Bringing the phygital experience to restaurants

With the ever-growing use of technologies used in the restaurant industry, customers expect the same level of personalization and convenience in person as they do online.

Oct. 26, 2021

C3 is opening first brick-and-mortar market in Manhattan

The digital restaurant platform's 40,000-square-foot food hall, dubbed Citizens New York, will allow diners to eat on-premise or order for takeout and delivery.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 26, 2021

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

Impossible Foods opens 2 food stands in Seattle arena

The plant-based meat maker's latest stadium expansion comes as major QSRs like McDonald's are considering a larger push into meat alternatives.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 25, 2021

How 5 new QSR designs optimize the off-premise experience

From multiple drive-thru lanes to GPS-enabled curbside pickup, fast food brands are embracing new designs to create frictionless off-premise channels.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 20, 2021

Panera aims to be carbon negative by 2050

The chain also unveiled a slate of sustainability goals for 2025, including more reusable packaging and renewable energy.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 20, 2021

The key to a successful holiday season will be flexible staffing

For small employers, flexibility and adjustable hours are factors to compete on now that workers' demands are changing, writes Sumir Meghani, CEO and co-founder of Instawork.

By Sumir Meghani • Oct. 18, 2021

Report: 50% of operators plan to deploy automation tech in 2 to 3 years

Eighty-seven percent of restaurant owners/operators believe that technology adoption has been critical for survival throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Lightspeed's Global State of Hospitality report. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 15, 2021

NRA: Declining disposable income dampens demand for on-premise eating

Diners want to eat at restaurants and order off-premise more often than they currently do, the association's SVP Hudson Riehle shared at DoorDash's Main Street Strong Conference on Wednesday.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 14, 2021

Popeyes heats up Megan Thee Stallion collab with merch drops, new chicken sandwich

A partnership with the hip-hop star, who is now a franchise owner, spotlights a sauce inspired by her sassy personality and an Easter egg-loaded video.

By Peter Adams • Oct. 14, 2021

How the 'chameleon effect' is limiting your business (and what to do about it)

In under a second, a single behavior can change the vibe of an entire venue. Businesses need a way to harness that tendency to positively engage guests.

Oct. 4, 2021

Survey: 36% of TikTok users order from restaurants after seeing them on the app

Chipotle and Arby's have recently launched campaigns on the social media app, which marketing agency MGH says has a potential to drive sales.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 1, 2021

What happens when businesses play the best of the internet on their TVs

Today, 72% of all U.S. adults use social media. The most commonly used social media platforms all have one thing in common: snackable videos. Here's what that means for business entertainment. 

Sept. 27, 2021

Why alcohol delivery will still be a big opportunity post-pandemic

Alcohol delivery is at the nexus of two big trends: on-demand delivery and eCommerce.

Sept. 27, 2021

DoorDash rolls out alcohol delivery to 20 states

Customers can toggle to the alcohol tab in the company's app to search for beverages from restaurants, grocery stores, local retailers and convenience stores.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 20, 2021

Del Taco rolls out Del Yeah Rewards program

The Mexican chain's four-tiered loyalty offering comes amid increased consumer participation in restaurant rewards programs and follows a taco subscription launch by rival Taco Bell. 

By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 17, 2021

Pret A Manger brings its coffee subscription program to the US

The café chain is offering two monthly subscription plans, which cost $29.99 and $19.99, respectively, for up to five drinks a day.

By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 16, 2021

The top restaurant trends in 2021

Whether it's adopting contactless payment strategies, experimenting with online ordering, or finding ways to connect to their local communities, restaurants are open to finding the best ways to connect with their diners.

Sept. 13, 2021

How to transform your business's TV into a sales driver

Here's how digital signage can boost your marketing efforts by transforming what's playing on the TV. 

Sept. 7, 2021

New research finds higher pay positively impacts customer service

Cornell researchers compared restaurant reviews where minimum wage rose versus where it was stagnant and found an improvement in the perceived quality of service with higher wages.

By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 1, 2021

How McDonald's boosts mobile growth with Famous Orders platform

The burger chain's celebrity tie-ups are a key part of driving app downloads and expanding membership in its new mobile-based loyalty program.

By Robert Williams • Sept. 1, 2021

Study: QSR diners prefer engaging with staff over technology

Only 18% of consumers think that deploying labor-saving technology is one of the top three things restaurants can do to improve service, Big Red Rooster research finds. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 31, 2021

Emotional loyalty: Evolving restaurants' approach to brand love

Brands that are connection-focused win the day over those that are reliant on discounts as shortcuts to boost short-term metrics, writes Ellen Green, AVP of loyalty and CRM at Hathway.

By Ellen Green • Aug. 27, 2021

NRA: 6 in 10 US adults have changed restaurant plans due to delta variant

Nineteen percent of consumers have stopped going to restaurants, one of the many growing concerns mentioned in a National Restaurant Association letter urging Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 26, 2021

OpenTable teams with Clear to create digital vaccine cards for diners

OpenTable users who place a reservation at a restaurant that has a vaccine requirement will be directed to a Clear banner where they can make a free, secure digital vaccine card. 

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 24, 2021

How QSR loyalty programs stack up in 2021

Chains from McDonald's to Burger King are adding loyalty programs for the first time to attract and retain customers, and they're gaining ground against competitors' long-standing programs. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 24, 2021