Corporate Operations

  • An image of a white and red restaurant with Krystal on the signage
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    SPB Hospitality CEO launches strategy change 6 months in

    Krystal and the company’s upscale casual brands will operate as parallel businesses under one leadership team, GJ Hart said Thursday.

    By • June 5, 2026
  • A Dave's Hot Chicken fast casual restaurant in Chicago viewed from above.
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    Dave’s Hot Chicken diners don’t want to talk to robots — so here’s how it’s innovating

    After successfully upgrading its point of sale and kitchen display tech, Dave’s is waiting for other tech to mature, the brand’s chief technology officer said.

    By • June 4, 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
  • An image of a gray building with a black sign that says "&pizza"
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    Permission granted by &pizza
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    &pizza, Tijuana Flats search for a new CEO

    The parent company of the two restaurant chains said its strategy has not changed since CEO Mike Burns left to take over Cafe Rio’s leadership.

    By • June 3, 2026
  • A view of a Taco Bell restaurant on February 06, 2025 in Dublin, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Yum Brands COO to retire after 25 years

    Tracy Skeans helped the company emerge as one of the clear QSR winners after the COVID-19 pandemic.

    By • June 3, 2026
  • An exterior photograph of a Cafe Rio restaurant.
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    Courtesy of Cafe Rio
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    Cafe Rio hires &pizza CEO after losing its way

    Mike Burns will oversee an effort to return the fast casual Mexican chain to sales growth with speedy service, better food and cleaner restaurants.

    By • June 2, 2026
  • An image of hot dogs on a table.
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    Permission granted by DogHaus
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    Dog Haus signs 50-unit deal, adds new execs

    The hot dog chain hopes recruiting high-performing operators from other restaurants will help it grow from over 50 stores to 1,500.

    By • May 29, 2026
  • A concept image of a Dairy Queen Grill & Chill store
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    Courtesy of Dairy Queen
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    Dairy Queen adds $150K development incentive for food-focused stores

    The cash incentive and further rewards for multi-unit development could help the brand grow its Grill & Chill concept. 

    By • May 27, 2026
  • An image of a building with a sign that says "Sweetgreen."
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen hires Chipotle exec as chief strategy officer

    Cindy Olsen will help oversee the beleaguered chain’s turnaround strategy after it posted its worst sales decline since going public.

    By • May 26, 2026
  • Sign above conference attendees reads "AI changes everything" referring to artificial intelligence
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Restaurant tech execs warn against AI overdependence

    There are limits to AI’s use cases, reliability and applicability, industry leaders said at the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show.

    By • May 26, 2026
  • People sit in a coffee shop.
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    Starbucks ditches AI inventory system after just 9 months

    The coffee giant is ending its computer vision inventory counting system — which employees called “unreliable” — in favor of traditional stock-keeping methods, Reuters reported. 

    By • May 22, 2026
  • An empty Starbucks redesigned for on-premise occasions with couches and nice chairs.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Inside Starbucks’ atmospheric and experiential renovations

    At a remodeled Chicago cafe, the proportion of on-premise traffic has doubled as consumers enjoy couches, comfy seating, outlets and warm lighting. 

    By • May 21, 2026
  • Four Cold Brews, three with flavored cold foam toppings.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell tests cold brew coffee

    The chain will use its Live Más Cafés to pilot the beverages, which could see a wider national rollout.

    By • May 21, 2026
  • An evening photo of Topfgolf with backlit lights and a white sign that says Topgolf.
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    Courtesy of Topgolf
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    Topgolf appoints over half a dozen execs following Callaway spinoff

    The company named new leadership spanning departments, including operations and finance, a few months after David McKillips became CEO.

    By • May 20, 2026
  • A photograph of a brown sign with white lettering that says Starbucks Center.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to cut 300 jobs, close 4 support centers

    Despite improved sales and the impending opening of a secondary headquarters in Nashville, the coffee chain is undertaking its third round of layoffs under CEO Brian Niccol.

    By • May 15, 2026
  • An photograph of a building sign that says Chicken Salad Chick drive-thru with red and green balloons underneath.
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    Courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Chicken Salad Chick signs 25-store deal in New York

    The development agreement is the chain’s first in the state, and its largest in terms of unit count, marking a major step in its national expansion plan.

    By • May 14, 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 franchisee says AI caused $100M in damages

    Chaac Pizza Northeast, which depends on DoorDash to deliver its orders, said the chain’s Dragontail AI system hurt delivery times and damaged operations.

    By • May 14, 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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    Lance Tucker out as Jack in the Box CEO

    Tucker held the CEO post for just over 13 months, coinciding with continued sales declines and a tough fight with activist investors. Mark King will succeed him on an interim basis.

    By • Updated May 13, 2026
  • A Swig Dirty Soda location with a drive-thru.
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    Courtesy of Swig
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    Swig is bringing dirty sodas to Colorado

    The chain, known for its indulgent soft drink concoctions, is pushing for national growth as QSRs join the beverage trend and stoke consumer demand. 

    By • May 13, 2026
  • A Dunkin' location
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ is coming back to Canada after 8 years away

    Foodtastic, a major Canadian foodservice operator, will help Inspire Brands’ doughnutmaker invade Tim Hortons’ home market.

    By • May 13, 2026
  • Corner Bakery storefront
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    How refranchising is helping Corner Bakery rise from ‘scorched earth’

    After years of focus on hospitality, menu reconstruction and unit economics, the fast casual brand is looking to recruit its next generation of operators.

    By • May 12, 2026
  • Fiserv Clover point of sale CardFree mobile ordering payments
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Dunkin’ owner Inspire Brands files for an IPO

    The company’s sprawling brand portfolio, ranging from sports bars to breakfast QSRs, could help insulate it from downturns within restaurant subsectors.

    By • May 11, 2026
  • 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
  • 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