Cracker Barrel buys Maple Street Biscuit Company for $36M

The casual dining chain will convert its fast casual Holler and Dash concept, which investors have called "an ill-conceived project destined to fail," to Maple Street concepts in the near future.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 11, 2019

Chick-fil-A must close first UK restaurant after pilot period, shopping center orders

Following pressure from local gay rights groups, the popular chicken chain — which opened a store in Reading, England, only eight days ago — will not be permitted to stay in the Oracle shopping center beyond its six-month test.

By Julie Littman • Updated Oct. 18, 2019

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

How Wendy's plans to get breakfast right this time

The restaurant expects the morning daypart to make up 10% of its daily sales, and its breakfast strategy will use less labor and lower food costs compared to previous attempts.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 11, 2019

Shift Change: Red Robin appoints board chair, Subway hires 4 execs

This week's Shift Change also highlights new executives at Taco Bell, Dunkin' Brands, Good Times Restaurants and Tim Hortons. 

By Julie Littman • Oct. 11, 2019

Subway names new CMO as chain looks for turnaround

Carrie Walsh is the first permanent marketing chief in several months, and joins the company after it shuttered 1,100 stores last year.

By Peter Adams • Oct. 10, 2019

Potbelly, Macy's deal will bring sandwiches to shoppers

As its foot traffic declines, the struggling department store will add outposts of the sandwich chain inside three California stores and one New York location.

By Lauren Manning • Oct. 10, 2019

Starbucks expands family planning benefits to cover surrogacy, insemination

The additional reimbursement comes just a month after the coffee chain expanded its mental health benefits.

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 9, 2019

Food and beverage workers rank low in happiness, financial fitness

Some of the employee value proposition trends embraced by other industries haven't caught on in a meaningful way in food and beverage. 

By Riia O'Donnell , Kate Tornone • Oct. 9, 2019

Carl's Jr. grills up second Beyond Meat burger

The fast food chain will sell its Beyond BBQ Cheeseburger starting on Wednesday, expanding its plant-based offerings after selling 4.5 million Beyond Famous Star burgers since December.

By Lauren Manning • Oct. 8, 2019

Worker alleges Taco Bell fired him for refusing to lie his way out of jury duty

An exception to the "employment at will" doctrine protects employees who refuse to participate in an illegal act, court documents noted. 

By Lisa Burden • Oct. 7, 2019

Impossible Foods CEO: Plant-based competitors 'suck' and stifle industry growth

Pat Brown also said the company's supply shortage is over, and he expects to regain restaurants that stopped carrying its product "once we can assure them that we got them covered."

By Christopher Doering • Oct. 7, 2019

Shift Change: Shake Shack CFO adds president role, Black Bear Diner hires CFO

This week's Shift Change also includes leadership news from McDonald's, Inspire Brands, Juice It Up, Huddle House, Cracker Barrel and Noodles & Company.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 4, 2019

Wendy's role-playing game features a realm threatened by frozen beef

Debuting at New York Comic Con, "Beef's Keep" is a "Dungeons & Dragons"-like tabletop game.

By Barry Levine • Oct. 4, 2019

Shake Shack CFO adds job title of president to role

Tara Comonte, who has served as CFO since 2017, will be one of the few CFO-presidents in the C-suite.

By Jane Thier • Oct. 3, 2019

McDonald's not a joint employer with franchisees under California law, 9th Cir. says

While the case dealt with state law, it's nonetheless good news for employers concerned about joint employer liability — an issue that remains in flux. 

By Jennifer Carsen • Oct. 2, 2019

DoorDash teams with McDonald's to deliver 1M penny Big Macs

The delivery platform will automatically enter customers into a sweepstakes for a chance to win $1 million.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 2, 2019

Football and franchising: What former NFL players can teach restaurateurs

Running a successful restaurant requires a playbook. Here are the strategies retired professional athletes are using to score big in the industry.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 1, 2019

Shift Change: Chili's promotes marketing exec to CMO

This week's Shift Change also highlights leadership departures at Jack in the Box and a new marketing executive at Gusto Farm to Street. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 27, 2019

Want a job at McDonald's? Ask Alexa.

McDonald's Apply Thru works with Alexa and Google Assistant and sends a text message to users with a link to continue the application online, but the process seems far from seamless. 

By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 26, 2019

McDonald's trials Beyond Meat burger in Canada

The plant-based burger will be available at 28 Ontario stores starting on Monday, and marks Beyond Meat's largest restaurant partner to date. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 26, 2019

Inspire Brands acquires Jimmy John's

The restaurant group will add its fourth company in its third transaction since its 2018 debut, making it one of the more active acquirers in the last few years. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 25, 2019

Pickles, mayo and data privacy: Jersey Mike's rethinks mobile authentication

While historically slow to adopt new technologies, restaurants have to rethink mobile systems in an era of heightened privacy concerns.

By Samantha Schwartz • Sept. 25, 2019

How Chicken Salad Chick will open 250 units in the next 5 years

CEO Scott Deviney details how the restaurant, which started as a niche sandwich shop in Atlanta, is going to add up to 50 units annually.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 23, 2019

Sweetgreen strikes exclusive deal with Uber Eats, plans to create its own delivery program

The tech-centric chain plans to use $150 million, which brings its valuation to $1.6 billion, to also put more designated delivery locations within office buildings. 

By Julie Littman • Updated Sept. 27, 2019

Will Dunkin's mobile ordering expansion challenge Starbucks?

The coffee chain made its On-The-Go mobile ordering feature accessible to all customers, not just DD Perks members, as part of its mobile app update.

By Lauren Manning • Sept. 20, 2019