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White Castle cooks up brunch recipes, branded merch for Easter

The burger chain is running an email promotion with food and fashion influencers to engage consumers.

DoorDash sues Olo for fraud and breach of contract

Claiming Olo overcharged it tens of millions of dollars worth of fees, DoorDash is asking for $7 million in damages. Olo said the claims are "baseless." 

Report: 10% of all restaurants have closed during pandemic

Chain restaurants with less than 501 locations have closed at a higher rate than independent restaurants, with the largest permanent closure rate — 16.2% — among chains with 51 to 100 units.

Biden signs PPP extension into law, pushes deadline to May 31

The law gives the Small Business Administration until June 30 to close pending Paycheck Protection Program applications. 

UPDATED: March 31, 2021 at 10 a.m.

Shake Shack CFO to become CEO of life science company

Tara Comonte's responsibilities will be transitioned to other leadership team members until a new CFO is found. 

Q&A

Noodles & Company's new CFO talks how ghost kitchens, drive-thrus will shape the chain's future

Carl Lukach, who started at the chain in November, says 70% to 80% of the stores built this year will have a drive-thru pickup window.

Pizza Hut adds drive-thru lanes to over 1,500 US restaurants

Nearly a year after it debuted contactless curbside pickup, the chain has added digital order pickup windows in a continued effort to modernize its system.

Saladworks to open 90 ghost kitchen locations in US and Canada in 2021

Through a deal with Ghost Kitchens Brand, the company will open 60 units in the U.S. and 30 in Canada, with most located inside Walmart stores.

Chipotle gives away $100K in bitcoin for National Burrito Day

By asking people to register for a chance to win burritos or bitcoin, the restaurant can continue to build out its first-party data about consumers for future campaigns.

Delight Restaurant Group adds 54 Wendy's from NPC International sale

With the acquisition, the franchisee will operate 111 Wendy's and Taco Bell locations across four states.

Deep Dive

Miami 1 year later: Sunshine, loose restrictions spark restaurant real estate frenzy

The city's balmy climate and open space — combined with the local government's relatively loose COVID-19 limits — insulated its dining scene from the level of revenue disruption suffered by markets like New York City.

Restaurants win $28.6B relief fund in Biden's stimulus. Here's how it works.

Restaurants won't have access to grants until at least next month, Patrick Kelley, associate administrator for the Small Business Association's Office of Capital Access, told a Senate committee Wednesday. 

UPDATED: March 26, 2021 at 10:24 a.m.

DOL will allow Trump-era tip pool expansion, withdraw other proposals

Under the new rule, which will go into effect April 30, employers and managers won't be able to pocket any of the tips.

EEOC: IHOP manager conditioned leave, scheduling on accepting sexual advances

More harassment claims are filed in the restaurant industry than in any other industry, sources have said.

Olive Garden parent to raise hourly wage to $10 and offer $17M in bonuses

Pay will then rise to $11 per hour in January 2022 and $12 per hour in January 2023, in Darden Restaurants' latest move to improve compensation since the start of the pandemic. 

Chipotle invests in self-driving delivery company Nuro

This marks the first time the fast casual chain has significantly funded a third-party technology company since 2018 and follows recent tech acquisitions by McDonald's and Yum Brands.

Deep Dive

Washington, DC, 1 year later: Restaurants hammered by protests, insurrection and inauguration restrictions

While other major restaurant cities struggled to survive pandemic restrictions, District operators also had to contend with government-mandated curfews amid widespread protests and the fallout of the Capitol riot. 

Domino's franchisee to deliver $3M to settle drivers' wage and hour claims

The plaintiffs claimed they were not reimbursed for their own delivery expenses such as vehicle maintenance and insurance.

7-Eleven opens first restaurant drive-thru

The convenience store chain's newest Evolution Store model in Dallas is part of its ongoing restaurant expansion across the U.S.

Brinker integrates with Google for pickup of It's Just Wings

Patrons can now search for the virtual brand using Google Search and Google Maps, place their orders, pay and pick up at Chili's restaurants.

UPDATED: March 24, 2021 at 12:47 p.m.

Starbucks to improve sustainable coffee sourcing, reducing its largest carbon culprit

In a show of priorities, the company said it would take actions that make green coffee carbon neutral instead of tackling emissions from transportation, packaging and roasting operations.

Yum Brands acquires Tictuk to deepen commerce capabilities for social media, messaging

The owner of KFC and Taco Bell makes its second tech acquisition in a month as it looks to transform its business on a faster timetable.

Deep Dive

Chicago 1 year later: Winter froze restaurant sales amid strict restrictions

Brutally cold weather is a staple of life in Illinois' restaurant capital, but the coronavirus forced many operators into hibernation, risking the future of one of the most impactful industries in the region.

Domino's teams with Datatron to streamline AI and machine learning tech

The platform is automating and standardizing the deployment, monitoring, management, governance and validation of the pizza chain's artificial intelligence models. 

Deep Dive

Los Angeles 1 year later: Restaurants feel abandoned amid 'random' restrictions

California's aggressive response to the COVID-19 outbreak — including two rounds of months-long outdoor dining bans — put pressure on LA restaurants' bottom lines despite state and county aid.