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  • El Pollo Loco's first LA Mex restaurants, which emphasize off-premise, opened in 2021.
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    Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
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    El Pollo Loco faces acquisition bid by Sardar Biglari

    The activist investor has already bought up almost 15% of the chicken chain and is now making a play for the whole company.

  • Dessert items with ice cream and baked good elements.
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    Courtesy of Cinnabon
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    GoTo Foods debuts Cinnabon Swirl dual-branded concept

    Rather than simple co-branding, Cinnabon Swirl will have its own rewards program, indicating the possibility of an independent brand identity.

  • An image of a sign with a red apple and the word Applebee's
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    How Applebee’s designed its customer insights program

    The restaurant chain incorporated feedback from a range of stakeholders to ensure its customer insights are actionable and readily available.

  • An image of several food items on a table from First Watch's LTO menu with two people partially in view in the background
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    Permission granted by First Watch
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    Why First Watch takes 18 months to develop seasonal menus

    The breakfast chain goes on “flavor tours” to inspire its LTOs, which it rotates every 10 weeks in order to keep up with evolving diner demands.

  • Diesel Cafe, in Davis Square in Somerville, Mass.
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    Permission granted by Shane Woolley
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    Starbucks and Dunkin’s competitors reap rewards as visits grow

    As small coffee brands see their share of longer visits increase, legacy chains are looking to recapture their own on-premise magic.

  • An image of a giant logo that says Applbee's.
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Why urban areas are a challenge for casual chains

    High rents, difficult buildouts and space limitations are among many reasons why casual full-service chains often avoid spaces in cities. But opportunities are out there, experts say.

  • An image of Papa Johns sign on a store
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns will use Google AI for analytics, marketing

    The pizza chain has tapped Google Cloud’s AI tools to optimize delivery routes, create a customer-facing chatbot and deliver personalized rewards in real time.

  • Gavel sitting on cash
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    Avosb via Getty Images
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    Just Salad ex-CFO missed out on $1.2M, lawsuit claims

    The former finance chief is seeking funds he claims he’s owed relating to a separation agreement, as well as $5 million in damages.

  • Overly busy restaurant
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    JazzIRT via Getty Images
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    The restaurant labor market in 6 key statistics

    Although turnover stabilized last year, early data from 2025 shows increased unemployment and a decrease in hours worked.

    Updated April 7, 2025
  • A woman with brown curly hair looks down at a Caeser Salad on her table. She is holding a fork and knife. She is in a restaurant.
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    milorad kravic via Getty Images
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    Solo dining is on the rise, report finds

    Younger diners like to eat alone, with 49% of millennials and 46% of Gen Z consumers preferring to do so, according to a TouchBistro report.

  • A hand holds a smartphone with the screen showing different rewards available from Sweetgreen's rewards program.
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen abandons tiered loyalty for points-based program

    Executives previously predicted the loyalty program would be a traffic driver, as the salad chain faces a competitive fast casual environment.

  • President Donald Trump waves to a crowd at the White House on April 2, 2025.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump installs 10% baseline tariff, country-specific duties

    The president said he will levy import taxes on a wide range of countries, based on White House calculations. The National Restaurant Association said tariffs will only exacerbate pricing problems for the industry.

  • An evening image of a buildign with white letters that says Texas Chicken
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    Retrieved from Texas Chicken on March 18, 2025
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    Church’s Texas Chicken to open 900 more international units

    Through its international brand Texas Chicken, the chain will enter Germany, Hungary and Georgia for the first time, expanding its presence in Europe.

  • A portrait of a person dressed in a suit in front of a gray background.
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    Courtesy of P.F. Chang's
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    P.F. Chang’s promotes COO Brad Hill to CEO

    Hill, who has been at the company for nearly eight years, steps into the role following Eduardo Luz’s departure.

    Updated April 2, 2025
  • A photograph of a hand holding up a smartphone with it open to Domino's page on DoorDash.
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    Courtesy of Domino's/DoorDash
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    Domino’s teams with DoorDash, ditches Uber Eats exclusivity

    The pizza chain, which has partnered with Uber Eats since 2023, believes third-party aggregator partnerships are a $1 billion sales opportunity.

  • A Waffle House in Alabama.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Waffle House launches late-night delivery at 500 stores

    The 24/7 diner chain will serve delivery orders for the first time through third-party aggregators using Olo’s Dispatch tool.

  • An image of a light blue building with a sign that says "The original Hooters"
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    Courtesy of Hooters Inc.
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    Hooters of America sells itself, files Chapter 11

    The chain will sell over 100 company-owned locations to two major franchisees, which will also take over franchise support and corporate functions.

  • An image of purple cups that say PJ's coffee house
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    Retrieved from PJ's Coffee of New Orleans on April 01, 2025
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    PJ’s Coffee parent company CEO to retire

    Peter Boylan, who has headed up Ballard Brands since 2016, will remain on as an advisor while David Mesa takes over as president of franchise development.

  • A photograph of a brick building with a red sign and white letters that says Chipotle.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    ‘It limits you’: Chipotle manager allegedly refused to schedule worker who needed to pump

    The PUMP Act granted federal protections to nursing employees, but working parents may not be aware of what the law provides.

  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box hires Lance Tucker as permanent CEO

    Tucker, who rejoined the chain as CFO late last year, said the company needs to make priority changes quickly to reverse same-store sales problems.

  • Pedestrians walk by a KFC and a Taco Bell restaurant on July 2, 2014 in San Rafael, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs will retire next year

    Under Gibbs, the company added more than 10,000 restaurants, acquired the Habit Burger & Grill and grew sales by $13 billion.

  • Two people sit at a tiled table inside a Chili's with an Awesome Blossom in front of them.
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    Courtesy of Chili's
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    Chili’s serves up ‘Office’ nostalgia at new Scranton location

    The Pennsylvania location arrives as the workplace comedy, which stopped airing over a decade ago, continues to resonate strongly with consumers.

  • An image of four bike riders won a street. The bike rider in the foreground is carying an Uber Eats bag on his back.
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Uber, OpenTable join forces to offer dining, transportation benefits

    In the coming months, Uber Eats, Uber and OpenTable apps will provide consumers access to reservations, transportation and membership benefits.

  • An image of a smiling woman in front of a white background.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles appoints former KFC exec as chief legal officer

    Kate Ward, who worked at KFC for nine years, becomes Bojangles’ top legal executive as the chain pushes for 1,000 units.

  • An image of a Twin Peaks restaurant in the daytime.
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Twin Peaks CEO resigns

    Joe Hummel will leave the company on April 10 along with Chief Legal Officer Clay Mingus, both of whom have been at the brand for over seven years.