Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
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Permission granted by Clean Juice
Juice chains are winning new consumers with food offerings
Brands are retooling their kitchens to accommodate new recipes, such as bowls and wraps, to attract broader demographics and expand occasions.
Julie Littman • March 28, 2024 -
Permission granted by Beyond Juicery + Eatery
How juice chains are shifting operations to create more profitability
Beyond Juicery and Main Squeeze did in-depth analyses on how franchisees could improve profitability from the cost of goods to construction.
Julie Littman • March 27, 2024 -
Permission granted by Nekter Juice Bar
What’s driving juice chains’ aggressive growth
Brands like Nekter Juice Bar, Main Squeeze Juice and Juice it Up are pushing into new markets and opening stores as demand rises for healthy foods.
Julie Littman • March 26, 2024 -
Courtesy of Beyond Meat
Plant-based meat needs to beef up its messaging in 2024
Between slumping sales and shifting consumer mindsets, 2023 proved difficult for the sector. Here’s what analysts and experts say the category can do to recalibrate.
Elizabeth Flood • Feb. 14, 2024 -
Michael Thomas via Getty Images
Cost pressures may drive restaurant franchisee bankruptcies in 2024
Issues with margins or cash flow due to supply shocks, labor shortages and other disruptions can push operators into covenant default over their debts, experts said.
Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 30, 2024 -
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Return-to-office traffic is fueling a catering boom in 2024
Chains like Cracker Barrel, BJs and Wings & Rings will continue to lean into the profitable channel this year after seeing double-digit growth in 2023.
Julie Littman • Jan. 29, 2024 -
Retrieved from Maizano on November 27, 2023
7 restaurant industry trends to watch in 2024
Development costs will remain high and service fees could frustrate diners, but personalized offers and labor-saving tech may give brands an edge.
Emma Liem Beckett, Aneurin Canham-Clyne and Julie Littman • Jan. 10, 2024 -
LeoPatrizi via Getty Images
Personalization will rule restaurant loyalty programs in 2024
Major chains are using real-time consumer data and artificial intelligence to provide more personalized perks, which may grow engagement even as diners’ emotional attachment to brands dips.
Danielle McLean • Jan. 4, 2024 -
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Foodservice ‘renaissance’: How grocers are spicing up their deli and premade meals
As supermarkets increasingly replace restaurant meals, they’re looking to offer better prices alongside flavor innovation, deals and new shopping experiences.
Catherine Douglas Moran • Nov. 7, 2023 -
Permission granted by Shane Woolley
Coffee could become a union industry in Boston
UNITE HERE has organized four Boston cafe chains. Now, it wants to use a standard contract to spur more unionization and drive up wages in the city’s coffee sector.
Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 24, 2023 -
Courtesy of Shane Woolley/Restaurant Dive
It’s not just Starbucks: Why cafes are hotbeds for unionizing
Workers at dozens of cafes in cities from Seattle to Boston are organizing, a trend experts attribute to low wages, college education and strong social bonds among employees.
Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 26, 2023 -
Permission granted by Dunkin'
6 campaigns that broke through the creative rut of H1 2023
Though tightened advertiser budgets have spurred a sense of dullness, bets on buzzy tech, experiential displays and major refreshes from chains like Dunkin’ and Burger King seized the moment.
Peter Adams and Jessica Deyo • July 17, 2023 -
Carlos Osorio/AP
Why delivery robots face a regulatory ‘nightmare’
Laws for sidewalk-roaming bots have taken hold across states. But variances in each bill complicate the industry's expansion plans.
Max Garland • May 3, 2023 -
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Rise and shine: Why breakfast chains are booming
Early bird foot traffic from remote and hybrid workers is boosting same-store sales growth at A.M. eateries, fueling sizable expansion pipelines.
Julie Littman • March 21, 2023 -
Permission granted by Wendy's
Ghost kitchens need to go omnichannel if they want to survive, experts say
After a year of dashed expansion plans, closures and high-profile regulatory infractions, segment players may need brand awareness and expanded access points to thrive.
Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 31, 2023 -
monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
While chains seek multi-unit franchisees, small operators have room to grow in 2023
Franchisees will continue to push franchisors to boost store-level profitability as many brace for high development and operating costs.
Julie Littman • Jan. 30, 2023 -
Ridofranz via Getty Images
5 trends that will shape the restaurant industry in 2023
Restaurants will experiment with dynamic menu pricing, cater to diners who are trading down and move away from ghost kitchens as inflation pressures the bottom line, experts predict.
Emma Liem Beckett, Aneurin Canham-Clyne and Julie Littman • Jan. 5, 2023 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
What’s at stake in the next battle over the FAST Recovery Act
A look at what California’s fast food council might mean for the restaurant industry if it survives the referendum process.
Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 19, 2022 -
Retrieved from Old Spice on February 24, 2022
9 campaigns that boosted the mood in 2022
Amid economic woes, an ongoing war and a series of controversies, efforts by McDonald’s, Domino’s and Chipotle found a way to cut through the noise.
Peter Adams, Jessica Deyo and Sara Karlovitch • Dec. 14, 2022 -
Sean Gallup via Getty Images
DoorDash’s expansion beyond the US will come with challenges
As DoorDash grows globally, it could face headwinds entering new markets, including competitive pressures and shifting consumer behavior.
Julie Littman • Dec. 1, 2022 -
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How new verticals boost DoorDash’s momentum
The delivery giant’s expansion into convenience, grocery and other retail has helped it reach new customers and increase loyalty on its platforms.
Julie Littman • Nov. 30, 2022 -
Permission granted by DoorDash
How DoorDash became the dominant US food delivery company
By focusing on communication with restaurant merchants, the aggregator has built products and features based on operator needs.
Julie Littman • Nov. 29, 2022 -
Permission granted by Hawaiian Bros
As chains expand drive-thrus, speed of service becomes paramount
Drive-thru ordering remains in high demand long after dining room lockdowns, and chains are making sure their design and layouts help maximize efficiency.
Julie Littman • Nov. 16, 2022 -
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Drive-thru drag: Construction delays, rising costs slow development
Inflation and labor disruption are forcing restaurants to get creative with site selection to obtain prime drive-thrus and mobile pickup window real estate.
Julie Littman • Nov. 15, 2022 -
Permission granted by Starbucks Workers United
Union proposals at odds with Starbucks’ contract goals
The union’s demand for a seat at the decision table would restrict Starbucks' power, experts say, so the company may use its deep pockets to drag out the bargaining process and protect its interests.
Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 9, 2022
