Corporate Operations: Page 2

  • An image of a bar and seating area inside Pinstripes
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    Permission granted by Pinstripes
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    Pinstripes keeps itself afloat with $7.5M loan

    The troubled eatertainment chain was suspended from the New York Stock Exchange and won’t appeal its delisting, as its lender takes an 85% share in the company. 

    By • March 7, 2025
  • Wendy's Global Next Gen store design features a pick-up window for delivery orders and in-store shelving for digital pick-up orders.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s wants to open 1K stores in 3 years

    The burger brand is planning to globalize its supply chain and build up geographical strongholds outside the U.S.

    By • March 6, 2025
  • 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
  • A rendering of a restaurant that is both an Applebee's and an IHOP
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    Applebee’s hopes renovations, dual-branding will prevent more closures

    Dine Brands will remodel 30 restaurants it acquired from franchisees last year to help revive the ailing casual dining chain.

    By • March 5, 2025
  • An image of various chicken cantina items offered by Taco Bell
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell targets $3M AUV

    The brand wants its Cantina Chicken Menu and beverage orders to each account for $5 billion in yearly sales by the end of the decade.

    By • March 4, 2025
  • 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 launches stuffed crust pizza, encroaching on Pizza Hut

    Internal research showed as many as 13 million Domino’s customers ordered stuffed crust pizza from competitors each year.

    By • March 3, 2025
  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on a cold day.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Bloomin’ slows US growth to focus on Outback turnaround

    With same-store sales slipping, Bloomin’ is changing its strategy, trimming its menu and devolving power to brand presidents.

    By • Feb. 27, 2025
  • A Starbucks barista pours foamed milk into a cup.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks cuts less popular drinks, plans 30% menu reduction

    Several Frappucinos, the Royal English Breakfast Latte and the White Hot Chocolate are getting the axe next month to reduce complexity and make space for experimentation.

    By • Feb. 26, 2025
  • 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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    Cava’s traffic growth streak continues

    CFO Tricia Tolivar attributed its sales success to a mix of factors ranging from improved in-store experience to low price increases.

    By • Feb. 26, 2025
  • A photograph of a black sign that says "Starbucks Coffee Company" in front of a brick building.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks lays off 1,100 corporate workers

    The coffee giant is cutting about 6.9% of its non-retail staff, and is shifting corporate hiring to prioritize in-office roles.

    By • Feb. 24, 2025
  • An image of Pinstripes
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    Courtesy of Pinstripes
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    Pinstripes CFO departs, company explores strategic alternative

    The eatertainment brand saw same-store sales fall 7.7% last quarter, and failed to maintain a leverage ratio required by a financing covenant.

    By • Feb. 21, 2025
  • An image of Joe Christina, CEO at Tijuana Flats.
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    Permission granted by Tijuana Flats
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    Noodles & Company hires Joe Christina as president and COO

    Christina, formerly CEO at Tijuana Flats, joins the chain as it embarks on a long-term menu overhaul and turns the corner on sales struggles.

    By • Feb. 20, 2025
  • People sit in a coffee shop.
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    Starbucks’ DEI policies labeled ‘discriminatory’ in Missouri attorney general’s lawsuit

    A spokesperson for the chain denied the claims in an email to HR Dive and said Starbucks’ hiring and benefits programs are “open to everyone and lawful.”

    By Ryan Golden • Feb. 19, 2025
  • An image of a white building with red stripes and KFC branding.
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    Moses Robinson via Getty Images
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    KFC US HQ leaves Kentucky for Texas

    Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs said the move will contribute to the company’s competitive advantage as Yum looks to remake the KFC brand.

    By • Feb. 19, 2025
  • An exterior pink building with Saucy by KFC signage
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    Permission granted by Saucy by KFC
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    KFC US promotes CMO to president

    Catherine Tan-Gillespie will take over from Tarun Lal as U.S. president for the chicken chain on April 1, after a difficult year for sales.

    By • Feb. 13, 2025
  • Dutch Bros Coffee's president, Christine Barone will replace Joth Ricci as CEO. Pictured is a Dutch Bros unit.
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    Permission granted by Dutch Bros
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    Dutch Bros’ mobile ordering is booming

    The new digital channel already accounts for 8% of sales just a year after initial testing, executives said, and is available at 96% of stores.

    By • Feb. 13, 2025
  • An image of Burger King's Sizzle remodeled restaurant
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King accelerates remodels, refranchising

    The QSR giant will start selling off the restaurants it acquired in its $1 billion Carrols deal two years ahead of schedule.

    By • Feb. 12, 2025
  • Popeyes unveils new brand identity, pilots store redesign
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    Popeyes will remodel stores and beef up ad spending

    Restaurant Brands International will add equipment, ranging from a cloud-based point-of-sales system to an automated batter-maker, at the chicken chain’s U.S. stores.

    By • Feb. 12, 2025
  • Taco Bell exterior
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Yum Brands launches integrated tech platform

    Thousands of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants already use Byte by Yum, which includes kitchen management and point-of-sale tools.

    By • Feb. 6, 2025
  • The side view of a Pizza Hut restaurant can be seen, with promotional posters and banners on the windows and walls.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Pizza Hut buys 18 stores from bankrupt EYM

    The chain paid $720,000 for the units, with five other bidders securing the remaining 77 stores in an auction.

    By • Feb. 3, 2025
  • Overly busy restaurant
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    JazzIRT via Getty Images
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    What’s the restaurant outlook for 2025?

    Price-sensitive diners and rising food and labor costs are pushing chains to refine their value propositions, setting the stage for cutthroat competition.

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
  • Starbucks Canada
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    Permission granted by Starbucks
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    Starbucks eyes return to premium identity as traffic slide continues

    A shift away from discounting and a 30% reduction in SKUs could refocus the brand’s identity and premium market positioning in the next several quarters.

    By • Jan. 29, 2025
  • An image of a Starbucks sign
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks hires Taco Bell vets to replace departing execs

    Mike Grams and Meredith Sandland will divide responsibilities in newly created roles as part of a refreshed corporate structure.

    By • Jan. 28, 2025
  • Starbucks logo on building exterior
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Starbucks wants to claw back $830K from former exec

    The coffee giant says a former senior vice president owes the bulk of a pro-rated signing bonus for leaving four months after he was hired.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
  • An image of a box with 10 burgers and sides next to a pitcher of pink liquid and a large salad. The box has "The Habit Burger" on it.
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    Permission granted by The Habit Burger
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    Back to the Basics: Building catering programs

    A growing number of restaurants are launching catering programs to keep pace with changing consumer behavior. It takes diverse menus, reliable service and the right infrastructure to stand out. 

    By Danielle McLean • Jan. 22, 2025
  • A smiling white man in a suit. He's wearing a jacket with peaked lapels and no tie, for what it's worth.
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    Permission granted by Starbucks
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    Starbucks warns of corporate layoffs in March

    CEO Brian Niccol framed forthcoming job cuts as a way to increase efficiency and accountability and reduce organizational complexity.

    By • Jan. 21, 2025