Consumer Trends

  • Six drinks, all colorful, comprising the vanguard of McDonald's post-CosMc's premium drinks lineup.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s CEO blames US traffic drop on execution problems

    The Golden Arches is acting with urgency to correct value issues and operational inefficiencies in the U.S. after a sales miss, executives said.

    By • Aug. 4, 2026
  • Domino's app
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    Courtesy of Domino's Pizza
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    Domino’s pays diners to beta test its relaunched app, website

    The pizza chain’s new campaign encourages consumers to leave feedback about its updated digital ordering experience.

    By Chris Kelly • Aug. 3, 2026
  • An image of a waitress serving three people at a table. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Restaurant Dive

    Check out a selection of articles about some of the biggest trends and news — from Jersey Mike’s IPO to an uptick in restaurant closures  — shaping the restaurant industry in 2026.

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • Person enjoying a hamburger in a cozy café.
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    Permission granted by Rokt
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    Sponsored by Rokt

    The next competitive advantage for QSRs may be the company they keep

    Brand partnerships are evolving from awareness campaigns into measurable growth engines.

    By Rob Murphy • Aug. 3, 2026
  • People walk past a Chipotle storefront.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle’s efforts to engage customers with rewards in-restaurant pay off

    “While food quality and generous portions bring guests through our doors, it's the experience we deliver that keeps them coming back,” CEO Scott Boatwright said.

    By Kristen Doerer • July 30, 2026
  • A close up image of a person holding up a slice of Mexican Pizza from Taco Bell
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Why Taco Bell predicts a swift recovery from Cyclospora

    Loyalty, value offers and swift removal of lettuce have mitigated the sales impact of the ongoing outbreak of the foodborne parasitic illness.

    By • July 30, 2026
  • A smiling worker hands someone a ceramic mug of coffee.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks remodels, service tweaks are paying off

    The coffee giant gained same-store sales momentum in the U.S. market with its third consecutive quarter of comps growth.

    By • July 30, 2026
  • Inside a beverage facility that sells boba teas.
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    Permission granted by Gong cha
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    Gong cha inks 50-store franchise deal in Texas

    The agreement will significantly expand the bubble tea chain’s U.S. footprint, and comes after it bought 170 stores from its master franchisee in March.

    By • July 28, 2026
  • The entrance of a Moe's Casa Mexicana restaurant.
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    Courtesy of GoToFoods
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    How Moe’s Southwest Grill is using music to shape its experience abroad

    No matter where Moe’s opens a location, “music is one of the most important things not only to the brand, but to how we bring the brand to life in our stores,” GoToFoods’ Brittany Metcalfe said.

    By Bryan Wassel • July 28, 2026
  • The interior of SingleThread Restaurant & Inn in Healdsburg, California.
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    Retrieved from SingleThread Restaurant & Inn on July 16, 2026
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    Travelers are booking lodging based on hotel restaurants

    This summer, 60% of travelers have booked a hotel specifically because of its restaurant, while hotel restaurant dining is up year over year, per OpenTable.

    By Jenna Graber • July 27, 2026
  • A close up imae of a white sign with Cracker Barrel logo and Uncle Herschal mascot.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Cracker Barrel taps former Bloomin’ chief as CEO

    David Deno will succeed Julie Masino, who is leaving less than a year after surviving an ouster attempt triggered by rebranding backlash.

    By • Updated July 27, 2026
  • A gray and beige fast food building with red and white brand markings for the chain Jollibee
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    Courtesy of Jollibee
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    How 4 QSR chains sped up franchised growth in H1

    From chicken chains to frozen custard joints, growing restaurant concepts are working to accelerate their store development in 2026.

    By • July 24, 2026
  • Taco Bell is testing a new design for its Go Mobile stores, pictured here.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell flooded with lawsuits over diarrhea outbreak

    The fast food giant, supplier Taylor Farms and at least one franchisee face legal action from consumers in multiple states over alleged deceptive marketing and illness tied to lettuce.

    By • July 23, 2026
  • A zoomed in image of Dutch Bros building signage
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    Courtesy of Dutch Bros
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    Gas price moderation won’t end restaurant consumer woes

    Falling gas prices may not mean a return to consumer health, as wages fall and savings deplete, worsening the gap between restaurant winners and losers.

    By • July 22, 2026
  • A smiling woman in a Burger King uniform at a table of restaurant guests.
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King reworks manager role to support guest experience

    The chain is redefining its restaurant manager role with a new, more distinct uniform and new responsibilities to better address guest concerns.

    By • July 20, 2026
  • An image of a drive-thru digital menu board with a Taco Bell restaurant with white and purple paint in the background.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell pulls some ingredients as cyclosporiasis outbreak grows

    The brand said its decision was a voluntary precaution and that no specific brand or restaurant has been confirmed as the source of the outbreak.

    By • July 16, 2026
  • A group of people sit at a table with a white table cloth and a person wearing black greets two of the people.
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    Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Restaurants have never known more about their guests. So why are they losing them?

    The answer to repeat customer visits isn’t more loyalty tiers or programs, but deploying guest data to enhance experiences and remember preferences, writes Guestologie’s Ryan Volberg.

    By Ryan Volberg • July 6, 2026
  • A bunch of chicken nuggets, a drink and a side.
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    Courtesy of Jollibee
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    Jollibee’s new chicken nuggets could juice sales

    A buzzy new menu launch may help the chain win diners and market confidence as it eyes a U.S. IPO and franchised growth.

    By • July 2, 2026
  • A group of people at a bar cheer while watching a soccer match. A person in the center is wearing red and holding a soccer ball.
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    Getty Images
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    World Cup kicks US restaurant traffic up a notch

    Transactions in host cities jumped by as much as 28% during the group stage of the soccer tournament, per Square data.

    By • July 1, 2026
  • Four plastic cups with colorful beverages and ice inside sit on a white table, surrounded by fruit and against a pink patterned background.
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    Permission granted by Sheetz
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    Sheetz, Dash In lead the charge as refreshers reshape c-store beverage sales

    The drinks sit at the intersection of fruit flavor, wellness and afternoon treat occasions, making them highly adaptable across c-store menus.

    By Christine Blank • June 30, 2026
  • An image of a resaturant with Church's Chicken on the side of the building
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    jetcityimage via Getty Images
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    Church’s Texas Chicken debuts catering

    The chicken chain is one of many QSRs shifting toward large group orders to work around the price sensitivity of individual consumers and drive sales.

    By • June 30, 2026
  • Happy diners eating pizza
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    Permission granted by Rokt Marketing
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    Sponsored by Rokt

    The confirmation screen: QSR’s strategic frontier for owned media

    The next QSR growth frontier? Your confirmation screen. Turn transactions into profit.

    By Rob Murphy • June 29, 2026
  • A rendering of a bagel shop.
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    Courtesy of Einstein Bros. Bagels
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    Einstein Bros. Bagels plans 300 new stores by 2030

    The brand is preparing for scalable growth with a new store prototype as more consumers opt for bagels for breakfast and beyond.

    By • June 26, 2026
  • BJ's Restaurants' new chicken sandwiches
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    Courtesy of BJ's Restaurants
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    BJ’s fuels menu revamp with chicken sandwiches

    The new lineup offers a range of flavor options and could give the casual chain a chance to take market share from QSR chicken chains.

    By • June 25, 2026
  • Longhorn Steakhoues
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    Courtesy of Darden Restaurants
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    LongHorn Steakhouse hits $1B in quarterly sales

    While price sensitivity and beef costs may be hurting other brands, the steakhouse chain and Olive Garden saw sales growth across income cohorts.

    By • June 25, 2026
  • Three colorful sodas with white custard cream dribbling down the inside of the cups.
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    Courtesy of Freddy's
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    Freddy’s adds dirty sodas with custard cream

    The fast casual burger chain is tapping into consumer desire for premium cold beverages with a new lineup, as dirty sodas take over restaurant menus.

    By • June 24, 2026