The Latest

  • Grubbrr's kiosks on display at the National Restaurant Association Show in 2024.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    9 restaurant industry trade shows to attend in 2025

    The coming year is brimming with restaurant conferences and trade shows covering key issues for the business sector, from franchising strategy to economic forecasts.

  • A promotional image for Chipotle's smoked brisket menu item. Text on the image reads, "Limited time only Smoked Brisket Chipotle"The image shows a burrito bowl with rice, beans, meat and peppers on the left. On the right is sliced beef with a cup of dipping sauce and sliced peppers.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    ‘Not just the beef’: How Chipotle’s supply chain helped bring back smoked brisket

    The return of the popular menu item required what CEO Scott Boatwright called “a huge cross-muscle effort.”

  • The exterior of a Cava in Chicago
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    Permission granted by Cava
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    The restaurant industry’s Q3 winners and losers

    2024 has hammered many chains with closures, declining sales and problems of brand perception. But some, like Cava and Chili’s, have managed to rise above the fray.

  • An image of a Starbucks sign
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks scheduling tools crippled by Blue Yonder outage

    A ransomware attack against the software vendor has pushed the coffee chain to temporarily rely on manual scheduling to ensure workers are paid for hours.

  • A family holds up glasses in cheer while eating at a Thanskgiving meal.
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    ozgurcankaya via Getty Images
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    Over a third of consumers plan to order takeout, delivery for Thanksgiving

    Of the consumers planning to order out, a majority said it was easier and a third said it’s cheaper or equal to the cost of buying groceries and cooking, according to Popmenu.

  • An image of a woman standing in front of a Subway logo.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway CEO John Chidsey to retire

    Chidsey will leave the company after five years, and Carrie Walsh, current president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, will serve as interim CEO.

    Updated Nov. 26, 2024
  • A woman holds up her smart phone to a tablet that is asking what percentage of a tip should be added.
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    lechatnoir via Getty Images
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    Are customers tipping more? Here’s what the data says.

    While customers feel more pressure to tip across industries, they still tip a relatively stable 18% at restaurants.

  • Union members hold up a sign reading 'Wage Theft' with similar graphic design to a Waffle House sign behind them.
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    Courtesy of Union of Southern Service Workers
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    Waffle House claims NLRB process is unconstitutional

    The casual chain has faced union organizing activity for over a year, and now wants the court to weaken the agency tasked with regulating labor law.

  • An image of a sign that says Giordano's pizza.
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    Retrieved from Giordano's on November 22, 2024
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    Portillo’s CMO named CEO at Giordano’s pizza chain

    Nick Scarpino, who has worked in various marketing roles at Portillo’s since 2015, will succeed Yorgo Koutsogiorgas in December.

  • An image of various items from McDonald's included in its McValue meal.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s to launch value platform in January

    The platform will include the $5 Meal Deal, exclusive in-app offers, local food and drink deals and Buy One, Add One for $1.

  • Wendy's Global Next Gen store design features a pick-up window for delivery orders and in-store shelving for digital pick-up orders.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Flynn Group buys 32 more Wendy’s

    The large multi-unit operator now owns about 5% of Wendy’s U.S. store system, plus its Australian and New Zealand master franchises.

  • An image of a veal parmesan chop with marinara sauce and mozzarella on a dark table.
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    Permission granted by Maggiano's
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    Maggiano’s is just getting started with menu updates, remodels

    In his first months as the chain’s VP of innovation and growth, Anthony Amoroso helped create new menu items like Rigatoni al la Vodka and updated the Caesar salad, both of which are already driving sales.

  • The Starbucks company logo on a glass door.
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Starbucks appoints former Mars sustainability exec as CSO

    Marika McCauley Sine, who previously served as Mars’ global vice president of sustainability and chief sustainability officer, will oversee the coffee chain’s net-zero transition.

  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box sales continue to lag, but unit count grows

    Comparable sales headwinds haven’t slowed Jack in the Box’s growth, with the brand opening more stores than it closed for the second year in a row.

  • A rendering of a green building in a corner unit with Griddle & Go branding.
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    Permission granted by Perkins
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    Perkins signs 10-unit agreement for fast casual concept

    In its largest deal since the concept was introduced in September, Griddle & Go will open in New Jersey in October 2025.

  • Paytronix
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    Retrieved from Paytronix website.
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    Paytronix upgrades its software weeks after being acquired

    Additions include an AI tool that answers operators’ questions and a group of features meant to help manage and process online orders.

    M&A
  • An image of a cream and beige building with a drive-thru lane. The building has a logo that says "Chipotle."
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle reaches 1K Chipotlane milestone

    The fast casual chain is also on track to open a record number of restaurants this year in the range of 285 to 315 units.

  • Individuals holding Peet's Coffee seasonal drinks
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    Courtesy of Peet's Coffee
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    Deep Dive

    How do coffee chains design, market and analyze their seasonal LTOs?

    While flexibility is important, many brands plan coffee LTOs more than a year in advance, meaning next year’s holiday drinks are already in the works at places like Peet’s and Dutch Bros.

  • A Smoothie King with a drive-thru.
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    Courtesy of Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King hires Red Robin exec as CIO

    Jyoti Lynch is tasked with creating a comprehensive technology strategy to enhance the guest experience and improve franchise profitability.

  • A sign that says "Since 1956 Jersey Miek's Subs"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jersey Mike’s sells majority stake to Blackstone

    The transaction, which is expected to close early next year, will allow the sandwich chain to accelerate its growth and invest further in technology.

  • A promotional image for Wendy's 2-for-$3 breakfast bundles.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s hires Ken Cook to succeed Gunther Plosch as CFO

    Cook, a former UPS financial exec, joins the company as it closes some weak stores but sees overall sales strength relative to other QSR burger chains.

  • An image of a woman smiling wearing a blue suit.
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    Permission granted by GoTo Foods
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    GoTo Foods names former IHOP exec as chief commercial officer

    Kieran Donahue will oversee various aspects of the commercial division, including marketing, branding and consumer insights and analytics.

  • An image inside a restaurant crowded with people. The wall says Fresh Brothers."
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    Retrieved from Fresh Brothers on November 18, 2024
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    Craveworthy buys emerging pizza brand

    The multi-brand platform has been on an acquisition spree in 2024, buying Sigri Indian BBQ and Untamed Brands, among others.

  • An evening shot of a building with white and red coloring and signage that says "Portillo's."
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Chains struggle to stand out amid ‘noise’ of value wars

    Papa Johns, Popeyes and Burger King’s value messages did not break through, while Portillo’s sought to sidestep deep discounting.

  • An image of Quarter Pounder, fries and a drink from McDonald's
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s invests $100M to help franchisees recover from E. coli outbreak

    About $35 million will go toward marketing programs that will help drive traffic and rebuild consumer trust.