Corporate Operations

  • A photograph of a drive thru window with a red sign that says "Sorry, We are closed. Thanks for your patronage over the years. Wendys."
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    FireAtDusk via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s could close hundreds of restaurants

    With McDonald’s and Burger King posting same-store sales gains, Wendy’s is under pressure to raise its average unit volume.

    By • Nov. 10, 2025
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    Canva

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    Sponsored by ReFED

    How companies like Chick-Fil-A use ReFED’s Business Services to accelerate food waste reduction

    ReFED helps companies advance food waste reduction strategies that drive business impact.

    Nov. 10, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    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
  • A picture of a hand giving a iced coffee drink to another person.
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    Permission granted by Dutch Bros
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    Dutch Bros to take breakfast nationwide in 2026

    The drive-thru coffee chain is putting pressure on legacy competitors with its goal to be a one-stop shop in the morning daypart.

    By • Nov. 7, 2025
  • People walking in front of a Sweetgreen on Aug.8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Sweetgreen battered by 9.5% same-store sales drop

    The salad chain suffered one of the worst third quarters among publicly traded fast casuals, as young consumers in core markets pulled back and value plays ate into margins.

    By • Nov. 7, 2025
  • An image of sweetgreen's automated kitchen in Naperville, Illinois
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen sells Spyce to Wonder for $186M

    Sweetgreen will use the proceeds from offloading Spyce, which developed the salad brand’s Infinite Kitchen technology, to reinvest in profitability after three quarters of sales declines.

    By • Nov. 6, 2025
  • Outback Steakhouse exterior
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    Courtesy of Bloomin' Brands
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    Bloomin’ to invest $50M in Outback Steakhouse overhaul in 2026

    The turnaround will touch everything from steak quality to marketing, and the cost will be partly offset by productivity investments.

    By • Nov. 6, 2025
  • An image of a Cava logo
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Cava’s traffic growth stalls as fast casual market cools

    The brand does not plan to use discounts as a traffic driver, CFO Tricia Tolivar said, noting that it is confident in its holistic value proposition.

    By • Nov. 5, 2025
  • The side view of a Pizza Hut restaurant can be seen, with promotional posters and banners on the windows and walls.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Yum Brands may sell Pizza Hut

    After seven quarters of same-store sales declines, Yum says the brand might do better under a different structure or new ownership.

    By • Nov. 4, 2025
  • A nighttime photo of Chili's building with green and red neon signage
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    Courtesy of Brinker International
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    Chili’s wants to win 2026 with remodels, chicken sandwiches

    After a wildly successful 2025, Brinker’s flagship brand wants to convert value wins into a durable advantage — but it will need more than savvy marketing. 

    By • Oct. 31, 2025
  • An image of the Shake Shack logo on a window.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack grows traffic with ad spend, operational improvements

    The brand’s traffic gains were most pronounced outside the Northeast, validating its national development strategy, CFO Katie Fogerty said.

    By • Oct. 31, 2025
  • An image of three large platters in the forefront with various food items. I nthe bagkround there are three cups, chips and tortillas.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle faces worrying consumer headwinds

    Despite consumer pullback and a value advantage over fast casual competitors, CEO Scott Boatwright said “value as a price point is not and will not be a Chipotle strategy.”

    By • Oct. 30, 2025
  • An empty Starbucks redesigned with lots of green and open space.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks stanches the same-store sales bleeding

    Comparable sales growth was driven by an increase in average ticket, but investments in service helped turn U.S. transactions positive in September. 

    By • Oct. 30, 2025
  • A photo of food items on an automated production line.
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    Permission granted by Kwik Trip
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    Making food in house: The business case for c-store commissaries

    Retailers like EG America, Weigel’s and Kwik Trip have built their own facilities to control the quality and consistency of their foodservice programs — and the payoffs are compelling.

    By Amanda Baltazar • Oct. 29, 2025
  • Kelly McCulloch smiles at the camera. She is Inspire Brands chief people officer.
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    Courtesy of Inspire
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    Inspire hires Yum vet to lead HR operations

    Kelly McCulloch brings over two decades of QSR HR experience to her new position, where she will oversee a global system that includes 650,000 workers.

    By • Oct. 28, 2025
  • A black and purple restaurant exterior.
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    Duane Prokop via Getty Images
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    Taco Bell says education benefits have driven retention

    The chain is also emphasizing internal promotion of managers and area coaches through a training program meant to improve employees’ career paths.

    By • Oct. 24, 2025
  • A Starbucks barista pours foamed milk into a cup.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks poised to hire around 8K assistant mangers

    The chain is testing the assistant manager role — a step between hourly shift supervisor and salaried manager — at 62 stores to fine-tune the position before expanding it to nearly all U.S. and Canadian stores.

    By • Oct. 22, 2025
  • Pizza Hut signage is displayed on a building.
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    Brandon Bell / Staff via Getty Images
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    Pizza Hut operator to close 68 UK stores

    DC London Pie has entered administration to manage its debt, but Yum Brands will continue to run 64 of the operator’s locations. 

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
  • An exterior view of a whataburger restaurant including its drive-thru
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    Whataburger taps tech chief to guide infrastructure rollout

    Rohit Kapoor, formerly EVP and CIO at Claire's, will be tasked with leading an expansion of the company's digital infrastructure in support of its growth plans.

    By Roberto Torres • Oct. 17, 2025
  • The exterior of a Del Taco with several empty parking lots out front
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Jack in the Box sells Del Taco to Yadav for $115M

    Less than four years after spending $575 million to acquire the chain, Jack in the Box is selling it to a franchisee.

    By • Oct. 16, 2025
  • An image of a small restaurant with people gathered around. Thereis 7 Brew signage.
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    Permission granted by 7 Brew
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    7 Brew hits 500 store mark

    The brand has grown its storebase by more than 50% in 2025, and its dramatic expansion could put pressure on legacy chains at the top of the coffee sector.

    By • Oct. 14, 2025
  • Toast for Hotel Restaurants
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    Permission granted by Toast
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    Restaurants battered by inflation, turnover: report

    Improving profits and traffic are the main strategic goals for restaurant leaders in 2025, according to a Toast survey.

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
  • A car sits underneath Taco Bell's new drive-thru camera stations, which are decorated in neon signage
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell Corp.
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    Chick-fil-A wins on order accuracy, experience at the drive-thru

    QSR speed of service improved slightly, but mobile orders, app payments and customizations have created more complex transactions, Intouch Insight’s yearly drive-thru report revealed.

    By • Oct. 2, 2025
  • A person in a suit stands on stage surrounded by a large crowd in the stands.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Deep Dive

    Why picking the right CEO makes or breaks a restaurant turnaround

    From Starbucks’ Brian Niccol to BJ’s Lyle Tick and Potbelly’s Bob Wright, boards have made headway with executives that implemented strategic improvements to help sales and traffic.

    By • Updated Sept. 29, 2025
  • A sandwich, a bag of chips, a coke, a red background.
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    Courtesy of Jimmy John's
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    Jimmy John’s moves to points-based rewards

    Switching from a surprise-and-delight program to JJ Rewards could help drive frequency and incentivize the chain’s most loyal guests.

    By • Sept. 29, 2025
  • Patrons at a Chicago Starbucks after the coffee chain on Feb. 25, 2025.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to close roughly 400 stores, lay off 900 corporate workers

    The closures, which will largely take place over the next few days, follow a strategic review of the company’s North American store base as part of its larger turnaround plan.

    By • Updated Sept. 26, 2025