Yum Brands turns to AI to aggregate social media, third-party reviews

The Byte system of AI technologies is helping power advanced Voice of the Customer tools while improving the drive-thru experience, executives said on a Q2 2025 earnings call.

By Bryan Wassel • Aug. 6, 2025

McDonald’s chicken, loyalty and value end same-store sales slump

A strong combination of value offerings, LTOs and new menu items drove sales growth in the U.S. for Q2, executives said.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 6, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Loyalty & Rewards Strategy

Capturing — and keeping — loyal customers is more crucial than ever as diner price sensitivity puts pressure on restaurants.

By Restaurant Dive staff

How Domino’s new ads hit at fast food burger chains in fight over value

New spots visualize how a slice of pizza stacks up to a similarly priced slice of a burger to boost a long-standing deal and reach value-focused consumers.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 4, 2025

4 takeaways from Starbucks’ customer experience plans

The company is laying the foundations to make Starbucks “once again the gold standard in customer service” and is planning to revamp its loyalty program next year, CEO Brian Niccol said.

By Bryan Wassel • July 31, 2025

Starbucks teases protein drinks, new food

After simplifying its menu, the coffee giant will focus on experiential beverages, artisanal foods and non-coffee drinks.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 30, 2025

How McDonald’s dug into nostalgia and reignited the chicken wars

The return of the chain’s Snack Wrap has spurred competitors including Popeyes and Taco Bell to launch and advertise around similar offerings.

By Chris Kelly • July 30, 2025

How Yum Brands predicts the ‘it’ beverage of the future

The company is turning to data science and prediction markets as consumer demand for beverages creates opportunities for new dayparts and concepts.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 30, 2025

Why BJ’s CEO is betting on menu innovation to revive the brand

Starting with its pizza, the chain is updating ingredients and flavors to boost guest satisfaction, which has waned in recent years.

By Julie Littman • July 28, 2025

KFC US hires chief growth officer

Tiffany Furman joins the chain from The Habit Burger & Grill, where she helped oversee the brand’s transformation after its acquisition by Yum.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 25, 2025

McDonald’s to test premium drinks in 500 stores

After winding down CosMc’s, McDonald’s will start testing drinks inspired by the spinoff in 500 stores across Wisconsin and Colorado in September.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 24, 2025

Want a great quick-service restaurant experience? Keep it fast and efficient

Customers are happier with human-led ordering at the counter or the drive-thru than they are with using kiosks, according to a Qualtrics Instant Insights survey.

By Bryan Wassel • July 23, 2025

How diversifying drinks can create new restaurant dayparts

Consumer interest in value, healthier options and novelty is driving demand for higher margin beverages and new occasions.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 21, 2025

Caribou adds Lemonade Refreshers to permanent menu

The coffee chain is expanding its lineup of cold, non-coffee beverages as the refresher category takes off across brands.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 17, 2025

Popeyes unveils Signature Sauce, Chicken Dippers

The sauce is served in rounded cups, rather than the chain’s standard rectangular containers, a move resembling Raising Cane’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken’s sauce strategy.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 14, 2025

Casual, not careless: The art of relaxed dining design

If casual brands don’t invest in the contemporary, experiential offerings diners crave, they could eventually risk ceding traffic to fast casual competitors.

By Amanda Schuster • July 14, 2025

Packaging suppliers respond to QSR diners hungry for a better experience

Manufacturers are working with their restaurant customers to improve takeout, as well as sustainability opportunities for food service ware.

By Shefali Kapadia • July 9, 2025

Beverage trends: The forces shaping the coffee sector in 2025

Small coffee chains are looking to experiential coffee occasions to outcompete major chains, but they’re not abandoning menu innovation.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 1, 2025

It’s the summer of chicken for QSRs

Chains including Culver’s, McDonald’s and Taco Bell hope to attract customers with new poultry lineups this season.

By Julie Littman • June 24, 2025

Yum Brands appoints Chris Turner CEO

Turner, current chief financial and franchise officer, will succeed David Gibbs on Oct. 1. Gibbs will serve the chain in an advisory role through 2026.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated June 17, 2025

Chick-fil-A leads in customer satisfaction for 11th straight year

The ACSI 2025 report found challenger brands on the march, sector leaders on the defensive, and Starbucks showing surprising strength.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • June 17, 2025

The many faces of automation at the NRA Show

This year artificial intelligence appeared in forms ranging from a cat-eared delivery robot to a generated analytics dashboard.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • June 5, 2025

Zaxbys’ latest LTO emphasizes late-night dining

The fried chicken chain joins brands like Pizza Hut, Wendy’s and Portillo’s in making late-night occasions a strategic priority.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • June 3, 2025

Why (and how) restaurants continue to embrace the incredible, irreplaceable egg

Consumers continue to expect and demand real eggs on restaurant menus.

June 2, 2025

Red Robin ‘far from claiming victory’ despite comps growth

The casual chain’s turnaround efforts are paying off in terms of comparable sales and profits, but executives say a repeat performance is unlikely in Q2.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • May 30, 2025

Reporter’s notebook: 3 unanswered questions from the NRA Show

Can a robot really replace a worker? Will tariffs trigger a recession? Can you charge $14 for a mocktail?

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • May 28, 2025