Corporate Operations: Page 2

  • Aussie Grill by Outback Steakhouse exterior
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    Courtesy of Bloomin' Brands
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    Bloomin’ to shutter 41 underperforming restaurants

    Closures will impact mostly older restaurants with leases dating back to the '90s and 2000s, and were determined through a periodic review of the company’s assets.

    By • Feb. 23, 2024
  • Starbucks Workers United members picket outside a Starbucks in Watertown, Ma., on August 1, 2022.
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    Permission granted by Kylah Clay, Starbucks Workers United
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks union’s student allies stage national day of action against chain

    Demonstrations are slated at 25 major public and private universities Thursday in a bid to push administrators to break ties with the company, or declare solidarity with Starbucks Workers United.

    By • Updated Feb. 22, 2024
  • A photograph of chefs in a kitchen. Explore the Trendline➔
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    sam edwards via Getty Images
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    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
  • Jim Metevier, Mountain Mike's CEO, looks at the camera.
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    Courtesy of Mountain Mike's Pizza
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    Mountain Mike’s Pizza appoints longtime COO as CEO

    Jim Metevier, who has overseen the pizza brand's operations since 2018, will lead the chain as it looks to grow beyond its West Coast base.

    By • Feb. 22, 2024
  • A photograph of a Denny's sign over some trees.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Denny’s is still shrinking

    The chain's system has contracted 9% since 2017, and may shrink again in 2024 as the company forecasts comparable sales growth between 0% and 3%.

    By • Feb. 21, 2024
  • An image of a storefront with Auntie Anne's and Jamba branding
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    Permission granted by Focus Brands
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    Focus Brands renames itself GoTo Foods

    The name change is designed to highlight the value its brand portfolio, including Moe’s Southwest Grill, Auntie Anne’s, Carvel and Cinnabon, offers to consumers and franchisees.

    By • Feb. 20, 2024
  • A mural in a Washington, D.C., Starbucks designed to highlight the chain's efforts at inclusive spatial design.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks opens first fully accessible store in DC

    The chain will begin adding inclusive design elements, like wide pedestrian pathways and power doors, to all new builds and remodels in the U.S.

    By • Feb. 20, 2024
  • tim Hortons drive thru only
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    Courtesy of Tim Hortons
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    Restaurant Brands International targets 40K stores globally by 2028

    The Burger King and Tim Hortons owner plans to grow its global footprint by 9,000 stores by 2028, driven by international development and strengthened home-market performance.

    By • Feb. 16, 2024
  • Whataburger's incoming CMO, Scott Hudler
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    Permission granted by Whataburger
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    Whataburger hires CMO

    Scott Hudler joins the chain effective Feb. 21 and has significant experience leading restaurant marketing at Torchy’s Tacos and Dunkin’.

    By • Feb. 15, 2024
  • Wendy's is adding English muffin sandwiches to its breakfast menu on Aug. 22.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s to spend $55M on breakfast ads

    The burger chain hopes the marketing push will boost North American sales in the daypart to $6,000 a week per restaurant.

    By • Feb. 15, 2024
  • Starbucks Oleato beverages on a gold cloth.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks will launch 3 new beverage platforms in 6 months

    Pressured by boycotts and snacking competition, the coffee chain will look to new drinks to strengthen its dwindling afternoon traffic.

    By • Jan. 31, 2024
  • Chipotle workers prepare food
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle targets Gen Z workers with latest benefits

    The chain, whose workforce is 73% Gen Z, hopes to appeal to the demographic’s economic insecurity and hire 19,000 workers by spring. 

    By • Jan. 24, 2024
  • Incoming Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner smiles in a portrait photograph from his previous role at Pepsi
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    Courtesy of PepsiCo
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    Wendy’s names PepsiCo exec as CEO

    Todd Penegor is stepping down as Wendy’s president and CEO, a post he’s held since 2016, and will be replaced by Kirk Tanner, effective Feb. 5.

    By • Updated Jan. 18, 2024
  • A portrait photograph of Tatiana Lambert, Wendy's new U.S. chief development officer.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s hires Yum exec to lead US development

    Tatiana Lambert will lead the company’s domestic expansion as it looks to grow its franchisee base and build new restaurant formats.

    By • Jan. 17, 2024
  • Thuthuka Nxumalo, KFC U.S. COO, effective Feb. 5, and Christophe Poirier, KFC U.S. chief new concept officer, effective Feb. 1.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC appoints US operations chief and new concept officer

    Thuthuka Nxumalo and Christophe Poirier will join the brand’s American C-suite from other divisions of Yum Brands as KFC looks to modernize its concept.

    By • Jan. 17, 2024
  • Woman standing behind counter and cash register serves ice cream cone.
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    Permission granted by Lynne Marek
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    Will Toast raise prices this year?

    The restaurant point-of-sale provider may give clients a choice when it makes price adjustments, following a fee flub last year.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Jan. 12, 2024
  • An image of Papa Johns sign on a store
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    How Papa Johns plans to boost margins, store-level profitability

    The second phase of the pizza chain’s Back to Better initiative will focus on a new nationwide marketing strategy, development incentives for franchisees and supply chain improvements in North America.

    By • Jan. 10, 2024
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    Mike Mozart via Flickr
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    Denny’s, Franklin Junction strike 250-unit virtual brand deal

    The diner chain has been deepening its virtual brand investments over the past few years, expanding its Banda Burrito test ninefold in November.

    By • Jan. 9, 2024
  • 7-Eleven
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven’s top foodservice executive departs

    Jack Stout, who before last summer was the retailer’s chief merchandising officer for nearly five years, left the company at the end of 2023.

    By Brett Dworski • Jan. 8, 2024
  • A Starbucks worker pours a beverage into a cup meant to represent a customer's personal drinkware.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks will accept diners’ personal mugs for drive-thru, app orders

    The chain has implemented new equipment and standardized its process for fulfilling personal cup orders following a 200 drive-thru-store test last year. 

    By • Jan. 3, 2024
  • A portrait photo of Rick Brown, CFO of Brix Holdings
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    Permission granted by Brix Holdings
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    Brix hires TGI Fridays alum as CFO

    Rick Brown, who previously served in leadership roles at TGI Fridays for 14 years, joins Brix as the company plans rapid growth across all of its brands.

    By • Dec. 19, 2023
  • Krispy Kreme doughnuts are displayed in a box.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Donuts and do nots: Krispy Kreme’s first ESG report reveals carbon emissions spike

    The chain said it achieved carbon neutrality in some global operations through carbon offsets, despite a jump in scope 1 and scope 2 emissions overall.

    By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 18, 2023
  • Wingstop's new Dallas location will serve as a laboratory for new restaurant layouts.
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop names CIO

    Chris Fallon joins the wing brand as it prepares to roll out a $50 million in-house technology platform built to allow it to leave Olo’s system.

    By • Dec. 15, 2023
  • An image of a customer entering a Cava restaurant.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Cava is bolstering customization through catering, loyalty strategy

    The Mediterranean chain is testing restaurant models with expanded kitchen space to support catering and a new, bankable points rewards program to deepen engagement, said CEO Brett Schulman.

    By • Dec. 14, 2023
  • Yellow, square-shaped robots roam a farm field
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    Courtesy of Chipotle Mexican Grill
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    Chipotle invests in regenerative farming robots

    The restaurant chain is looking to reduce its dependence on conventional fertilizer with a fleet of autonomous, weed-cutting bots.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 14, 2023
  • Inside a Papa Johns location
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns taps The Martin Agency, Carat in agency shakeup

    Both shops pitched the pizza chain on insight-driven strategies that can drive cultural relevance and improve areas like targeting and loyalty.  

    By Chris Kelly • Dec. 13, 2023