Robots in restaurants? What restaurateurs need to know about this growing trend

What will it look like for restaurant owners to collaborate with robots?

By Samantha Stone • Feb. 27, 2023

Panera adds annual membership, $0 delivery to drinks subscription

The plan offers customers a roughly 17% discount on the Unlimited Sip Club, whose members account for about 25% of the chain’s traffic. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 23, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Restaurant Dive Outlook for 2023

Restaurants across categories are hungry for growth this year, with many embracing franchising. However, confidence in the ghost kitchen model is waning.

By Restaurant Dive staff

Robots in restaurants? What restaurateurs need to know about this growing trend

What will it look like for restaurant owners to collaborate with robots?

By Samantha Stone • Feb. 21, 2023

Grocery inflation continues to decline in January, but still outpaces menu prices

Food-at-home prices rose in January at an 11.3% annual rate, the lowest rate increase since April 2022, while menu prices increased 8.2%, the third consecutive month of deceleration. 

By Sam Silverstein , Julie Littman • Feb. 15, 2023

63% of consumers plan to order from a restaurant on Valentine’s Day

Forty-nine percent of consumers celebrating the holiday said they will dine out, while 25% plan to order takeout or delivery, according to a Popmenu study. 

By Julie Littman • Feb. 13, 2023

Chick-fil-A pilots first chicken-free sandwich

The cauliflower sandwich, which is marinated, breaded and pressure cooked simiarly to its chicken sandwich, will be available in Denver; Charleston, South Carolina; and in the Greensboro-Triad region in North Carolina.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 9, 2023

Uber One subscription is boosting delivery spend, frequency and user loyalty for Uber Eats

Delivery made up 34% of Uber’s revenue, and ongoing investment in non-restaurant categories, like grocery, c-store and alcohol, may help growth.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 9, 2023

Egg prices to remain high for as long as bird flu continues, experts say

After prices more than doubled over the past year, producers are grappling with the impact of the virus while politicians and activists call for investigations into potential price gouging.

By Chris Casey • Feb. 2, 2023

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.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 31, 2023

Study: 55% of diners aren’t restaurant loyalty members

Over one-third of customers have cut spending on restaurants year-to-year, a William Blair survey finds, forcing operators to look for ways to retain diners.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 24, 2023

Report: QSR traffic down 4.2% in Q4

Net sales were up 6.1% during the quarter due to an uptick in average check, according to a report from Revenue Management Solutions.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 23, 2023

Survey: 10% of small businesses that use TikTok go viral

TikTok may help small and mid-sized brands compete with major companies on the strength of authentic brand engagement, a Capterra survey shows.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 9, 2023

6 ways restaurateurs can fight “Lunchflation” as costs rise

With consumers changing their spending habits, what are some ways restaurateurs can fight inflation?

By Deborah Findling and Kaitlin Keefer • Jan. 9, 2023

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.

By Emma Liem Beckett , Aneurin Canham-Clyne , Julie Littman • Jan. 5, 2023

BTIG: Papa Johns’ value menu attracting new base of customers

The Papa Pairings platform, which offers guests $6.99 menu items, is attracting customers earning $60,000 or less annually, according to a BTIG report.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 22, 2022

Consumers are spending more on c-store foodservice as 2022 comes to a close

In the three months ending in November, foodservice sales rose 8% and the number of trips where customers bought food and drinks rose 2%, according to The NPD Group.

By Jessica Loder • Dec. 22, 2022

How can c-stores challenge fast food restaurants in 2023?

Offering more discounts on meals and creating a relaxing in-store environment can go a long way, one expert says.

By Brett Dworski • Dec. 15, 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. 

By Peter Adams , Jessica Deyo , Sara Karlovitch • Dec. 14, 2022

Survey: 79% of diners expect option to use technology to order from casual restaurants

Online ordering is used most frequently by consumers under 30, followed by phone and the restaurant's app, according to a HungerRush report.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 13, 2022

NRA: 77% of consumers plan to order from restaurants during the holidays

A National Restaurant Association survey found strong consumer sentiment for dining out, but data from OpenTable suggests visits still lag behind 2019 levels.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 8, 2022

The biggest factors shaping the restaurant industry in 2022

Restaurant Dive has rounded up key articles that reflect a year marked by financial struggle, union momentum, continued off-premise development and transitions of power for the segment.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 5, 2022

Taco Bell embraces soccer, Latin culture in new ad

The chain looks to capitalize on the World Cup in a new soccer-themed campaign featuring a diverse array of talent.

By Sara Karlovitch • Dec. 1, 2022

How a second drive-thru lane boosted sales for an A&W franchisee

After investing $80,000 in the drive-thru renovation, franchisee Anthony Walker said drive-thru sales went “through the roof” and total roughly 65% of sales.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 23, 2022

Report: Deals, promotions aren’t driving QSR traffic

Foodservice deal occasions were down 1% and non-deal traffic was down 2% in the quarter ending September, The NPD Group found in its latest data. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 11, 2022

Sweetgreen enters dessert category

The salad chain’s Crispy Rice Treat, which costs $2.95, is part of a push to broaden its menu to reach more customers and dayparts.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 7, 2022