The Latest
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Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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.
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Permission granted by Walk-On's
Walk-On’s to open first corporate stores since 2016
The chain will open multiple corporate-owned locations next year that feature a new interior and exterior in addition to updated kitchen equipment.
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Courtesy of Dine Brands
Dine Brands wants to open a dozen IHOP-Applebee’s units in the US next year
While the eye-catching new units promise greater profits, they can’t solve the sales pressure that both brands currently face.
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Clayton Chase via Getty Images
Buca di Beppo to be sold to stalking horse bidder for $27M
Main Street Capital Corporation originally provided the chain a loan of $47 million in 2015 and will buy it out of bankruptcy.
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Courtesy of Popeyes
Popeyes didn’t focus on value in Q3 and paid for it
The chain lacked enough compelling promotions to attract price-sensitive customers during the summer, contributing to negative comparable sales.
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Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Taco Bell is a winner and KFC a loser in Yum Brands’ Q3
KFC’s value meal did not turn its same-store sales declines around, but Taco Bell’s mix of menu innovation and value messaging drove growth for the company.
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Courtesy of Burger King
Burger King’s LTOs met with stiff competition in Q3
The chain’s summer promotions, including its Fiery menu, had trouble cutting through QSR value messages, resulting in softer than expected sales in Q3.
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Boogich via Getty Images
Why TGI Fridays filed for bankruptcy
The casual chain’s fortunes soured this year as scores of stores shut and bondholders took control of its assets, ending a proposed merger.
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Courtesy of CKE Restaurants
Tropical Smoothie Cafe appoints new CEO
Max Wetzel, who previously served as CEO at CKE Restaurants for over a year, joins the smoothie chain months after it was acquired by Blackstone.
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Courtesy of Red Lobster
Red Lobster hires Brinker exec as COO
Larry Konecny joins the seafood chain, which recently emerged from Chapter 11, after a 17-year tenure at Maggiano’s Little Italy.
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Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco ramps up remodel efforts with low-cost design
A new prototype, which includes furniture upgrades and energy-efficient hoods and HVAC, will help reduce buildout costs from $2.2 million to $1.8 million.
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Courtesy of Culver's
EEOC alleges Culver’s operators fired a transgender worker who complained about deadnaming
Four workers, including the transgender worker who was the subject of the harassment, were fired a day after reporting the behavior to the general manager, EEOC alleged.
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Spencer Platt via Getty Images
How Starbucks plans to get back to being a coffeehouse
The coffee giant thinks ceramic mugs, a coffee condiments bar and comfy chairs are a good start toward improving its in-store vibe.
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JazzIRT via Getty Images
The restaurant labor market in 6 key statistics
Turnover has fallen in H1 2024, while unemployment and total jobs in restaurants remained steady, indicating a return to pre-pandemic labor market dynamics.
Updated Nov. 4, 2024 -
Courtesy of Paytronix
Paytronix acquired by The Access Group
The deal will expand the offerings available through Paytronix’s platform and help accelerate its growth, executives said.
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Courtesy of 7-Eleven
7-Eleven crashes the $5 value meal party
Customers can get two of the chain’s “new, bigger” pizza slices and a 20-ounce Coke or Sprite in the latest cost-conscious c-store deal.
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Mario Tama via Getty Images
McDonald’s E. coli outbreak now tied to 90 illnesses
The CDC said Wednesday that it’s likely that slivered onions from Taylor Farms used on Quarter Pounders caused the outbreak.
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Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Wendy’s to close 140 poor-performing restaurants in Q4
To boost the health of the overall system, the chain will close outdated restaurants that have operating margins below average and unit volumes of about $1.1 million.
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Courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks to eliminate non-dairy milk upcharge, hold prices steady
The coffee giant will move towards greater price transparency on customized drinks while cutting back on ineffective discounts, CEO Brian Niccol said.
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Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Shake Shack to launch loyalty program in 2025
A rewards program will be a long-term sales driver, but it will not likely impact 2025 performance at the fast casual chain.
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Permission granted by Chipotle
Fast casual chains steam ahead with expansion as other sectors pull back
Shake Shack, Chipotle and Wingstop are on track to open over 700 units combined this year, while targeting strong sales growth.
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Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Chipotle remains focused on core strategy, efficiency improvements, interim CEO says
Under Scott Boatwright, Chipotle aims to follow a steady course and carry out key initiatives like adding expediters and back-of-house equipment to boost throughput.
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Mario Tama via Getty Images
With E. coli outbreak contained, McDonald’s focuses on next steps
The chain’s traffic fell almost 10% nationwide and more than 30% in Colorado in the days following the public health crisis, according to visitation data.
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Permission granted by Perkins
Perkins to open fast casual stores in Texas debut
Griddle & Go will serve as the casual chain’s entry to the Lone Star state as it expands into major U.S. markets.
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Courtesy of Subway
Subway adds $6.99 meal deal through year’s end
The monthslong discount signals a shift towards greater value emphasis for the chain, which has stayed largely aloof from 2024’s QSR price wars.
