Corporate Operations

  • A photograph of a red and yellow sign with a giant yellow "M" above a red box that says "McDonald's Billions Served."
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    3 Big Numbers: How McDonald’s is investing in its Next playbook

    The Golden Arches is targeting 250 basis points in restaurant-level efficiency gains, backed by major investments in equipment and processes. 

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
  • A woman in a car holds a chicken sandwich.
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    Is Popeyes’ new sandwich a breakfast test?

    The chain says the Honey Chicken Biscuit is designed for all dayparts. It seems built for a time outside the chain’s usual occasions.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
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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 dawn image of a McDonald's drive-thru. At the foreground is an exit sign and there is a car in the background waiting in line.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    How McDonald’s plans to reactivate 150M infrequent loyalty guests

    The Golden Arches will add rewards tiers, tie-ups with other major brands and increased personalization to its loyalty system.

    By • Sept. 25, 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 shutters 250 underperforming stores

    The brand said the closures would impact locations that can’t deliver the coffeehouse experience or financial performance it expects.

    By • Sept. 24, 2026
  • An image of the exterior of KFC's experimental Open House unit
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC tests breakfast and table service at new restaurant

    The chain wants to offer fast casual service for QSR prices at an experimental unit designed for maximum sales volume, rather than for efficiency.

    By • Sept. 24, 2026
  • A photograph of two boxes on a table with various breakfast food items in aluminum pans.
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    Permission granted by Denny's
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    How Denny’s is loading the bases for Project Grand Slam turnaround

    After closing units and going private, Denny’s is prepping for a new era with more catering, an overhauled menu, fresh tech and renovations.

    By • Sept. 23, 2026
  • A spread of pasta entrees from Maggiano's Little Italy.
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    Courtesy of Maggiano's Little Italy
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    Maggiano’s turnaround yields ‘green shoots’

    The Italian brand only accounts for 3% of Brinker’s profits, but a focus on portion size and speed of service could grow sales, CEO Kevin Hochman said. 

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
  • An image of a restaurant that has a white sign with "Chili's" on the front and side.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Chili’s is ready to open new stores

    While the casual giant saw its same-store sales explode, its unit count stayed stagnant. Now, Brinker International is investing in growing its storebase again.

    By • Sept. 18, 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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    How technology is powering Papa Johns’ turnaround

    A new POS system, AI forecasting and greater customer segmentation could help the pizza chain improve its operations and drive sales.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
  • A zoomed in image of a smartphone with a on orange app square that says "Grubhub" in white.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    DoorDash buys Grubhub campus unit for $300M

    DoorDash will continue to expand Grubhub’s former campus dining operations, and Wonder will use money from the deal and an investment to sustain growth.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
  • A diamond sign with red and blue and a white words that say "Domino's"
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Domino’s closes 13 Ohio units

    After franchisee Mile High Pizza shuttered 13 restaurants, the pizza giant said it was looking to transition the stores to new ownership.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
  • An image of a sky blue Pollo Tropical restaurant
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    Courtesy of Fiesta Restaurant Group
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    Pollo Tropical owner secures $325M investment

    Authentic Restaurant Brands said the funding from Trimontium would bring new resources to “hometown hero” brands.

    By • Sept. 11, 2026
  • A sign that says "Since 1956 Jersey Miek's Subs"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    4 key numbers shed light on Jersey Mike’s strategy

    The sandwich chain is investing in digital marketing and significant unit growth in its first months as a public company.

    By • Sept. 9, 2026
  • A promotional image for Del Taco's catering program. Bowls of Mexican fast food on a table.
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    Courtesy of Del Taco
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    Del Taco leans on catering in turnaround plan

    The Mexican QSR chain follows Chipotle and Denny’s in turning to high-ticket group orders to ease sales troubles.

    By • Sept. 4, 2026
  • Heads of iceberg lettuce in a grocery store.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Can restaurants avoid the next Cyclospora outbreak?

    The parasite is hard to trace and harder to kill. With recent cuts to food safety regulators, restaurants will be hard pressed to keep their supply chains clean.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026
  • A rendering of a new Huddle House prototype.
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    Courtesy of Huddle House
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    Huddle House woos multi-unit operators with franchising discounts

    Plagued by net closures and low unit volumes in recent years, the chain is looking for franchisees willing to build new restaurants quickly.

    By • Sept. 2, 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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    Q2 2026’s restaurant winners and losers

    Coffee is in, pizza is out, and some legacy QSR chains are struggling with much-needed turnarounds. 

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
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    Retrieved from Pizza Hut.
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    It’s official: Yum has sold Pizza Hut for $1.5B

    Taco Bell’s parent will focus on its other brands, while Pizza Hut can begin a turnaround sheltered from the immediate pressures of public markets.

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
  • Three pumpkin themed coffee drinks from Starbucks. Two are iced, one is hot and has whipped cream.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ pumpkin spice launch breaks records, again

    The Pumpkin Spice Latte, combined with new drinks and an emphasis on food attachment, powered the coffee giant’s strongest-ever fall menu debut.

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
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    Kevin Dietsch / Staff via Getty Images
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    Starbucks faces another union boycott, activist investor pressure

    Pro-labor investors want the chain to split its board chair and CEO roles as Starbucks Workers United asks consumers to join its contract fight.

    By • Aug. 31, 2026
  • Yellow storefront of Buffalo Wild Wings near Las Vegas
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Buffalo Wild Wings hires coffee exec as COO

    Ahmed Awadallah, who brings significant cafe and QSR experience to the sports bar chain, will focus on operational excellence.

    By • Aug. 26, 2026
  • A promotional collage for Burger King's new nuggets.
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King scraps ‘rubbery’ chicken nuggets for new recipe

    The RBI chain updated its breading, marinade, sauces and packaging in a comprehensive overhaul to make its nuggets juicier and crispier.

    By • Aug. 25, 2026
  • A Dunkin' location
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ to return to Puerto Rico in 2027

    The doughnut and coffee chain is banking on residual brand affinity to make its return to the island territory a success.

    By • Aug. 25, 2026
  • A rendering if a red and orange building with El Pollo Loco signage.
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    Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
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    El Pollo looks to speed up growth, menu innovation after turnaround

    CEO Elizabeth Williams said the chain is doubling its pace of development relative to last year and considering adding more fried chicken. 

    By • Aug. 24, 2026
  • A pizza kiosk in a retail setting.
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    Courtesy of CPK
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    California Pizza Kitchen to deploy 1K automated kiosks by 2029

    A partnership with retail tech company T-ROC Global could help CPK reverse the steady erosion of its storebase by bringing the brand to more consumers.

    By • Aug. 21, 2026