The Latest

  • An image of a man leaving a Chipotle. He is holding a brown bag.
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    Getty Images
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    Tracking the same-store sales of 23 major restaurant chains

    Q1 2026 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales continued to slow and QSRs posted mixed results.

    Updated May 26, 2026
  • A rendering if a red and orange building with El Pollo Loco signage.
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    Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
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    El Pollo looks to speed up growth, menu innovation after turnaround

    CEO Elizabeth Williams said the chain is doubling its pace of development relative to last year and considering adding more fried chicken. 

  • A red sign with white lettering that says Wendy's below a logo of a girl with red hair and blue hair ties sits in a parking lot under a tree.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s hires ex-McDonald’s CMO as chief marketing, customer growth officer

    Tariq Hassan will succeed Lindsay Radkoski, U.S. CMO since 2023, as the chain continues to execute a turnaround plan.

  • A close up photograph of a partial Starbucks siren logo as seen from the top of an office building.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks Unicorn Frappucino drives biggest sales weekend ever

    The chain spent months building anticipation for the drink, which was available for just two days and drove 28.5% higher traffic than a typical Saturday.

  • A pizza kiosk in a retail setting.
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    Courtesy of CPK
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    California Pizza Kitchen to deploy 1K automated kiosks by 2029

    A partnership with retail tech company T-ROC Global could help CPK reverse the steady erosion of its storebase by bringing the brand to more consumers.

  • Adam, a robot made by Richtech Robotics, makes an espresso drink at the National Restaurant Association Show in May 2025.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Opinion

    Restaurants can’t automate hospitality

    As the world embraces AI solutions to optimize business, operators need to remember that many diners prioritize authentic, tangible experiences over digitally-powered efficiency, writes Tab Commerce’s James Tice.

  • A daytime image of a building with beige bricks and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe sign.
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    Permission granted by Tropical Smoothie Cafe
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    Why Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s CFO champions CX

    Experience improvements encourage “guests to come back more often, spend more often and recommend us to others,” CFO Chris Sasser said.

  • A photograph of a gray sign with a red box inside with white letters that says "Jack" under the box it says "in the box."
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box names president in CEO succession step

    Former Yum Brands executive Taylor Montgomery could bring some of Taco Bell’s marketing magic to the beleaguered burger brand. 

  • An evening image of a blue building with Dutch Bros signage.
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    Permission granted by Dutch Bros
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    By the numbers: Inside Dutch Bros’ growth strategy

    From a strong leadership pipeline to healthy quarterly openings, the drive-thru coffee chain is seeing positive momentum across several parts of its business. 

    Updated Aug. 20, 2026
  • A rendering of an A&W location.
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    Courtesy of A&W Restaurants
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    A&W develops larger store prototype

    The diner-inspired format is designed to foster meaningful guest connections through hospitality and differentiate from transactional QSR dining rooms.

  • The exterior of a Panera Bread restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    Panera overhauls rewards program

    The shift to points-based loyalty with premium tiers offers consumers more consistent value and greater control of redemption.

  • A cart at a Wendy's drive-thru window.
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    Getty Images
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    Wendy’s revives COO position

    The burger chain is seeking an operations chief for its turnaround under CEO Robert Wright, after hundreds of closures and six quarters of tumbling traffic.

  • A screenshot of a virtual event with one person in the center and two people in boxes on the side.
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive/Restaurant Dive
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    Why restaurant loyalty programs need to go beyond the points-based game

    Guests don’t just want freebies, they want recognition, personalization and an overall great experience as part of their rewards membership.

  • A triptych collage of images show teen creator Salish Matter enjoying Chipotle
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Chipotle broadens Gen Alpha marketing with Salish Matter collab

    A partnership with the 16-year-old YouTube and TikTok star marks the first time the brand has brought a custom creator order to its Kid’s Meal.

  • A photograph of two boxes on a table with various breakfast food items in aluminum pans.
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    Permission granted by Denny's
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    Denny’s launches catering

    Catering is the first initiative to go live under turnaround plan Project Grand Slam, which is meant to improve restaurant performance and the guest experience.

  • A promotional image for Whataburger's $4 sandwiches
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    Courtesy of Whataburger
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    Whataburger adds $4 value menu

    Low-priced options could attract diners in new markets and sustain sales in core trade areas.

  • Shell
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    Retrieved from Shell.
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    Shell taps McDonald’s loyalty base to drive fuel trips, rewards sign-ups

    A new promotion gives the QSR chain’s loyalty members discounts at Shell-branded gas stations through mid-September.

  • Pizza Hut new store concept retrieved by Marketing Dive on April 5, 2021
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut’s Global CEO resigns

    Aaron Powell, who has been at the pizza chain since 2021, will leave his post following the close of its sale to LongRange Capital.

  • A close up image of yellow orange menus in a holder.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Cracker Barrel’s business recovered. The marketing story never did.

    CEO Julie Masino’s exit following a rebrand blunder provides an important lesson: don’t assume good results will overwrite a bad narrative on their own, writes marketing executive Steve Schonberg.

  • An iamge of a stoneworked building with a white logo that says Olive Garden. A woman wearing a white shirt and red bandana is at the door about to enter the restaurant.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Loyalty lessons learned from Olive Garden’s pasta pass

    Exclusive promotions and loyalty rewards can keep diners engaged. But Olive Garden must execute on experience to win brand loyalty, experts say.

  • A photograph of the outside of a Bonchon restaurant.
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    Permission granted by Bonchon
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    Bonchon’s American division sold to PE firm

    The deal with Serruya Private Equity could help speed up the brand’s U.S. development and follows a busy period for restaurant M&A.

  • Three flatbreads
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    Courtesy of Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King sales soar after flatbread launch

    Chicken Flatbreads helped increase July same-store sales by 9%, marking the brand’s best month this year to date.

  • An interior of a restaurant with signs that say Applebee's and IHOP
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    Permission granted by Dine Brands
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    How Dine’s dual-brands can stave off closures

    Conversions to dual branding could generate sales lifts at struggling stores, helping IHOP and Applebee's avoid closures.

  • A zoomed in image of a smartphone with a on orange app square that says "Grubhub" in white.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    FTC to disburse $23.8M from Grubhub settlement

    Grubhub originally settled with the Federal Trade Commission in 2024 for allegedly unfairly blocking consumers and deceiving drivers in pay messaging.

  • A photogrpah of a beige and green corner building wih several cars parked in front. The facade has a white sign that says Panera Bread.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Panera Bread hires CMO from Cava as transformation work continues

    Andrew Rebhun will lead all aspects of marketing at the fast-casual chain. He previously was the chief marketer at Cava and El Pollo Loco.