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
  • Two pizza makers work together in a busy pizzeria
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    Fuse Img via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by PredictHQ

    Why holiday staffing starts with better demand forecasting

    Predict holiday rush patterns to ace restaurant staffing and protect your revenue.

  • 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.

  • A photo of a Cava location in a brick endcap retail space.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava’s investment in value and wages pays off

    The fast casual brand’s longstanding effort to underprice inflation has helped it drive sales growth in lower-income trade areas.

  • Overly busy restaurant
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    Getty Images
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    The restaurant labor market in 6 key statistics

    Turnover has fluctuated over the last year, while total jobs and wage growth are relatively slow and unemployment has returned to pre-pandemic rates.

    Updated Aug. 13, 2026
  • An image of Buffalo Wild Wings with its to-go branded section
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    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
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    Inspire Brands debuts first Buffalo Wild Wings Go, Jimmy John’s co-branded restaurant

    The Florida restaurant could generate higher average-unit volumes with two brands in one location offering a full menu of products.