Dickey's to debut a brick-and-mortar store for its virtual wings brand

Wing Boss will open a restaurant in the Dallas market following strong results just four months after its launch as a delivery-only brand.

By Alicia Kelso • July 14, 2021

Increasing focus on complete proteins creates opportunity

Plant-based proteins are an increasingly important part of everyday diets, as 28% of consumers ate more protein from plant sources in 2020 than they did in 2019.

July 12, 2021

Explore the 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

Success means embracing the past year, whether restaurants like it or not

COVID-19 dealt the industry a major blow, but also taught operators valuable lessons that could influence operations for years to come, writes Maribeth Dela Cruz, president of Jollibee Foods North America.

By Maribeth Dela Cruz • July 6, 2021

Report: 47% of diners use at least one loyalty program

The share of consumers using restaurant rewards increased 12% between Jan. 22 and April 22, research from Paytronix and PYMNTS finds.

By Alicia Kelso • June 30, 2021

The future of bar & restaurant entertainment is better TV

Studies show that ambiance plays a key role in customer satisfaction, and can be the motivator for staying longer or coming back again.

June 28, 2021

Social e-commerce platform Snackpass raises $70M

The company will use the cash infusion to expand to major restaurant markets, including New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas.

By Alicia Kelso • June 24, 2021

Popeyes launches its first loyalty program

The move comes as Popeyes' digital sales make up about 14% of total sales in the U.S. and have contributed to the chain's continued double-digit same-store sales growth throughout the COVID-19 crisis.  

By Alicia Kelso • June 17, 2021

Dutch Bros IPO prices above forecast for $3.8B valuation

The coffee chain will go public on the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday and raised the price of its shares to $23 each, an increase from its previously announced pricing of $18 to $20 per share.

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Sept. 15, 2021

Yelp records its highest seated diners total ever in May

The number of diners seated via the platform, which surpassed pre-pandemic highs, was up by 48% in May 2021 compared to May 2019.

By Alicia Kelso • June 15, 2021

Burger King trolls Chick-fil-A with LGBTQ donations during Pride

The latest escalation of the chicken sandwich wars is a not-so-subtle dig at a company with a history of donating to anti-LGBTQ charities.

By Chris Kelly • June 9, 2021

Report: Chick-fil-A triples Popeyes' share of chicken sandwich delivery spend

Almost two years after the chicken sandwich wars began, Edison Trends data shows Chick-fil-A captured 41% of money spent, followed by McDonald's and then Popeyes.

By Emma Liem Beckett • June 4, 2021

Chicago and other cities support outdoor dining expansions even as pandemic wanes

Expanded outdoor dining has been "a critical lifeline" for restaurants. As some cities aim to extend the changes or make them permanent, Chicago is awarding $2.3 million in grants for those and other community outdoor spaces. 

By Jason Plautz • June 2, 2021

Report: Most diners still want restaurant workers to mask up

Sixty-five percent of consumers say safety gear worn by restaurant workers is "absolutely required" for them to feel comfortable eating out, Datassential finds.

By Alicia Kelso • June 1, 2021

Yelp adds LGBTQ-owned business search filter

Searches for LGBTQ-owned businesses on the platform jumped by more than 150% in April versus one year ago.

By Alicia Kelso • May 24, 2021

Report: Diner demand is up at full-service restaurants, but guest sentiment is down

Sit-down operators may be busier than ever since the start of the pandemic, but guest sentiment declined during Q1 because of frustration with service and ambiance, according to Black Box Intelligence data.

By Julie Littman • May 24, 2021

Chuck E. Cheese debuts mobile app and rewards program

The eatertainment chain is angling to lure customers with an omnichannel approach that provides incentives for in-store, online and mobile orders. 

By Alicia Kelso • May 20, 2021

Study: 92% of diners plan to maintain digital ordering habits post-vaccine

PYMTNTS/Paytronix research also found that 57% of vaccinated diners use loyalty programs compared to 42% of unvaccinated diners, which could be because immunized diners spend more on food orders, per the report. 

By Alicia Kelso • May 7, 2021

Five Guys franchisee opens the chain's first US ghost kitchen

Encore Restaurants, the largest Five Guys franchisee, opened a delivery-only location in Garland, Texas, on May 1, joining a growing list of chains using this channel for expansion.

By Alicia Kelso • May 5, 2021

Study: 60% of consumers are comfortable dining out

The percentage of consumers who said they would feel safe dining out never exceeded 42% in all of 2020, but that number has now reached its highest level since the pandemic, according to Morning Consult data.

By Alicia Kelso • May 4, 2021

Mozzarella rising: what consumers want

Read how you can leverage its popularity to make mouths water for your menu. 

May 3, 2021

Innovation starts from the bun up

Innovative breads and buns can make your bottom line rise like a fine dough. 

May 3, 2021

7-Eleven makes an aggressive play for the QSR space

While announcing its latest Evolution Store, which will house two eateries, COO Chris Tanco said the convenience store chain wants to open nearly 150 restaurants this year.

By Alicia Kelso • April 30, 2021

Businesses can only expect limited boost from stimulus checks: Fed study

Households have channeled federal stimulus checks primarily towards savings or reducing debt, giving businesses just a limited lift from consumer spending, according to the New York Federal Reserve.

By Jim Tyson • April 28, 2021

Starbucks' digital success partially driven by AI engine, CEO Kevin Johnson says

Deep Brew personalizes diner offers to secure loyalty and drive more frequent engagement. Though transactions were down 10% for Q2, ticket prices rose 22%.

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 28, 2021

Consumer habits: Lessons learned during a year of uncertainty

Explore feedback from consumers across North America to understand how their priorities have changed.

April 26, 2021