Checkers & Rally's parent lands $20M in private equity funding

The capital injection from Oak Hill Capital Partners will fuel the chain's five-year expansion plans, which includes 72 new restaurants in its development pipeline.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 11, 2021

NPC International agrees to $801M sale of its Wendy's, Pizza Hut assets

Flynn Restaurant Group will acquire all of NPC's 900-plus Pizza Hut units and half of its 393 Wendy's units, while a consortium of Wendy's franchisees buys the other half. 

By Julie Littman • Jan. 7, 2021

Explore the 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

Starbucks taps new CFO as Grismer plans to retire

Rachel Ruggeri, senior vice president of finance for Starbucks Americas, will succeed Patrick Grismer, effective Feb. 1. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 7, 2021

Burger King prioritizes digital with first rebrand in more than 20 years

With its all-encompassing visual update, the QSR chain also seeks to demonstrate its improvements to food quality and sustainability.

By Chris Kelly • Jan. 7, 2021

Del Taco bulks up off-premise channels with new prototype

The design can be adapted to fit within 1,200 to 2,400 square feet, which will expand site selection options outside of the QSR chain's traditional freestanding drive-thru model.  

By Julie Littman • Jan. 6, 2021

McDonald's stirs up chicken sandwich wars with 3 new entries

The sandwiches fulfill franchisees' demand for competitive new chicken offerings to better compete with Chick-fil-A, which the National Owners Association listed as a top priority in 2019. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 5, 2021

How Sonic Drive-In swapped its iconic pitchmen for a 'pandemic-proof' campaign

Chief marketing officer Lori Abou Habib explains how the QSR shifted its focus from its long-running "Two Guys" to real families — right before COVID-19 upended the year.

By Chris Kelly • Dec. 23, 2020

McDonald’s USA president wants to improve transparency with operators

Joe Erlinger's message comes as tensions over 2021 franchising fees reach a boiling point, with operators agreeing to cut off nonessential communication with corporate and pushing for the formation of a tech co-op. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 23, 2020

Chipotle won't mandate employees to get the coronavirus vaccine

CEO Brian Niccol also told CNBC the company will pay for costs associated with the vaccine and will strongly encourage employees to get it. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 23, 2020

Punch Bowl Social declares bankruptcy after nightmare year for eatertainment

As of Dec. 8, the company was only operating three out of its 14 units with limited capacity. The open venues were losing money on a daily basis and the company has since closed them. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 22, 2020

McDonald’s franchisees calls for tech co-op amid new fees, Restaurant Business reports

The National Owners Association's latest push follows news of a $423-per-month technology investment cost added to operators' plates to cover a $70 million "lag" from the old payment structure.

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 22, 2020

Burger King sends customers $1 via Venmo to push new value menu

The $1 Your Way menu features a lineup of Burger King items all priced at $1, including the brand's take on the bacon cheeseburger and its Chicken Jr. sandwich.

By Peter Adams • Dec. 22, 2020

Papa John's to give employees $2.5M in end-of-year bonuses

The additional pay will be awarded to 14,000 team members across the company’s corporate restaurants and supply chain.

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Dec. 22, 2020

Jack in the Box latest restaurant chain to name new CFO

Timothy Mullany will be filling the role after a six-month search, following a string of CFO departures at Cracker Barrel, Taco Bell and Papa John's. 

By Jane Thier • Dec. 21, 2020

Emerging from bankruptcy, California Pizza Kitchen hires new CFO

Judd Tirnauer will lead CPK's financial restructuring strategy, focus on growth opportunities, and oversee the accounting and finance teams.

By Jane Thier • Dec. 17, 2020

Luby's sells 13 Fuddruckers locations to franchisee

The agreement with Black Titan Holdings is part of Luby's plan to sell its assets and liquidate and dissolve Luby's, Inc. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 17, 2020

Luckin Coffee hit with $180M SEC fine

The company misstated earnings and revenue to suggest it was achieving rapid growth and increased profitability when it wasn't, the Securities and Exchange Commission says in its settlement agreement. 

By Robert Freedman , Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 17, 2020

Sweetgreen will open its first drive-thru in 2021

The test location will feature dedicated parking spots where diners can order from intercoms. Customers who want to eat on-premise can dine in their cars or at an outdoor patio area. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 17, 2020

McDonald’s USA president calls for end of corporate communication freeze, Restaurant Business reports

Joe Erlinger called on franchisees in a video Thursday to end a six-week halt in nonessential communication with corporate, which was incited by frustration over new fees and the end of a Happy Meal subsidy. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated Jan. 22, 2021

Cracker Barrel CFO to retire

The casual chain has appointed Doug Couvillion, its senior vice president of sourcing and supply chain, as Interim CFO effective upon Jill Golder's Dec. 31 retirement. 

By Jane Thier , Julie Littman • Dec. 15, 2020

Postmates joins Uber, DoorDash in bankrolling driver benefits in CA with price hikes

The aggregators are rolling out customer fees to help pay for healthcare subsidies, mileage reimbursement and occupational insurance they promised in winning ballot measure Proposition 22. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated Jan. 20, 2021

Domino's to offer over $9.6M in bonuses to 11,500 employees

During December, company-owned restaurant and supply chain workers will receive up to $1,200 in extra compensation.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 14, 2020

Panera, Pepsi bite into virtual pizza party trend

Starring comedian King Bach, the push spoofs pandemic-spurred trends like virtual parties and cocktail hours on videoconferencing services such as Zoom.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 14, 2020

Starbucks expects to have 55K locations within 10 years

During an investor event this week, Starbucks said it plans to add about 22,000 new units by 2030, with China identified as its priority growth market. 

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 11, 2020

Fat Brands to merge with Fog Cutter Capital Group

The Johnny Rockets owner says the agreement to combine with its controlling stockholder will provide the company with more financial flexibility and simplify its corporate structure. 

By Julie Littman • Updated Dec. 11, 2020