The Latest
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Dive Awards
The Restaurant Dive Awards for 2019
From McDonald's purchase of Dynamic Yield to Chick-fil-A's operational edge, these are the companies and executives that shaped the restaurant industry this year.
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ColumnShift Change: Jack in the Box CEO to depart; McDonald's names international president
This week's Shift Change also highlights executive news from Black Bear Diner, Potbelly, Dunkin' Brands, Garden Fresh Restaurants, Nathan's Famous, Noodles & Company and Pizza Hut.
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Jack in the Box CEO stepping down
Lenny Comma will exit the fast food chain at an unspecified date after 18 years with the restaurant and six years as chief executive. The chain has no successor in place.
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Jimmy John's expands loyalty rewards program nationwide
Freaky Fast Rewards works with the sandwich chain's app, with contactless payments offered through Apple Pay and Google Pay.
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Cava secures $40M in latest funding round
The company has now raised over $459 million in funding and is worth over $578 million.
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Supply challenges could delay McDonald's chicken sandwich launch, analysts predict
Research firm Stephens reports there are not enough five-pound chicken products, the same size that Chick-fil-A and Popeyes use for their sandwiches, to supply the fast food giant's U.S. system.
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Dive Awards
Deal of the Year: McDonald's acquires Dynamic Yield
The world's largest fast food chain's $300 million purchase of an artificial intelligence company signaled the start of a technology-first age for restaurants.
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Potbelly CFO departs for Planet Fitness
Four-time CFO Tom Fitzgerald is leaving Potbelly Corp. on Dec. 27 after one year as finance chief; the Chicago-based sandwich chain is searching for a replacement.
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Caribou Coffee boosts ROI with revamped loyalty program
The coffee chain's redemptions improved 215% after switching to a points-based program during a summer promotion.
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IHOP flips into fast casual segment with new concept
The restaurant chain will open Flip'd by IHOP in Atlanta in April, with locations in New York City, Washington D.C., Denver and San Francisco under consideration for next year.
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McDonald's could sell 250M Beyond Meat burgers annually in US, report says
Though the fast food giant is only selling 20 to 30 plant-based burgers per day in its Canadian test, UBS predicts the product would eventually drive strong sales if sold in America.
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Wendy's outsourcing IT, expects up to $15M restructuring costs
The chain expects severance and related employee costs to be between $8 million and $9 million.
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Dive Awards
Innovator of the Year: Kitchen United
The startup has an aggressive growth plan to open 400 kitchen centers in the next few years, helping launch more delivery-only restaurants and differentiating itself with integrated tech platforms.
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Chipotle gives away burritos on Instagram
The QSR chain is offering free burritos to the first people who respond by text message to its short-lived Instagram posts.
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Q&ALunch Break: Corner Bakery's off-premise lead talks third-party challenges
Steep delivery fees and erosion of brand control are major obstacles, but these partnerships are still key to growth, says Ed Keller, Corner Bakery's director of off-premise business development.
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Dive Awards
Executive of the Year: Kevin Johnson, Starbucks
Johnson emerged from former CEO Howard Schultz's shadow, identifying the coffee chain's pain points and using his tech background to boost innovation and sales.
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Famous Dave's parent grilling up new concepts
BBQ Holdings is opening a new concept in Oklahoma with pitmaster Travis Clark called Clark Crew BBQ as part of its strategy to become a multi-brand company.
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Domino's GPS tracker will help improve delivery times nationwide
The technology will provide delivery couriers with navigational tools that could help improve speed, which has been an increased focus for the pizza chain.
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Dive Awards
Restaurant of the Year: Chick-fil-A
The QSR's customer service and focus on technology have driven meteoric growth, making it the third-largest U.S. restaurant chain despite negative publicity and city bans.
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Third-party sales will make up 70% of delivery orders in 2022
Off-premise demand is transforming restaurant real estate to include more ghost kitchens, new interior formats and drive-thru pickup lanes, according to a CBRE report.
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Chicken Salad Chick bought by new private equity firm
The chain grew system sales seven-fold under previous majority owner Eagle Merchant Partners, and plans to roll out 250 new stores in the next five years.
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DoorDash named fastest growing company in US
The third-party aggregator also had strong brand awareness among consumers, while Grubhub had much weaker representation within Morning Consult's Fastest Growing Brands report.
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Burger King to expand its Canadian footprint by 25% in 5 years
Burger King plans to open more than 100 restaurants in Ontario and Manitoba in the next five years.
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Ford will upcycle McDonald's coffee waste into car parts
The fast food chain's latest partnership is part of its long-standing sustainability initiatives, which includes reducing plastic packaging waste and its 2020 goal of sourcing coffee from 100% sustainable sources.
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Chipotle enforces sick policy, reports no food safety issues since 2017
Following a norovirus incident in 2017 that sickened several customers, the fast casual chain has enforced its sick policy and new food safety standards, resulting in no incidents within the last two years.
