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 24 major restaurant chains

    Q3 2025 saw more evidence of a casual dining resurgence, as fast casual sales continued to slow and QSRs posted divergent results.

    Updated Dec. 1, 2025
  • A restaurant worker holding a pretzel.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    Why a national pretzel brand keeps coming back to Square

    Ben's Soft Pretzels has explored other options over the years, but keeps coming back to Square.

  • Fight for 15 protestors demand $15 an hour minimum wage in Washington, D.C.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Minimum wage increases hit 19 states in 2026

    A number of states crossed the $15-per-hour threshold that’s long been used as a rallying cry among worker advocates.

  • A burger, a soda and a basket of chips.
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    Courtesy of Chili's
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    Restaurant winners and losers in 2025

    Chili’s, coffee brands and Taco Bell did well, while fast casual chains struggled and Sweetgreen saw its worst year as a public firm.

  • 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 to open 400 units across UK, Ireland

    The first restaurant will open in 2026, marking the sandwich chain's European debut.

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    Getty Images
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    Opinion

    January reset: Turning the post-holiday slowdown into strategic growth

    Savvy operators can stop revenue bleed and convert downtime into training time, writes Toast’s Julie Powell.

  • A person wearing black pours coffee into a white mug inside a restaurant. There is another person sitting at the table with her back to the camera.
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    Permission granted by First Watch
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    Toast, Clover battle for small eateries

    The two payments processors have the biggest market shares with respect to smaller restaurants, according to a new report from the financial firm Baird.

  • An image of back-of-house workers preparing meals in a kitchen. Their faces are blurred
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    6 restaurant trends to watch in 2026

    Restaurants may face cost savings challenges and sales declines amid  continued supply chain disruptions, but can leverage consumer demand for cheaper menu items and experiential meals to stand out.

  • A person stands in front of a blurred background. The person is wearing a blue suit.
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    Permission granted by White Castle
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    White Castle appoints CMO

    Jamie Richardson has worked at the chain for nearly 30 years and succeeds Lynn Blashford, who is retiring. 

  • US Market
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    Retrieved from US Market.
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    US Market launches partnership with Cinnabon

    The first baked goods shop debuted at a c-store in Salem, Oregon, late last year.

    Updated Jan. 9, 2026
  • An image of a blue sign in the foreground says "Presto Hello! I'm your automated drive-trhoug ordering assistant." In the background, there are red menu signs and a speaker box for a Wienerschnitzel restaurant drive-thru.
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    Courtesy of Presto
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    Presto raises $10M in funding

    The drive-thru voice AI company, which spun off its tabletop business in 2024, will put the cash toward expansion, deployments and further innovation.

  • John Owen, Blaze Pizza's new CEO, glowers at a camera. He is a white man in a black turtleneck and dark suit coat.
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    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
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    Q&A

    Why Blaze Pizza’s new CEO began his tenure making pizzas

    John Owen told Restaurant Dive that working shoulder to shoulder with restaurant staff increased his understanding of operational issues.

  • A car at a window picking up an order from a restaurant
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    Permission granted by Salad and Go
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    Salad and Go ceases operations in Texas, Oklahoma

    The drive-thru salad chain will close 32 restaurants just months after 41 units closed and will focus on its home state of Arizona, as well as Nevada.

  • Three Dunkin' drinks with a brown drink in the foreground and a green drink and orange drink in the background.
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ adds protein milk to menu

    The protein-heavy version of dairy milk allows the brand to appeal to consumer health preferences without adding many SKUs.

  • A white sign with black text reading 'Compass Coffee' in front of and below a lighted neon saying reading 'Georgetown'
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    DC’s Compass Coffee files for Chapter 11

    The chain faced shortfalls in foot traffic due to significant changes to the workforce and consumption patterns in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

  • A person wears a black coat and flower blouse. The person has long hair and is smiling.
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    Retrieved from CKE Restaurants/LinkedIn on January 07, 2026
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    CKE Restaurants hires Habit Burger exec as Carl’s Jr brand president

    Iwona Alter brings nearly two decades of restaurant experience and has expertise in marketing and operations.

  • A photograph of a yellow sign with Denny's in red.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Denny’s shareholders sue over pending buyout

    Investors claim the casual dining chain’s proxy statement regarding its $620 million sale was “false and misleading” and did not contain pertinent information. Denny’s denied these claims.

  • Kiosks for ordering food sit in the dining area of a McDonald's restaurant located inside the company's new corporate headquarters on June 4, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.
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    Scott Olson / Staff via Getty Images
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    Litigants end McDonald’s no-poach agreement saga after almost a decade

    Multiple fast food chains have since ceased using the restrictive hiring agreements at issue.

  • John Owen, Blaze Pizza's new CEO, glowers at a camera. He is a white man in a black turtleneck and dark suit coat.
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    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
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    Blaze Pizza names McDonald’s, Subway alum as CEO

    John Owen is tasked with improving the shrinking chain’s menu and operations to insulate it from the fast casual pizza sector struggles.

  • An image of person wearing a blue suit.
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    Permission granted by Huddle House
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    Huddle House hires brand president

    Bob Campbell, who helped grow Georgia-based Taco Mac to 30 units, will oversee the chain’s next phase of growth.

  • An image of a white building with signage that says "Jollibee Home of the Famous ChickenJoy"
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    Why Jollibee is planning a US IPO for its international business

    The company will maintain its Philippine operations and stock listing, but will create a separate public company to oversee its global footprint.

  • An image of a person smiling at the camera.
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    Courtesy of Dutch Bros
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    Dutch Bros hires Taco Bell, Cava vet as chief shops officer

    Jennifer Somers will oversee the company’s field organization and shop operations as it works toward opening 1,000 more units by 2029.

  • A frosted soda and two floats from Chick-fil-A in old-school soda fountain glasses.
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    Courtesy of Chick-fil-A
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    Chick-fil-A adds floats, frosted sodas to permanent menu

    Mixing the brand’s soft serve with sodas gives Chick-fil-A an easy way to add new beverage platforms without increased complexity or equipment costs.

  • A smiling man with a beard in a blue shirt and blue jacket with lapels.
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    Dave’s Hot Chicken promotes COO to CEO

    Jim Bitticks succeeds Bill Phelps, who helmed the brand since 2019, and will continue to grow the chain that has nearly doubled its unit count since 2024. 

  • A Starbucks hub appears on season two of "Beast Games"
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks links with MrBeast to fuel Prime Video competition series

    The coffee chain will appear in season two of “Beast Games” and offer a limited-edition drink in a bid to the popular creator’s younger fan base.

  • An image of a Twin Peaks restaurant in the daytime.
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Twin Hospitality Group appoints Andy Wiederhorn as CEO

    The company terminated Kim Boerema as CEO in late December after over six months in the position.