RRF refill bill fails to pass Senate in major blow to restaurant industry

The Latest

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  Ghost restaurant calculator

  Thinking about developing a ghost kitchen business plan? Use this calculator to crunch the numbers and determine profitability.

  Delivery

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  Study: Consumers tip more for dine-in than delivery or takeout

  As diners return to restaurants, guests tip 20% on average for dine-in service versus 15% for off-premise transactions, a Toast report finds. 

  Consumer Trends

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  Starbucks to cover travel for employees seeking abortion, gender-affirming care

  The policy applies to workers, as well as their dependents, who need to travel more than 100 miles to access these medical procedures. 

  Labor and Policy

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  Brinker CEO to retire in June

  KFC U.S. President and Chief Concept Officer Kevin Hochman will take over for Wyman Roberts, who has been with Brinker for 17 years. 

  Corporate Operations

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  Uber Eats adds voice ordering, pilots autonomous delivery

  The food delivery provider rolled out several delivery products on Monday, as well as in-stadium ordering and vouchers for events.

  Delivery

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  Domino's grants 'Stranger Things' fans 'mind-ordering' powers through new app

  An immersive mobile experience tied to the Netflix show’s return uses facial recognition and eye-tracking technology to help users order pizza.

  Updated May 17, 2022

  Marketing

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  McDonald's franchisees reportedly worried new grading system will hurt retention

  Operations PACE would mandate a further six to 10 visits by assessors and company representatives to every location, the chain's operators told CNBC.

  Labor and Policy

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  Woworks acquires fast casual chains Barberitos, Zoup

  The parent company of Saladworks will grow to six brands and over 400 locations with these two purchases. 

  M&A

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  Chili's parent extends education benefits to employees' family members

  Brinker International's perk will allow one eligible family member of each worker who is management level or above to access tuition-free programs. 

  Labor and Policy

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  Starbucks employees form a union

  Why the NLRB's Starbucks complaint may only be symbolic union win

  Starbucks denies the complaint's hundreds of union-busting allegations. If the chain is found to have violated labor law, it could be years before the board can enforce consequences.

  Labor and Policy

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  Chipotle CFO doesn't rule out more food inflation despite pause

  Finance chief Jack Hartung said the chain has raised prices about 10% for the 12 months through Q1 compared to 2% in a typical year.

  Corporate Operations

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  Study: Independent restaurants show signs of recovery despite inflation

  The NPD Group found the number of independent restaurant units grew 1% by the end of 2021, compared to a 5% decline in 2020. 

  Consumer Trends

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  Bakers Square to triple locations using ghost kitchens

  The BBQ Holdings concept is expected to grow from 18 locations to 55 by the end of the year, and all of these new units will operate inside other restaurants. 

  Operations

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  Gopuff launches first restaurant brand under its Kitchen division

  The Mean Tomato will offer New York City-style pizzas that customers can add to their orders of snacks, drinks and other impulse buys.

  Delivery

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  Wing Zone, Wavemaker Labs launch automated restaurant pilot

  Wing Zone Labs plans to open up to 20 units, which will deploy Miso's Flippy 2 to handle frying stations with a goal of eventually becoming fully automated.

  Operations

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  How Papa Johns is weathering the driver shortage

  As labor challenges weigh on Domino’s and Pizza Hut, Papa Johns’ third-party delivery partnerships are helping the chain fulfill demand during peak hours.

  Delivery

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  Digital food orders persist beyond pandemic

  “Some in the foodservice industry feared that online ordering would ‘kill restaurants,’ but it’s becoming increasingly clear that these orders have done just the opposite, acting as a lifeline,” a recent Paytronix report says.

  Delivery

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  Reef Technology's expansion

  Reef cuts 5% of workforce amid expansion

  The ghost kitchen firm says the layoffs are needed to adapt to disruptions in unspecified sectors, according to an internal memo.

  Corporate Operations

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  Study: Inaccurate delivery order can erode diner loyalty

  Sixty-three percent of consumers have experienced at least one incorrect delivery order in the past year, per eduMe research, and a majority of diners pin the blame on restaurants.

  Consumer Trends

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  Sweetgreen to open first pickup-only location in DC

  The dining room-free format features grab-and-go shelves and will only take orders placed on its website, app or third-party marketplaces. 

  Delivery

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  Starbucks builds out 'third place' with foray into NFTs

  As a means to build a community around coffee, the chain will link the upcoming digital tokens to exclusive content and perks.

  Marketing

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  Starbucks employees form a union

  Starbucks' denial of new benefits to union workers is a legal gray area, labor experts say

  Starbucks claims it can't legally extend new benefits and wage increases to organizing stores, and experts say this exclusion could discourage baristas from voting pro-union.

  Labor and Policy

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  Papa Johns adds ESG incentives to compensation

  The chain will tie corporate bonuses to workforce diversity, clean ingredients and environmental impact metrics following similar announcements from Wendy's, McDonald's, Starbucks and Chipotle.

  Consumer Trends

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  Burger King taps new agencies after year of marketing tumult

  Among other appointments, independent shop OKRP replaces WPP's David as the burger chain's creative agency in a bid for greater cultural relevancy. 

  Marketing

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  Noodles & Company's new employee benefits include immigration reimbursement

  The noodle chain is offering six new work perks as part of a larger new brand positioning called “Uncommon Goodness." 

  Labor and Policy

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