Corporate Operations: Page 13

  • Image attribution tooltip
    yaoinlove via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s price hikes are boosting sales, but some diners are pulling back

    The chain wants to drive value for customers with menu tweaks and personalized offers, but CEO Chris Kempczinski said the latter effort requires “sophistication.”

    By • April 25, 2023
  • An image of a California Pizza Kitchen restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen
    Image attribution tooltip

    California Pizza Kitchen turns to refranchising to drive growth

    The chain, which launched domestic franchising in 2021, plans to sell corporate-owned units in select U.S. markets to multi-unit operators.

    By • April 24, 2023
  • A photograph of chefs in a kitchen. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    sam edwards via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    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 image of three brand presidents at Inspire Brands.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    Inspire appoints brand presidents across 3 restaurant chains

    The company has promoted existing employees to leadership roles at Sonic, Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. 

    By • April 13, 2023
  • An image of a sky blue Pollo Tropical restaurant
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Fiesta Restaurant Group
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fiesta Restaurant Group makes interim CEO permanent

    Since becoming interim CEO in December, Dirk Montgomery has been working on various initiatives to improve company transactions and margins. 

    By • April 13, 2023
  • An image of a Starbucks sign
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks appoints litigator to general counsel

    Brad Lerman brings over 30 years of legal and regulatory experience in the public and private sectors to his position at the coffee giant. 

    By • April 13, 2023
  • Burger King gets a fresh look
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Burger King
    Image attribution tooltip

    Meridian closes 23 Burger Kings in bankruptcy

    Burger King’s U.S. franchisees have closed at least 49 units this year as the brand’s turnaround efforts are restrained by macro-economic problems.

    By • April 12, 2023
  • smoothie king logo
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Smoothie King
    Image attribution tooltip

    Playa Bowls poaches Smoothie King COO for CEO

    Dan Harmon brings decades of franchising and operational experience from his tenure at chains including McDonald’s, Papa Murphy’s and Potbelly. 

    By • April 11, 2023
  • A photograph of a standalone Chipotle around dusk.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle tests an environmentally ‘responsible’ store design

    Chipotle’s new store design will feature all-electric equipment and be powered by renewable energy, the chain says.

    By • April 11, 2023
  • A photograph of a Wienerschnitzel building
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Wienerschnitzel
    Image attribution tooltip

    Wienerschnitzel targets 500 units after years of flat growth

    By offering sizable incentives and highlighting a simple menu and operations, Wienerschnitzel hopes to resume franchise expansion.

    By • April 10, 2023
  • An image of a Johnny Rockets counter.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fat Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fat Brands stacks board with Wiederhorns

    The restaurant company has fired all but one of its directors and replaced them with a slate of new candidates, including three of Andrew Wiederhorn's kids.

    By • April 7, 2023
  • McDonald's Q1 Earnings Up On Higher Menu Prices, Overseas Growth
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s to close US field offices, consolidate support teams

    The Golden Arches will shift its national support field teams to remote work, enabling it to close regional offices in eight states, per Restaurant Business.

    By • Updated April 7, 2023
  • An exterior image of a restaurant with glass windows and a sign that says sweetgreen.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Sweetgreen/BusinessWire on August 10, 2022
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sweetgreen renames burrito bowl following Chipotle suit

    Marketing and social media interactions for Sweetgreen’s new Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl are at the heart of the lawsuit against the salad chain.

    By • Updated April 6, 2023
  • A picture of the leadership of Port of Subs.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Port of Subs
    Image attribution tooltip

    Port of Subs acquired by private equity firm

    Area 15 Ventures looks to grow franchise sales in its portfolio, which includes Daddy’s Chicken Shack alongside Port of Subs, by 140% in 18 months.

    By • April 4, 2023
  • Burger King gets a fresh look
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Burger King
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Modern Restaurant Market, True Food Kitchen, The Habit Burger, Starbucks, CKE Restaurants, Restaurant Brands International
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • An exterior image of a white restaurant with a yellow decoration and signs that say Church's Chicken
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Church's Chicken
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • Image attribution tooltip
    yaoinlove via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by True Food Kitchen
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of KFC
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 Carranza • March 22, 2023
  • A customer scans his palm with an Amazon One device at a Panera cafe.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Panera
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Christopher Doering/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip
    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Habit Burger Grill
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Starbucks on September 01, 2022
    Image attribution tooltip

    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