Corporate Operations

  • An image of a person wearing a suit with arms crossed and smiling. The person is in front of a wall with news clips in the background.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fat Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fat Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn faces ouster by lenders

    The chief executive’s on-again-off-again tenure at Fat is under threat after a sale of Twin Hospitality stock, which creditors allege was irregular.

    By • Feb. 9, 2026
  • McDonald's is promoting Luis Quintiliano, its managing director in Spain, to lead its US field operations.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of McDonald's
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s appoints field, finance execs

    In addition to the naming Luis Quintiliano as U.S. field president, the Golden Arches is rotating responsibilities between two finance executives.

    By • Feb. 5, 2026
  • An image of several people eating hamburgers and french fries from a generic fast food restaurant. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    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
  • An image of several specialty drinks from Taco Bell's Live Mas Cafe lined up on a white counter top.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Taco Bell/Diversified Restaurant Group
    Image attribution tooltip

    How Yum is adapting Taco Bell’s playbook for KFC

    The parent company has worked to align the strategies between the two QSR brands to bring some of Taco Bell’s success to the chicken chain.

    By • Feb. 5, 2026
  • An exterior image of a Pizza Hut with bricks and red signage
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Yum Brands/Pizza Hut
    Image attribution tooltip

    Pizza Hut to close 250 stores

    About 4% of the chain’s U.S. store system will close during the first half of this year as Yum Brands continues a strategic review of the ailing QSR.

    By • Feb. 4, 2026
  • A night image of a sign that says Bahama Breeze
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Krista is licensed under CC BY 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Darden to wind down Bahama Breeze

    After considering strategic alternatives, Darden has decided to shutter 14 Bahama Breeze stores and convert another 14 to different brands.

    By • Feb. 3, 2026
  • A Starbucks barista hands a customer a coffee
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    3 takeaways from Starbucks’ Investor Day

    From whitespace for 5,000 more stores to a chatbot that designs customized drinks, Starbucks has big plans now that it has returned to growth.

    By • Jan. 30, 2026
  • A zoomed in image of a building with gold signage. The sign says "P.F. Chang's."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    P.F. Chang’s names new CMO following brand platform launch

    Holly Smith replaces Sonika Patel, who lasted less than a year in the role but oversaw the launch of a “Light the Fire” campaign around the holidays. 

    By Peter Adams • Jan. 30, 2026
  • Two people working in the restaurant My 2 Cents.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Square
    Image attribution tooltip

    What’s the restaurant industry outlook for 2026?

    After a bruising year, restaurants face another spell of serious uncertainty. But there are bright spots in beverage innovation and casual dining, and diner spending may improve.

    By • Jan. 30, 2026
  • An image of two pan pizzas in front of a green background. On the right is a green pizza box.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Papa Johns
    Image attribution tooltip

    Papa Johns debuts Pan Pizza

    The new menu category took years of research and development to perfect and could help the pizza chain compete against segment leader Domino’s.

    By • Jan. 28, 2026
  • An empty Starbucks redesigned with lots of green and open space.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks’ sales spike on traffic, show turnaround is working

    The coffee giant saw transactions increase among rewards members and non-members, the first time both cohorts saw traffic growth in nearly four years.

    By • Jan. 28, 2026
  • A close up image of a red sign that says Fatburger
    Image attribution tooltip
    Wirestock via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fat Brands files for Chapter 11

    This move comes months after creditors pushed for it to pay $1.3 billion in debt, and marks the first major restaurant franchisor bankruptcy of 2026.  

    By • Updated Jan. 27, 2026
  • A Potbelly storefront with green decor. A pillar says grand opening.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Potbelly
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    Was RaceTrac’s Potbelly deal an anomaly or the start of a new M&A trend?

    C-store operators looking to acquire a QSR brand face several potential risks, experts say. But the upside could be tremendous.

    By Brett Dworski • Jan. 26, 2026
  • A smiling white man in a blue suit with no tie.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    Shake Shack hires former Sonic leader as chief commercial officer

    Jim Taylor is the latest executive to join the chain, which adapted well to the headwinds in fast casual over the last year.

    By • Jan. 21, 2026
  • A white sign with black text reading 'Compass Coffee' in front of and below a lighted neon saying reading 'Georgetown'
    Image attribution tooltip
    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    DC’s Compass Coffee files for Chapter 11

    The chain faced shortfalls in foot traffic due to significant changes to the workforce and consumption patterns in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

    By • Jan. 7, 2026
  • John Owen, Blaze Pizza's new CEO, glowers at a camera. He is a white man in a black turtleneck and dark suit coat.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
    Image attribution tooltip

    Blaze Pizza names McDonald’s, Subway alum as CEO

    John Owen is tasked with improving the shrinking chain’s menu and operations to insulate it from the fast casual pizza sector struggles.

    By • Jan. 6, 2026
  • Bolla,, firehouse
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Firehouse Subs
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bolla Market opens first of several Firehouse Subs

    The sandwich shop debuted on Nov. 15 at a Bolla Market in Hicksville, New York. Another in Farmingdale is expected for the end of January.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 22, 2025
  • A Sweetgreen salad and an order of air fried potatoes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
    Image attribution tooltip

    4 restaurant menu strategy fails in 2025

    From french fries that clogged up core operations to unprofitable doughnuts, national chains tried and abandoned a wide range of menu tactics to woo diners in 2025.

    By • Dec. 19, 2025
  • A cup of chicken from Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle adds protein snack cups

    The fast casual giant framed the new items, which offer four-ounce portions of meat for about $4, as both a health and value play.

    By • Dec. 18, 2025
  • People walking in front of a Sweetgreen on Aug.8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sweetgreen cofounder exits beleaguered brand

    Nathaniel Ru, Sweetgreen’s chief brand officer, is retiring after a bruising year for the fast casual chain.

    By , • Updated Dec. 17, 2025
  • A photograph of a gray sign with a red box inside with white letters that says "Jack" under the box it says "in the box."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    What’s next for Jack in the Box after its Del Taco sale?

    The burger chain is in “survival” mode as it struggles to pay down debt and get back to basics, one expert said.

    By Michael Brady • Dec. 15, 2025
  • An image of a group of people holding balloons and launching confetti. They are in front of a white building with a sign that says Chipotle.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle opens 4,000th unit

    The chain is over halfway to its goal of operating 7,000 restaurants across the U.S. and Canada, and plans to add more efficient equipment across its system.

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
  • A Starbucks coffee cup
    Image attribution tooltip
    Spencer Platt / Staff via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks’ ‘illegal race-based’ DEI at center of Florida AG’s lawsuit

    Starbucks said its hiring practices are “inclusive, fair and competitive, and designed to ensure the strongest candidate for every job, every time.”

    By Caroline Colvin • Dec. 11, 2025
  • An image of a storefront with a sign that says Pieology Pizzeria.
    Image attribution tooltip
    sanfel via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Pieology files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after turnaround fails

    The fast casual pizza chain said it had a plan to revive dozens of underperforming stores, but investors backed out.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025
  • Colin Cochran tells reporters why he thinks Starbucks Workers United will win in Cheektowaga
    Image attribution tooltip
    Aneurin E Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    By the numbers: 4 years of Starbucks Workers United

    Years after winning its first election, Starbucks Workers United remains without a contract despite election wins, shopfloor organizing and a national strike.

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
  • A photograph of various cold brew coffee beverages at Sonic.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Sonic
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sonic tests cold coffee lineup

    The cold caffeine arms race is pushing Sonic to add everything from plain iced coffee to a soft-serve coffee milkshake to its menu.

    By • Dec. 5, 2025