Corporate Operations

  • Burger King gets a fresh look
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    Courtesy of Burger King

    Burger King franchisee bankruptcies may signal more QSR trouble

    The bankruptcy of two major Burger King operators laid bare the problems facing franchisees. But at Burger King, the worst may be over.

    By • March 31, 2023
  • An image of six restaurant CEOs
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    Courtesy of Modern Restaurant Market, True Food Kitchen, The Habit Burger, Starbucks, CKE Restaurants, Restaurant Brands International

    Who’s who: Meet the newest CEOs of the restaurant industry

    Chains like Starbucks, Restaurant Brands International, CKE Restaurants and True Food Kitchen gained new leadership during Q1.

    By • March 29, 2023
  • A photograph of chefs in a kitchen. Explore the Trendline➔
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    sam edwards via Getty Images
    Trendline

    Menu development

    Restaurants big and small are experimenting with their menus to align with the preferences of on-the-go diners and mitigate the impact of rising food costs, supply chain disruption and shrinking consumer discretionary funds. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • An exterior image of a white restaurant with a yellow decoration and signs that say Church's Chicken
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    Courtesy of Church's Chicken

    Church’s Texas Chicken creates VP of strategy and growth position

    Neel Patel, formerly of McKinsey, will oversee the brand’s strategic planning. He previously worked on strategy and analytics for the restaurant.

    By • March 28, 2023
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    yaoinlove via Getty Images

    McDonald’s is the latest QSR to embrace geofencing

    The feature is designed to improve speed of service for mobile orders and streamline the order preparation process for McDonald’s workers. 

    By • March 28, 2023
  • Barista at Luckin Coffee shop.
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    Getty Images via Getty Images

    Luckin Coffee’s ‘revenue reckoning’ takeaways

    The Beijing-based chain was initially viewed as a kind of David poised to take on the Goliath of the coffee world — Starbucks — in China.

    By Maura Webber Sadovi • March 23, 2023
  • A photograph of John Williams, CEO at True Food Kitchen.
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    Permission granted by True Food Kitchen

    True Food Kitchen appoints Lazy Dog exec as CEO

    John Williams joins the 43-unit, wellness-focused chain as it looks to grow and open a new fast casual concept to reach new customers. 

    By • March 23, 2023
  • A promotional image for KFC's new chicken nuggets.
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    Courtesy of KFC

    KFC nuggets open new front in chicken wars

    The nuggets will be available nationwide on March 27 following “wildly successful” market tests in North Carolina. 

    By • March 23, 2023
  • A Chick-fil-A restaurant is seen on July 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images

    Chick-fil-A plans distribution center in Kansas City

    The facility, owned by the restaurant chain’s distribution subsidiary, will be its fifth U.S. location.

    By Alejandra Salgado • March 22, 2023
  • A customer scans his palm with an Amazon One device at a Panera cafe.
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    Courtesy of Panera

    Panera tests Amazon One palm scanners at 2 cafes

    Panera will expand the tech to between 10 and 20 cafes depending on the reception of the initial test, which links Amazon’s palm scanning technology to its loyalty program.

    By • March 22, 2023
  • Starbucks workers on strike outside a Seattle Starbucks in June 2022.
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    Christopher Doering/Restaurant Dive
    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks union welcomes CEO with 115-store strike

    Laxman Narasimhan faces a nationwide demonstration of Starbucks Workers United members, who are urging for cooperation, one day before the chain’s annual shareholder meeting.

    By • March 22, 2023
  • A photograph of Shannon Hennessy, CEO of Habit Burger
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    Courtesy of Habit Burger Grill

    Habit Burger promotes Shannon Hennessy to CEO

    Hennessy, who has been president since July 2022, succeeds Russ Bendel, who will retire from the chain effective June 6.

    By , • March 21, 2023
  • An image of a man wearing a suit.
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    Retrieved from Starbucks on September 01, 2022

    Howard Schultz leaves Starbucks 13 days early

    Laxman Narasimhan takes the CEO post just three days before Starbucks’ annual shareholder meeting and a week and a half before Schultz is scheduled to appear before the Senate labor committee.

    By • March 20, 2023
  • An image of CKE Restaurants CEO Max Wetzel
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    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants

    CKE names former Papa Johns COO as CEO

    Max Wetzel joins the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s after working at Papa Johns for over three years in various executive positions. 

    By • March 17, 2023
  • A portrait photograph of Tabassum Zalotrawala, McDonald's incoming US chief development officer.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's

    McDonald’s hires Tabassum Zalotrawala as chief development officer

    Zalotrawala, who resigned from Chipotle earlier this week, will lead McDonald’s effort to accelerate U.S. store development and unit growth.

    By • March 15, 2023
  • Several vegan cinnamon rolls topped with fruit and frosting.
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    Courtesy of Cinnaholic

    Cinnaholic debuts points-based loyalty program

    The 82-unit cinnamon roll brand plans to open 25 units in 2023, and is offering customers a number of minor rewards to incentivize enrollment.

    By • March 14, 2023
  • An image of a a white building with Chipotle signage at night.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle

    Chipotle’s chief development officer departs

    Tabassum Zalotrawala, who has been at the fast casual chain for over four years and helped develop the Chipotlane, has resigned from her position. 

    By • Updated March 14, 2023
  • A photograph of Roland Gonzalez, U.S. COO at Church’s.
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    Courtesy of Church’s Texas Chicken

    Church’s Texas Chicken hires Burger King vet as US COO

    Roland Gonzalez, who has over a decade of restaurant experience, joins the QSR amid a C-suite hiring spree, including CFO, CMO and CEO hires within the past year. 

    By • March 13, 2023
  • The interior of Dave's Hot Chicken in the old Tivoli theater in Washington, D.C.
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    Permission granted by Dave's Hot Chicken

    How Dave’s Hot Chicken grew from 2 units to 118 in just 3 years

    The chicken brand’s meteoric rise is driven by a national supply chain deal, an emphasis on recruiting highly experienced operators and strong word of mouth.

    By • March 10, 2023
  • An image of a customer showing a smartphone to a Noodles & Company cashier
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company

    Noodles & Company to test dynamic pricing

    Digital menu boards will offer not only flexibility in promotions and featured items at the fast casual chain, but could also allow for pricing tweaks.

    By • March 10, 2023
  • Food hall in grocery store
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    Courtesy of Kitchen United

    Why Kitchen United is pumping the brakes on mall strategy

    Grocery outposts through its Kroger partnership give Kitchen United better access to customers and deeper relationships with partner restaurants, executives said during a Curbivore conference.

    By • March 9, 2023
  • A photo of Jack Hinchliffe, global CMO for Habit Burger, holding a burger made by that brand.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of The Habit Burger Grill

    Habit Burger names first global CMO

    Jack Hinchliffe, who won awards for marketing at KFC U.K. and Ireland, has moved to the burger chain as Yum Brands looks to keep up rapid growth.

    By • March 9, 2023
  • Starbucks Workers United members on strike
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Starbucks Workers United
    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks to appeal major NLRB judge ruling

    Starbucks will fight a judge’s finding that the chain violated labor law as the brand uses the courts to run out the clock on the union drive.

    By • March 8, 2023
  • A photo of Natalia Franco, global CMO at Church's Texas Chicken.
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    Courtesy of Church's Texas Chicken

    Church’s Texas Chicken adds global CMO amid new leadership push

    Natalia Franco, who started her role on Monday, joins a slew of recent corporate hires including CFO, CEO and procurement VP. 

    By • March 7, 2023
  • An image of a building with glass and a yellow sign that says Fatburger next to an image on orange buffalo
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    Permission granted by Fat Brants

    Fat Brands CEO to resign, citing federal investigation

    Andy Wiederhorn will remain with the restaurant firm until May 5, at which point he will act as an outside consultant and strategic advisor for the holding company he founded. 

    By , • March 6, 2023
  • Just Salad CFO Jared Garber
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    Permission granted by Just Salad

    Just Salad taps Goldman Sachs vet as CFO

    Jared Garber joins the company during the fastest growth period in its 17-year history, and will lead the chain’s financial operations as it scales up.

    By • March 6, 2023