The Latest

  • A chef cooking in the kitchen with pots, pans, and a restaurant stove in the background
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    Miodrag Ignjatovic via Getty Images
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    The restaurant labor market in 6 key statistics

    Slowing turnover, steady unemployment and flat real wage growth point to growing restaurant employer power over workers compared to 2022 and 2021.

    Updated Nov. 3, 2023
  • Inspire Brands logo
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    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
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    Inspire Brands changes its corporate structure

    The company’s new structure is centered on brands, commercial and company restaurants and growth, to take advantage of its scale and shared services.

  • Influencer Kerwin Frost poses with McDonald's Happy Meal
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s reinvents McNugget Buddies for streetwear-minded adults

    For its latest nostalgia play, the chain teamed with multifaceted artist and influencer Kerwin Frost to put a new spin on the iconic collectibles.

  • Kroger and Kitchen United partnered in 2021 to open ghost kitchen sites inside the grocery store.
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    Courtesy of Kroger/Kitchen United
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    Kitchen United will sell or close all physical units, pivot to software

    The ghost kitchen pioneer, which raised $100 million last year to expand its food halls, began to offload its physical locations months ago. It has already shuttered its Kroger outposts, which made up 44% of its footprint.

    Updated Nov. 29, 2023
  • A promotional image of Subway's footlong chocolate chip cookies.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway will bring footlong cookie to permanent menu

    When the sandwich chain debuted the oblong dessert at a Miami “Cookieway” pop-up last year, supply ran out in less than two hours.

  • An image of a waitress serving three people at a table.
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    3 ways restaurants can drive traffic in 2024

    Operators are reaching a price hike ceiling as diners worry about their spending, but deep discounts can hurt margins, making it tricky to offer meaningful value, Deutsche Bank analyst Lauren Silberman said at RFDC.

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    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
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    A Taco Bell worker reported a party where co-workers were ‘openly having sex.’ Employees retaliated and HR did nothing, a lawsuit alleges.

    An employee said she was told to transfer locations after reporting threats of harassment to human resources.

  • Four Starbucks cold coffees topped with holiday themed cold foams.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks adds 4 holiday cold foam flavors

    Starbucks’ new holiday cold foam could help drive year-round consumption of cold coffee, even as customization strains store-level labor.

    Updated Nov. 29, 2023
  • A photo of meatloaf from Travel Center's of America's dinner menu.
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    Permission granted by TravelCenters of America
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    Can c-stores become dinner destinations?

    While the industry is better known for beverages and snacks, a growing emphasis on meals can open big opportunities for retailers with the right offers.

  • A woman is ordering food off of a self-service kiosk.
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    frantic00 via Getty Images
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    Why QSRs are doubling down on kiosks

    Burger King, Taco Bell and Shake Shack are among the chains adding this technology to boost check and reduce labor pressure.

  • A smiling female barista hands two warm takeout coffee cups to a waiting customer.
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    Maksym Belchenko via Getty Images
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    Coffee, tea QSRs report traffic bump from return to office

    Category operators opened 3,500 new units as of March 2023 compared to March 2022 following a spike in consumer demand, according to Circana data.

  • An image of a refreshed Subway.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    FTC reportedly investigating Roark’s Subway purchase

    The agency began an investigation this month, Politico reports. The FTC is concerned the deal could create a monopoly in the sandwich segment, as Roark Capital also owns Arby’s, Jimmy John’s and related chains. 

    M&A
  • Starbucks baristas and supporters protest outside a store.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Starbucks introduces oversight committee to improve governance

    The coffee chain said the Environmental, Partner and Community Impact committee will help improve its supply chain operations and employee relationships.

  • Unionized Starbucks workers outside of cafe
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    Permission granted by Starbucks Workers United
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Labor federation nominates 3 Starbucks board candidates

    The Strategic Organizing Center’s nominations, which include a former chair of the National Labor Relations Board, mark a new front in Starbucks’ union saga.

  • Image of a counter with a ordering kiosk and shelves in the background with bags.
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    Permission granted by Kitchen United
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    Why ghost kitchen pioneers want to say goodbye to the name

    Omnichannel business, a focus on operations and reasonable growth timetables set the stage for ghost kitchens’ second act.

  • An image of Popeyes' five wings flavors on an orange background
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    Popeyes adds wings lineup to core menu

    The menu expansion follows the chain's successful Ghost Pepper Wings LTO, which contributed to a 5.6% increase in same-store sales during Q3.

  • Coffee bar in supermarket
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    Courtesy of Sprouts Farmers Market
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    Sprouts expands partnership with Phoenix coffee chain

    Following a successful pilot, the grocer has opened a Press Coffee bar in a store in Scottsdale, Arizona, and plans to bring the concept to three more locations in the city during the coming weeks.

  • A person pays in a restaurant
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    Creative via Getty Images
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    Digital payments have increased restaurant tips. But is it backfiring?

    Some diners feel pressured by tipping digitally in front of employees, which can hurt restaurant traffic, but experts say there are best practices that can ease customer trepidation.  

  • A Pizza Hut pie made with Beyond Meat pepperoni in the U.S.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Beyond Meat makes another push into restaurants with Pizza Hut pepperoni in the UK

    The LTO topping will be available starting in January. The plant-based pioneer has struggled to gain traction with similar partnerships in the U.S. 

  • Jimmy Donaldson, or MrBeast, smiles and poses with other influencers in front of branding for his burger chain.
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    Dave Kotinsky via Getty Images
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    Are celebrity-backed virtual brands worth the risks?

    A string of messy and high-profile lawsuits over MrBeast Burger have put the category’s challenges under a spotlight, but experts say there may be opportunity in an omnichannel second act for virtual brands.

  • Graphic image of drive-thru system
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    Permission granted by Presto Automation Inc.
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    Presto lays off 17% of global workforce

    The staff reduction, which may impact around two dozen employees, is part of the technology company’s strategy to reduce costs, boost profitability and streamline operations.

  • A photograph of chefs in a kitchen.
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    sam edwards via Getty Images
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    ‘Stop the bleeding’: Why experts say retention is key to restaurant labor profitability

    By identifying in-house talent early and scaling employee support, restaurants can reduce churn at lower costs than they would incur hiring new workers, panelists said at the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference. 

  • NLRB delays effective date of joint employer rule to February

    In a reprieve for franchisors, the National Labor Relations Board pushed back the date its joint employer rule would take effect to early next year.

    Updated Nov. 20, 2023
  • A photo of Bar Louie's new unit layout.
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    Courtesy of Bar Louie
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    Bar Louie offers 50% franchise fee discount for first-time operators

    The casual chain also developed a contemporary, flexible design as part of its strategy to accelerate franchise growth. 

  • Checkers fries
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    Courtesy of Checkers & Rally's
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    Checkers and Rally’s names CFO, CMO

    Michael Blair, previously at Miller’s Ale House, joins the chain as CFO, while Scott Johnson, previously at Jollibee, takes the CMO role.