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Was a Starbucks buyout of Chipotle even possible?

The coffee giant denied it was buying the burrito chain, but analysts offered an interesting view of what a mega-merger would have meant to the restaurant industry.

Sweetgreen hires Starbucks vet as chief people officer

Lauren Crowley joins the brand amid an ongoing turnaround strategy that includes new training programs for restaurant-level employees.

Outback beefs up steak quality

The steakhouse chain also hired a chief steak officer to serve as its authority on selection, marbling and prep.

Fatburger launches first rewards program

Members earn points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases and receive $5 discounts for every 75 points accrued, a strategy that could help boost sales and frequency.

Papa Murphy’s to open co-branded Pinkberry restaurants

The take-and-bake pizza chain will open three such restaurants, which are expected to provide franchisees with additional revenue streams and dayparts.

When the drive-thru feels fast and friendly, satisfaction grows

Dutch Bros Coffee, Chick-fil-A and Starbucks ranked as not just the friendliest brands, but the ones with the highest overall satisfaction, a QSR and InTouch CX study found. 

McDonald’s navigates pushback over Next initiatives

Franchisees were reportedly surprised by remodel costs, per Bloomberg, and McDonald’s has been sued for using a pricing tool that allegedly determined what customers would be willing to pay.

CKE appoints IHOP alum as Hardee’s president

Alisa Gmelich brings over 30 years of brand experience to her new role, where she will oversee growth, guest experience improvements and menu optimization.

Souplantation parent will open first CA restaurant since 2020

The chain, which closed all of its locations during Chapter 7 liquidation six years ago, will open a Sweet Tomatoes in Fountain Valley by 2027.

KFC expands into snacking with Go Buckets

The low-cost menu item includes six varieties and is aimed at helping the chain expand its afternoon daypart.

Why restaurants face pushback, risk when integrating AI tools

Employee and consumer concerns over inaccuracy and inefficiency have proven true at some chains, so operators must slow-roll AI tools to ensure they solve more problems than they create, experts said. 

Kura Sushi adds tiers to loyalty program

The sushi chain joins a growing list of brands, including Charleys, Panera and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, to adopt the model alongside flexible rewards. 

Uber Eats to buy ezCater for $2.3B

The catering platform will expand Uber Eats' large order business, which has become a significant opportunity in recent quarters.

True Food Kitchen files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

The chain plans to sell itself to a long-term partner that shares a similar brand mindset that can set it up for long-term success.

How restaurants can mitigate rising fuel costs

Evaluating delivery frequency and leveraging route optimization and scenario planning can help brands combat higher transportation expenses, experts say.

McDonald’s disputes reports that it uses AI to set prices

The chain provides franchisees with tools, resources and recommendations for pricing, but operators ultimately make menu price decisions. 

Why restaurants’ worst disaster losses come after the damage is done

Operators need a plan for what happens after an extreme weather event or man-made accident, but most don’t have one, experts say.

Papa Johns’ CMO on how the brand is reasserting itself as delivery evolves

Newly appointed Global CMO Chris Lyn-Sue digs into the chain’s Walmart Express Delivery partnership and his plans for the rest of the year.

Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings updates menu, rewards program

The 850-unit chain added seven items and launched a campaign to persuade consumers to choose hot sandwiches over cold grab-and-go.

Chicken Salad Chick targets Northeast for growth

The fast casual chain has signed deals in New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia where consumer demand remains strong.

How 4 c-stores upgraded their foodservice by hiring restaurant professionals

Chefs from the restaurant world can increase food quality and perception, but there’s a learning curve, say food leaders from Rutter’s, Weigel’s, Leo’s and Sprint Mart.

Smashburger grills up 2 new chicken sandwiches

The fast casual burger chain has seen sales and revenue growth in recent quarters after focusing on improved operations and hospitality.

DoorDash overhauls operating system for restaurants to deepen consumer relationships

The delivery giant is tying together customer data from a variety of ordering channels in a move it says can increase sales and frequency.

How Sweetgreen’s Gen Z focus is paying off

The chain pushed its wraps on social media to capture young consumers’ attention. Now, one out of five transactions include a wrap and repeat visits remain strong.

Cava hires Dr. Squatch marketer as CMO to build on growth

John Ludeke, most recently chief brand officer at the Unilever brand, is tasked with deepening consumer connections to the fast-casual chain.