Corporate Operations

  • 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 sales wilt in another punishing quarter

    The brand launched wraps to supplement its core bowl and salad business, following its worst quarterly same-store sales performance.

    By • May 8, 2026
  • A photograph of various hamburgers and nuggets from Wendy’s.
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    Courtesy of Wendy’s
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    Wendy’s bets order accuracy and clean stores will revive sales

    A 7.8% drop in comparable sales is pressuring the chain to draw consumers back, as Burger King and McDonald’s have seen gains in recent quarters.

    By • May 8, 2026
  • Front-of-end restaurant staff uses SevenRooms' customer relationship management software. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Courtesy of SevenRooms
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    Trendline

    How AI is shaping the restaurant industry

    Automated technology can transform restaurant systems and relieve pressure from rising operating costs, opening up new opportunities for chains looking to sharpen their value proposition. 

    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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    How Dutch Bros doubled its brand awareness in 18 months

    Mobile ordering, loyalty upgrades, a new breakfast menu and increased density in key markets accelerated sales growth for the brand.

    By • May 7, 2026
  • A marketing image for Burger King's reworked Whopper
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King’s sales jumped, Popeyes slumped in Q1

    Years of investment in the burger brand’s operations and menu have won consumers back, but a loss of focus on service and the core menu hurt the chicken chain.

    By • May 6, 2026
  • A rendering of a Subway restaurant with tables and green walls.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway closed at least 729 stores in 2025

    This marks the beleaguered chain’s steepest decline since 2021, driven by oversaturation and a low average unit volume.

    By • May 5, 2026
  • Refuel
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    Permission granted by Refuel Operating Company
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    Refuel to open its first Whataburger

    The South Carolina-based retailer will debut the burger QSR adjacent to an upcoming c-store in Kenedy, Texas, later this year.

    By Brett Dworski • May 5, 2026
  • A bucket of chicken tenders, nuggets and french fries.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC expands $10 bucket deal across weekdays

    The brand is positioning the bucket deals as a value-oriented solution for weekday dinners, which could help it drive traffic.

    By • May 5, 2026
  • Two people walk towards a Taco Bell restaurant
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Taco Bell grows loyalty and digital sales

    The brand’s loyalty program is resonating with consumers and driving them to engage with the brand more frequently, Yum Brands CEO said.

    By Kristen Doerer • May 5, 2026
  • An exterior image of a Shake Shack restaurant
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack’s tech chief forges a practical AI strategy

    CITO Justin Mennen is prioritizing efficiency with a mix of enterprise-built and custom AI products.

    By Paige Gross • May 4, 2026
  • A smiling waitress charges the customer a bill. The customer uses contactless payment by credit card.
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    Lajst via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Adyen

    What McDonald’s looks for in a payment partner

    McDonald's needed a payments partner that could perform at enterprise scale, while understanding the complexities of their business model and the nuances of local markets.

    May 4, 2026
  • A smiling white man in a blue v-neck sweater in front of a stark white background.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen hires Amazon, Starbucks alum as development chief

    The embattled fast casual chain’s newest C-suite appointment may signal a shift toward experiential store design.

    By • May 1, 2026
  • A photo of the outside of a Wingstop.
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop links same-store sales slides to Iran War

    Low-income consumers cut spending following gas price spikes, but large portions and a loyalty update could bring them back, the chain’s CEO said.

    By • April 29, 2026
  • An exterior photograph of a brick Starbucks coffee shop.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks turnaround plan is paying off, CEO says

    A litany of changes, from remodels to customizable caffeine levels, are helping the coffee giant grow transactions and speed up its turnaround.

    By • April 29, 2026
  • A spread of KFC items including sandwiches, snackers, nuggets, fries and drinks.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    Yum Brands wants AI and beverages to supercharge growth

    The company tested AI-arranged digital menu boards at Taco Bell and created a KFC Global Innovation Pantry to transfer successful LTOs between markets.

    By • Updated April 29, 2026
  • Fast food kids meal with orange packaging.
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    Courtesy of Whataburger
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    Whataburger adds toys, interactive packaging to kids meals

    The new kids meals could help the chain compete for family dining dollars with QSR brands that have long offered kids flashy meal perks. 

    By • April 29, 2026
  • Six drinks, all colorful, comprising the vanguard of McDonald's post-CosMc's premium drinks lineup.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s adds beverage specialists to make refreshers, dirty sodas

    High-performing crew members will be trained for the beverage station, with all crew members eventually rotating into the role.

    By • April 28, 2026
  • A sign on a Chipotle restaurant.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle appoints Fernando Machado as chief brand officer

    The former CMO at companies including Burger King and Activision Blizzard takes a role last held by longtime brand marketer Chris Brandt.

    By Chris Kelly • April 27, 2026
  • Bags of Blue Bottle coffee are on a store shelf
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Nestlé sells Blue Bottle Coffee to Centurium Capital

    The deal with the Chinese coffee giant includes the brand's cafes and the majority of its CPG business, a spokesperson confirmed.

    By Laurel Deppen • April 23, 2026
  • A selection of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's food with new branding
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    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.
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    Hardee’s operator files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

    ARC Burger’s 77 stores have been closed since December, following a lawsuit by Hardee’s against the operator.

    By • April 23, 2026
  • A photo of several sandwiches on a wooden table with a green and white box behind them that says Speedy Cafe Sandwiches.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven adding catering to restaurant locations

    The company has partnered with ezCater on bulk ordering at Speedy Café and Laredo Taco locations, further supporting its foodservice ambitions.

    By Jessica Loder • April 23, 2026
  • A Domino's worker loads an order into a car.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Why old school pizza delivery won’t disappear, despite third-party dominance

    Platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash can bring new visibility and customers to pizza chains. But first-party delivery still often remains supreme.

    By Danielle McLean • April 22, 2026
  • A close up photograph of a partial Starbucks siren logo as seen from the top of an office building.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks Nashville HQ will cost $100M, employ 2K workers

    The chain will relocate some teams and hire new workers to staff a regional headquarters with proximity to key suppliers and expected growth markets.

    By • April 22, 2026
  • A White Castle burger kiosk at Boston's Logan Airport.
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    Permission granted by White Castle
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    White Castle to deploy 1K slider kiosks

    The chain will work with Automated Retail Technologies to bring the robotic technology to areas off-limits to traditional QSRs.

    By • April 22, 2026
  • A sign on a Chipotle restaurant.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    A look at how Chipotle’s loyalty relaunch could affect customer behavior

    Value is key to the loyalty revamp, and the approach could drive in-restaurant traffic and help the company win over less frequent customers.

    By Bryan Wassel • April 20, 2026
  • A photo of a Cava location in a brick endcap retail space.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava opens first St. Louis location in Midwestern growth push

    Cava could reach 500 restaurants nationwide later this year, thanks in part to new market entries and infill in areas where it has a modest presence.

    By • April 17, 2026