Corporate Operations

  • 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 to open Nashville corporate office

    The coffee chain will use the Tennessee location to support its ongoing growth efforts across the Southeast. 

    By • March 4, 2026
  • Jack in the Box restaurant location
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box re-elects board, but chair will retire

    Shareholders approved a poison pill and re-elected the board, including David Goebel, despite a challenge from activist investor Sardar Biglari.

    By • March 3, 2026
  • Wooden seats and tables inside a Cava. In the background there is a make line with digital menu boards.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Deep Dive

    Why are leading fast casuals primarily company owned?

    Franchising is the primary model for development in fast food, but different market dynamics prevail in fast casual.

    By • March 2, 2026
  • A marketing image for Burger King's reworked Whopper
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Buns, bots and ad-buys: Burger King talks strategy at RBI investor day

    The years-long Reclaim the Flame program will continue with a renewed emphasis on core menu food quality and accelerated refranchising.

    By • Feb. 26, 2026
  • IHOP pancakes
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    IHOP promotes pancakes with low-tech aesthetics, experiential play

    In a tie-up with musician Mr. Fantasy, the chain is plastering high-traffic areas with old-school flyers reminiscent of the early internet. 

    By Sara Karlovitch • Feb. 26, 2026
  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    What’s at stake in Jack in the Box’s board battle with Biglari?

    If the activist investor prevents David Goebel’s re-election as chair, the board could still reappoint him, likely starting a long and expensive board battle.

    By • Feb. 25, 2026
  • A hand lifts a slice of stuffed crust pizza topped with pepperoni and peppers. The slice trails strings of melted mozzarella.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s wants to double its market share

    CEO Russel Weiner thinks the chain can capture half of the QSR pizza market at the expense of Pizza Hut and Papa Johns.

    By • Feb. 23, 2026
  • Jack in the Box
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Jack in the Box bets parking lot paint can cure sales

    The chain hopes improvements to product quality and restaurant cosmetics will reverse sliding same-store sales and help prepare for a full remodel program.

    By • Feb. 19, 2026
  • A hand dips a chicken tender into a sauce
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    How Wingstop plans to weather traffic slides and winter storms

    The company expects investments in speed of service and in loyalty systems will reverse a third quarter of comparable sales declines.

    By • Feb. 18, 2026
  • A Jack in the Box sign looms ominously from behind a hedge.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box’s board battle is getting serious

    With proxy advisors saying investors have “persuasive cause” to oppose the re-election of board chair David Goebel, Sardar Biglari’s months-long effort to shake up the brand’s board may be gaining momentum.

    By • Feb. 18, 2026
  • AI-generated Paris Hiltons in a Carl's Jr. ad
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    Courtesy of Carl's Jr.
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    Deep Dive

    How QSRs are building on value marketing with pop culture, nostalgia

    Fast food marketers including McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s will have to move beyond price-point value to drive sales and traffic.

    By Chris Kelly • Feb. 18, 2026
  • People stand in front of kiosks by a McDonald's
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    Getty Images
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    McDonald’s positions loyalty app at the center of its tech ambitions

    Active loyalty members are the “single most important digital metric” for McDonald’s, EVP and CFO Ian Borden said.

    By Bryan Wassel • Feb. 17, 2026
  • 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.
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    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.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    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 specialty drinks from Taco Bell's Live Mas Cafe lined up on a white counter top.
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell/Diversified Restaurant Group
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    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
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    Courtesy of Yum Brands/Pizza Hut
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    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
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    The image by Krista is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    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
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    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."
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    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.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    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.
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns
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    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.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    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
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    Wirestock via Getty Images
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    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.
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    Permission granted by Potbelly
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    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.
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    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
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    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