaurant industry’s Q3 winners and losers
2024 has hammered many chains with closures, declining sales and problems of brand perception. But some, like Cava and Chili’s, have managed to rise above the fray.
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Courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks scheduling tools crippled by Blue Yonder outage
A ransomware attack against the software vendor has pushed the coffee chain to temporarily rely on manual scheduling to ensure workers are paid for hours.
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ozgurcankaya via Getty Images
Over a third of consumers plan to order takeout, delivery for Thanksgiving
Of the consumers planning to order out, a majority said it was easier and a third said it’s cheaper or equal to the cost of buying groceries and cooking, according to Popmenu.
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Courtesy of Subway
Subway CEO John Chidsey to retire
Chidsey will leave the company after five years, and Carrie Walsh, current president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, will serve as interim CEO.
Updated Nov. 26, 2024 -
lechatnoir via Getty Images
Are customers tipping more? Here’s what the data says.
While customers feel more pressure to tip across industries, they still tip a relatively stable 18% at restaurants.
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Courtesy of Union of Southern Service Workers
Waffle House claims NLRB process is unconstitutional
The casual chain has faced union organizing activity for over a year, and now wants the court to weaken the agency tasked with regulating labor law.
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Retrieved from Giordano's on November 22, 2024
Portillo’s CMO named CEO at Giordano’s pizza chain
Nick Scarpino, who has worked in various marketing roles at Portillo’s since 2015, will succeed Yorgo Koutsogiorgas in December.
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Permission granted by McDonald's
McDonald’s to launch value platform in January
The platform will include the $5 Meal Deal, exclusive in-app offers, local food and drink deals and Buy One, Add One for $1.
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Courtesy of Wendy's
Flynn Group buys 32 more Wendy’s
The large multi-unit operator now owns about 5% of Wendy’s U.S. store system, plus its Australian and New Zealand master franchises.
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Permission granted by Maggiano's
Maggiano’s is just getting started with menu updates, remodels
In his first months as the chain’s VP of innovation and growth, Anthony Amoroso helped create new menu items like Rigatoni al la Vodka and updated the Caesar salad, both of which are already driving sales.
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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
Starbucks appoints former Mars sustainability exec as CSO
Marika McCauley Sine, who previously served as Mars’ global vice president of sustainability and chief sustainability officer, will oversee the coffee chain’s net-zero transition.
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Jack in the Box sales continue to lag, but unit count grows
Comparable sales headwinds haven’t slowed Jack in the Box’s growth, with the brand opening more stores than it closed for the second year in a row.
