The Latest

  • An image of a man leaving a Chipotle. He is holding a brown bag.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Tracking the same-store sales of 21 major restaurant chains

    Very few chains — not even Chipotle and Domino’s — were immune from same-store sales slides reported in Q1 2025 as consumers spend less.

    Updated May 21, 2025
  • Person Using SelfService Kiosk in Modern Cafe.
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    Vladimir Razguliaev via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Acumera

    How your restaurant can scale without the strain

    Restaurants are racing to modernize — but scaling tech across locations can be a burden.

  • A smiling person in a blue suit jacket.
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    Permission granted by Shake Shack
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    Shake Shack hires Raising Cane’s vet as chief people officer

    Jamie Griffin joins the chain as its top HR executive and will focus on areas like talent acquisition, the team member experience and leadership development.

  • Grubhub food delivery bags on the counter at a coffee shop.
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    Courtesy of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
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    Wyndham, Grubhub partner on food delivery to 6K hotels

    Through the collaboration, guests staying across Wyndham’s entire U.S. portfolio will have access to online ordering and added perks like free delivery.

  • Pickles rain down on the top of a car in an ad from Sonic Drive-In
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    Permission granted by Sonic Drive-In
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    Q&A

    Don’t hold the pickles: Sonic’s CMO on going all-in on dining trend

    Ryan Dickerson discusses a Grillo’s partnership and ad shoot that involved over 2,000 real pickles as briny snacks win Gen Z’s favor.

  • Several Taco Bell menu items.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell tests value menu in Indianapolis

    The brand will watch how consumers respond to a limited-time slate of $3 and under items before deciding whether to take them national.

  • Caribou Coffee's lemonade refreshers with fruit inclusions.
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    Courtesy of caribou coffee
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    Caribou adds Lemonade Refreshers to permanent menu

    The coffee chain is expanding its lineup of cold, non-coffee beverages as the refresher category takes off across brands.

  • The exterior of a Del Taco during the evening
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Southern Del Taco franchisee goes bankrupt

    Matadoor Restaurant Group, which owns 22 units in Georgia and Alabama, struggled with sales declines and rising operating costs.

  • A photo of the exterior of a gas station and convenience store. Signs on the building say Carl's Jr. and Love's.
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    Courtesy of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
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    Love’s brings order-ahead capabilities to Carl’s Jr. sites

    The travel center company already added the technology to its Arby’s locations, and expects Hardee’s locations to get this update next.

  • A photograph of a digital menu board at McDonald's with various meal options.
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s Snack Wrap launch leads to double-digit traffic jump

    Placer.ai data revealed a 22.3% uptick in visit rates compared to the year-to-date average on July 11, the day after the Snack Wrap’s return.

  • An exterior shot of a Red Robin restaurant, which is lit from inside, at night
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    The image by Cbraccialini is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Red Robin could refranchise 15% of stores

    A new strategic initiative builds on the North Star program, but features an emphasis on refranchising that the company hopes will help it refinance debt.

  • A photo of a neon sign outside at night. The sign says 7-Eleven.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven facing shrinking foot traffic

    Store visits have been declining for several quarters, but Seven & i is banking on more QSRs on-site to help turn things around.

  • A collage of fake instagram posts and Starbucks drinks.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks makes secret menu hacks official

    The chain will offer a rotating selection of customized beverages, including ones designed by consumers, as it looks to deepen mobile engagement. 

  • The outside of a Dave & Buster's restaurant.
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    JHVEPhoto via Getty Images
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    Dave & Buster’s hires ex-KFC US president as CEO

    Tarun Lal brings 25 years of experience at Yum Brands to the eatertainment chain, which has struggled with quarterly same-store sales declines.

    Updated July 15, 2025
  • A pedestrian strolls by a KFC ad that shows Colonel Sanders scowling.
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    Permission granted by Kentucky Fried Chicken
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    KFC’s new take on Colonel Sanders is serious about its ‘Comeback Era’

    The usually grinning founder-turned-mascot has taken on a scowl to ensure the Yum Brands chain gets serious about winning back market share. 

  • A photograph of a black sign that says "Starbucks Coffee Company" in front of a brick building.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks shifts to 4-day RTO for corporate employees

    Starbucks won’t require individual workers to relocate, but new positions or lateral moves within the company will come with an in-person requirement.

  • Love's
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    Retrieved from Naf Naf.
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    Naf Naf Grill CEO to retire

    Grady Metoyer, the brand’s CFO, will step into the interim CEO role following Greg William's retirement.

  • A photograph of white EV charging stations in a parking lot in front of a Bojangles restaurant.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles to install EV charging stations

    The QSR chain will begin installation during Q4 2025, and will have stations accessible at many of its locations next year.

  • A waiter serves a table at a nice restaurant
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    Rawpixel via Getty Images
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    Casual, not careless: The art of relaxed dining design

    If casual brands don’t invest in the contemporary, experiential offerings diners crave, they could eventually risk ceding traffic to fast casual competitors.

  • A cohort of sauces and a band of chicken dippers.
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    Popeyes unveils Signature Sauce, Chicken Dippers

    The sauce is served in rounded cups, rather than the chain’s standard rectangular containers, a move resembling Raising Cane’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken’s sauce strategy.

  • Exterior of a Potbelly restaurant
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    Permission granted by Potbelly
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    Potbelly updates website, app as part of digital transformation

    These digital channels will include a reorder function and “Quick Add” option for a faster checkout experience. 

  • An iamge of three smothies and a phone for GLP-1 support from Smoothie King
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    Courtesy of Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King secures private equity investment

    Fresh funds from Main Post Partners could give the chain a leg up in its battle against Tropical Smoothie Cafe for segment leadership. 

  • A photograph of five fruit drinks within plastic cups.
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    Courtesy of Taco Cabana
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    Taco Cabana joins the refreshers trend with new drink lineup

    Cabana Refreshers will launch on July 23 starting as a limited-time offer, but could become a permanent beverage if proven popular.

  • A photo of ice cream from Stewart's Shops in two cups on a table with some fall leaves.
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    Permission granted by Stewart's Shops
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    What restaurants can learn from c-store’s sweet treat offerings

    Owning their own baked goods or ice cream program gives retailers a world of innovation to play with, but comes with significant challenges, experts say.

  • Jack in the Box restaurant location
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Jack in the Box’s poison pill was the right move

    The chain wants to protect itself from a hostile takeover, and the limited-duration act is unlikely to impact shareholders, lawyer Keith Gottfried said.

  • Two adults with two kids eats pizza at a restaurant.
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    monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
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    Little bites, big ideas: Rethinking kids’ menus for today’s tiny diners

    Winning menus go beyond chicken fingers and hot dogs, chefs say, to offer customizable, healthy and globally inspired fare.