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NRA urges states to offer grants as Restaurant Revitalization Fund runs dry

The National Restaurant Association called on mayors, governors and state legislators to also protect operators from tax burdens, permanently expand outdoor dining and continue to allow to-go alcohol sales.

Sweetgreen refreshes brand identity to spotlight sustainability, focus on 'real food'

The overhaul has been in the works for the past year and is now being implemented across marketing and advertising, social media, physical store design, digital signage, packaging and employee uniforms.

Yum Brands partners with University of Louisville to open franchising center

The Yum Center for Global Franchise Excellence will focus on recruiting and educating underrepresented people of color and women about franchising. 

Danny Meyer's equity group invests $21.5M in 7shifts' labor technology

7shifts will use the funding to scale its team and expand its product offerings, including scheduling and employee communication platforms.

Q&A

Why Chipotle tapped Discord in its push for fresh recruitment tactics

Chipotle's Director of Talent Acquisition Michael Miller dishes on the burrito giant's hiring event hosted by the instant messaging platform. 

Grubhub teams with Restaurant Strong Fund to offer $2M in grants

The program's $5,000 grants for select restaurants with five or fewer locations could help fill the gap left by the Restaurant Revitalization Fund's early closure.

Deep Dive

Food halls, ghost kitchens and the future of in-store restaurants

Rather than shying away from offering fresh meals and in-store dining due to lingering safety concerns and elevated at-home cooking trends, grocers are leaning into restaurants like never before.

Yelp adds LGBTQ-owned business search filter

Searches for LGBTQ-owned businesses on the platform jumped by more than 150% in April versus one year ago.

Report: Diner demand is up at full-service restaurants, but guest sentiment is down

Sit-down operators may be busier than ever since the start of the pandemic, but guest sentiment declined during Q1 because of frustration with service and ambiance, according to Black Box Intelligence data.

Chipotle aims to gamify mental health goals with Aduro partnership

Chipotle workers will be able to earn gift cards, healthcare discounts and other benefits by achieving well-being goals set on virtual wellness platform Strive.

Donatos turns to 'dinnerviews' to find job applicants

The "dinnerviews" consist of walk-in interviews that don't require an appointment, at which jobs can be offered "on the spot." Applicants will then receive a certificate for a free, large one-topping pizza.

McDonald's sued for $10B in damages over alleged racial stereotyping

Allen Media Group claims McDonald's operates a tiered advertising structure that differentiates on the basis of race, an accusation that arrived the same day the chain committed to double its investment in diverse media partners.

UPDATED: May 21, 2021 at 9:54 a.m.

SBA will close Restaurant Revitalization Fund on Monday — just 3 weeks after opening

More than $220 million of the $500 million set aside for businesses with less than $50,000 in pre-pandemic revenue is still available, according to the Small Business Administration. 

Opinion

How a more financially stable workforce can fuel restaurant industry recovery

Forty-eight percent of restaurant workers said they'd be willing to leave their job for one that gives them their tips immediately at the end of their shift, writes Andrew Garner of Netspend.

Chuck E. Cheese debuts mobile app and rewards program

The eatertainment chain is angling to lure customers with an omnichannel approach that provides incentives for in-store, online and mobile orders. 

Domino's CFO Stuart Levy resigns

The pizza chain is searching for a replacement and, in the meantime, has created a new Office of the CFO overseen by CEO Ritch Allison. 

Panera unveils double drive-thru store design

Going forward, all Panera builds and remodels will feature this design, and most locations will be in suburban markets to accommodate the drive-thrus.

IHOP will open first fast casual unit in NYC after 1-year delay

The casual dining chain was forced to pause the launch of its Flip'd concept during the pandemic, but now expects to open four fast casual locations this year as part of an initial pilot.

Noodles & Company opens first ghost kitchen in Chicago

The Humboldt Park location will allow customers to order meals through the company's loyalty app, as well as third-party partners, for pickup and delivery.

UPDATED: May 20, 2021 at 11:59 a.m.

Deep Dive

How the labor shortage is shifting restaurant strategy

Diners are returning in droves as COVID-19 dining room restrictions ease, but staff are hard to come by, creating a difficult balancing act for operators trying to recoup lost revenue.

Deep Dive

Retention is key to solving the restaurant industry's labor crisis

As many restaurants struggle to bring on employees, others have had success with keeping their workers by creating a positive company culture, boosting benefits and offering clear paths for career growth. 

DoorDash may be plotting European expansion

The dominant U.S. third-party delivery aggregator appears to be preparing a debut in Germany, listing 21 job postings in Berlin ranging from management to recruitment and logistics roles. 

Quiznos, Taco Del Mar to open 100 ghost kitchen units

The Rego Restaurant Group brands join a growing network of chains, including Saladworks and Wow Bao, that have partnered with Ghost Kitchen Brands. 

Goldbelly snags $100M after seeing 300% growth in 2020

The novelty food delivery service will put this capital infusion toward scaling its technology and operations and accelerating the onboarding of new chefs and restaurants. 

OSHA to review safety guidance, directs employers to follow CDC mask update

Employers can still voluntarily opt to require social distancing and masks for their workers, attorneys say, but Starbucks and Chipotle have already waived face covering requirements for vaccinated guests.