Drive-thru usage up 43% since April, study finds

But added volume can decrease speed of service, and 81% of consumers believe that waiting more than 10 minutes is too long, according to a Bluedot and SeeLevel HX survey.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 12, 2020

Florida restaurant workers can get back to work sooner after COVID-19 infections

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order last week stating that restaurant employees no longer need to prove two negative COVID-19 tests before returning to work.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 10, 2020

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

Food distributors, restaurants reinvent business models in a scramble to survive

From wine bar to mini grocery store, from restaurant distribution to direct to consumer — food sector firms are pivoting operations to keep business flowing.

By Gary Wollenhaupt • Aug. 10, 2020

64% of diners say staff wearing PPE is most important when eating out, survey shows

Consumers say restaurant staff taking safety precautions is a higher priority to them than efforts to add hand sanitizer and single-use menus at tables, according to a Toast report.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 7, 2020

DoorDash launches new online convenience store DashMart

The company's venture, which marks its first foray into managing its own inventory, will offer around 2,000 grocery and restaurant items and delivery in as little as 30 minutes. 

By Jessica Dumont • Aug. 6, 2020

45% of consumers less likely to order from Starbucks because of initial BLM policy, study finds

Nearly 21% of consumers said they will actively try to avoid buying from brands that restrict employees from expressing support for the movement, and 51% said they are less likely to buy from these companies, according to DealAid data.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Aug. 5, 2020

25% of diners place online orders multiple times a week, study shows

Twenty-seven percent of guests surveyed by Toast said they plan to order more takeout and 23% said they plan to order more delivery compared to before the novel coronavirus pandemic, suggesting online ordering demand will only grow.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 4, 2020

Wawa to open first freestanding drive-thru by year-end

As it prepares for a post-COVID-19 world, the convenience store known for its sub sandwiches expects to start selling combos and value meals at the new Pennsylvania location.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 3, 2020

47% of operators say moving to online ordering is their biggest challenge

This is particularly true for the majority of fine dining and upscale restaurants that didn't offer online ordering prior to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to an Upserve survey. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 30, 2020

Breakfast continues to drag McDonald's sales

Much like other QSRs, a lack of commuters significantly impacted McDonald's morning daypart, but the chain plans to invest in the growing segment coming out of the pandemic. 

By Julie Littman • July 29, 2020

Major QSRs hiking delivery menu prices by over 15%

Chains like McDonald's, Starbucks and Chick-fil-A, which offer low-ticket items, are among those more likely to charge higher prices for items ordered via delivery, according to Gordon Haskett analysis. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 28, 2020

McDonald's pauses dining room reopenings, will require diners to wear masks

The chain's new face covering requirement will be effective Aug. 1 in its nearly 14,000 U.S. restaurants, and its dining room reopening plans have been delayed to Aug. 23. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 27, 2020

Black business owners discouraged from applying for PPP loans, study says

Roughly 75% of all PPP loans did not include any demographic information because that information was not provided by the borrowers, but 41% of Black-owned businesses shuttered operations between February and April. 

By Sheryl Estrada , Emma Liem Beckett • July 24, 2020

Coronavirus exacerbates racial wage gap for tipped workers, report finds

Black women tipped workers make almost $5 less than white men tipped workers in the U.S, a One Fair Wage study shows. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 24, 2020

Coronavirus has already shuttered 16K restaurants, Yelp says

As restaurants grapple with trying to stay in business, Yelp's latest data shows that in states like Florida and Texas, a 50% rise in consumer interest in dining out in May preceded COVID-19 outbreaks in June.

By Alicia Kelso • July 23, 2020

Danny Meyer's restaurant group eliminates no-tipping policy

Union Square Hospitality Group is moving away from its controversial "Hospitality Included" model amid the pandemic so employees have the chance to access extra compensation from diner tips.  

By Alicia Kelso • July 21, 2020

81% of operators say third-party delivery helped prevent layoffs

Ninety-two percent ​of restaurants plan to continue working with third-party delivery services beyond the COVID-19 crisis, according to an Uber Eats/Technomic survey. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 21, 2020

96% of restaurants require staff to wear masks

Restaurants are increasingly mandating employee temperature checks, requiring staff to wear gloves and installing plexiglass shields, says Black Box Intelligence, but these features can be costly while sales are down. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 20, 2020

Gen Z wants brands to be 'fun,' 'authentic' and 'good,' study says

With high expectations for digital experiences, 82% of the cohort say they trust a company more if it uses images of real customers in its advertising.

By Robert Williams • July 13, 2020

California recloses all indoor dining

Restaurants can continue to offer outdoor dining, takeout and delivery, but brewpubs, bars and breweries must cease all operations.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated July 14, 2020

Starbucks leads in forging emotional connections among fast food brands, study says

The impact of positive emotions on performance has been mixed during a crisis that's delivered an unprecedented hit to restaurants.

By Dianna Christie • July 10, 2020

53% of restaurants closed amid coronavirus have shuttered permanently, Yelp data shows

In early June, the number of diners seated across Waitlist and Yelp Reservations was down 57% compared to pre-pandemic levels. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 6, 2020

McDonald's puts reopening on hold for 3 weeks as COVID-19 spreads

Roughly 2,200 of the chain's U.S. locations are open for limited dine-in service, and the fast food giant said operators can continue to let diners eat inside if local municipalities allow it.

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 2, 2020

Starbucks continues plant-based push with Impossible breakfast sandwich

As consumer interest in meat alternatives surges, the coffee chain joins Burger King and Dunkin' in adding these items to its morning menu.

By Julie Littman • June 23, 2020

Restaurant gift card sales grow nominally prior to COVID-19

New data from Paytronix shows a 10% increase in gift card sales from 2017 to 2018, but just a 1% uptick from 2018 to 2019. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 23, 2020