The Latest

  • An image of a person holding a brown bag leaving a Chipotle store front.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Tracking the same-store sales of 23 major restaurant chains

    Q2 2026 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales stabilized and QSRs posted mixed results.

    Updated Aug. 27, 2026
  • A group of people stand behind a blue ribbon and in front of a store that has two signs saying Saladworks and Frutta Bowls.
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    Courtesy of Woworks
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    Woworks targets 40 openings this year

    Saladworks’ parent has already debuted 23 units, nearly half of which are co-branded, and is on pace to double its new restaurant openings this year.

  • A hand lifts a slice of stuffed crust pizza topped with pepperoni and peppers. The slice trails strings of melted mozzarella.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Q2 2026’s restaurant winners and losers

    Coffee is in, pizza is out, and some legacy QSR chains are struggling with much-needed turnarounds. 

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    Retrieved from Pizza Hut.
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    It’s official: Yum has sold Pizza Hut for $1.5B

    Taco Bell’s parent will focus on its other brands, while Pizza Hut can begin a turnaround sheltered from the immediate pressures of public markets.

  • A photo collage shows content creators with food from Chipotle
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Chipotle deploys 100 creators for latest ads spotlighting fresh food

    This is the first national advertising push from Chief Brand Officer Fernando Machado and Chipotle’s first major work with new agency partner Kids.

  • Three pumpkin themed coffee drinks from Starbucks. Two are iced, one is hot and has whipped cream.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ pumpkin spice launch breaks records, again

    The Pumpkin Spice Latte, combined with new drinks and an emphasis on food attachment, powered the coffee giant’s strongest-ever fall menu debut.

  • Domino's
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    How Domino’s is taking on the Big Mac, Whopper and other fast-food icons

    CMO Kate Trumbull explains why the chain and AOR Work In Progress chose a hyperbolic, darkly comedic tone for its latest campaign.

  • labor law
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    Kevin Dietsch / Staff via Getty Images
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    Starbucks faces another union boycott, activist investor pressure

    Pro-labor investors want the chain to split its board chair and CEO roles as Starbucks Workers United asks consumers to join its contract fight.

  • A photograph of a beige building with blue signage that says Little Blue Menu
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    Retrieved from Chick-fil-A on August 28, 2026
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    Chick-fil-A to close remaining Little Blue Menu restaurant

    The College Park, Maryland, restaurant, which was a delivery-centric test concept, will offer only Chick-fil-A menu options beginning next year.

  • A close up photograph of several bowls with food from Roti Modern Mediterranean
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    Courtesy of Roti Modern Mediterranean
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    Opinion

    The future of restaurant growth is not a brand. It is a portfolio.

    Creating a platform of chains provides more flexibility as competition for consumer dollars rises, writes Edible Brands’ CEO Somia Farid Silber.

  • Man Pays Restaurant Bill with Credit Card
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    Getty Images
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    Gen Z is boosting restaurant traffic

    Bars and independents are outperforming chains, and consumers are shifting from grocers to restaurants, according to Bank of America data.

  • Four Cold Brews, three with flavored cold foam toppings.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    How Gen Z, millennials drive beverage-only restaurant visits

    Consumers want more coffee variety but seem bearish on dirty sodas, despite the fact that beverage-only occasions are concentrated in the afternoon, per a National Restaurant Association report.

  • A cup of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is held up in front of overlay text that reads: "There's Only One Pumpkin Spice Latte"
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    Permission granted by Starbucks
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    Is Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte ‘basic’? Martha Stewart answers in new ads

    Stewart and “Off Campus” actor Belmont Cameli feature in tongue-in-cheek social content that heralds the return of the beloved menu item.

  • Murphy USA
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
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    Murphy USA to trial automated White Castle kiosks

    A partnership with Automated Retail Technologies will bring fresh items from the burger QSR’s menu to select large-format stores.

  • An image of cold-press juices from Pressed Juicery
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    Permission granted by Pressed Juicery
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    Why ghost kitchens aren’t dead for some brands

    Pressed Juicery and Chick-fil-A include delivery-centric locations to fulfill demand and acquirie new customers.

  • Yellow storefront of Buffalo Wild Wings near Las Vegas
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Buffalo Wild Wings hires coffee exec as COO

    Ahmed Awadallah, who brings significant cafe and QSR experience to the sports bar chain, will focus on operational excellence.

  • A Papa John's sign.
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    Joe Raedle / Staff via Getty Images
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    Papa Johns sells 28 Florida units

    The refranchising deal in Orlando is part of the chain’s initiative to reduce the number of company-owned restaurants in North America.

  • A promotional collage for Burger King's new nuggets.
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King scraps ‘rubbery’ chicken nuggets for new recipe

    The RBI chain updated its breading, marinade, sauces and packaging in a comprehensive overhaul to make its nuggets juicier and crispier.

  • A Dunkin' location
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ to return to Puerto Rico in 2027

    The doughnut and coffee chain is banking on residual brand affinity to make its return to the island territory a success.

  • Josh Allen for Pizza Hut
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut ads celebrate quarterbacks as chain drops ‘pizza’ from name

    Josh Allen is the latest quarterback to appear in a spot for the brand, which continues to place value at the center of its marketing message.

  • 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.