Yum Brands works on science-based carbon emissions reduction targets

If Yum sets goals in accordance with Science-Based Targets Initiative standards, it would be the second restaurant group do so — but it's a heavy lift for the firm with thousands of franchised restaurants.

By Emma Cosgrove • March 19, 2019

IHOP to open 19 locations in Pakistan

Dine Brands joins the likes of FAT Brands, Yum and McDonald's expanding into Asia-Pacific markets hungry for convenient and affordable American eateries. 

By Kevin Whiteley • March 19, 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

Restaurants don't have to choose between environmental responsibility and their bottom line

Buying local and investing in automated inventory systems can help businesses reduce food waste and save money at the same time, Upserve SEO manager Seth Steinman says.

By Seth Steinman • March 15, 2019

Shift Change: Popeyes and J. Alexander's under new leadership, Wingstop adds chief growth and experience officer role

This week's Shift Change highlights exec changes at Dunkin' Brands, Wingstop, Restaurant Brands International and J. Alexander's.

By Julie Littman • March 15, 2019

Arby's, Dunkin' among fast food chains to ban no-poach agreements

To avoid class action suits or scrutiny from antitrust enforcement agencies, employers must proactively purge themselves of no-poach practices.

By Morgan Fecto • March 15, 2019

Order up: Kroger announces new in-store eateries

Mariano's will open Pork & Mindy barbecue joints inside select stores while Kroger Marketplaces in Ohio will soon get outposts of the popular Rapid Fired Pizza chain.

By Lauren Manning • March 15, 2019

Del Frisco's forges ahead on expansion plans despite significant traffic declines

The restaurant group plans to add 11 new bartaco locations by the end of 2020, and CEO Norman Abdallah is hopeful the brand's performance will boost Double Eagle and Del Frisco's Grille's business.

By Alicia Kelso • March 14, 2019

Activist investor says Cracker Barrel's fast casual concept is 'destined to fail'

Sardar Biglari, the chain's largest shareholder, urged CEO Sandra Cochran to sell Holler and Dash in a letter on Wednesday and cited concerns over the holding company's fast pace of expansion. 

By Kevin Whiteley • March 14, 2019

Delivery search engine FoodBoss gains $2M in funding

Former McDonald's CEO Don Thompson led the investment round in the platform, which allows consumers to compare delivery times and costs from major third-party aggregators like Uber Eats and Postmates.  

By Kevin Whiteley • March 13, 2019

McDonald's bets on 'augmented writing' to curb bias in job descriptions

The tech also is expected to help hiring managers and recruiters write job descriptions that reflect the chain's brand voice.

By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • March 13, 2019

Papa John's takes DoorDash partnership nationwide

The move follows Pizza Hut's pilot with Grubhub, and could signal a sea change in the pizza delivery space as brands try to wrestle share from growing third-party aggregators and the QSR heavyweights leveraging their technology. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 13, 2019

Chipotle touts loyalty program with $250K in Venmo payouts

The Mexican food chain is expanding its Chipotle Rewards program nationwide, and the deal could help capture more of its target diners. 

By Robert Williams • March 12, 2019

Jury awards misclassified Steak 'n Shake managers $3M

As the verdict demonstrates, simply calling an employee a "manager" is not sufficient to prove that he or she is exempt from overtime requirements.

By Jennifer Carsen • March 12, 2019

McDonald's new gender initiative could boost recruitment and retention

The fast food chain will focus on increasing gender diversity at all levels of the company, which may make it more competitive against other brands committed to similar efforts such as Yum Brands, Starbucks and Panda Express.

By Alicia Kelso • March 12, 2019

Restaurants after #MeToo: How this 'wake-up call' is impacting harassment training

The fall of celebrity chefs like Mario Batali and employee walkouts at McDonald's have brought the industry's culture problem into sharp focus, prompting both chains and states to launch mandatory education programs. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 11, 2019

Bloomin' Brands' CEO exit widens gender gap in restaurant leadership

Liz Smith's move, following 10 years at the helm and a turnaround of Outback Steakhouse, will leave female CEOs at just three publicly owned restaurant companies: Red Robin, Cracker Barrel and Ruth's Hospitality Group. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 11, 2019

Waitr looks to add reservations, loyalty programs

The delivery platform, which focuses on single-unit restaurants and independent chains, has consistently grown since its launch in 2013. But its new plans could bring it head-to-head with heavyweights like OpenTable. 

By Kevin Whiteley • March 11, 2019

Shift Change: Smoothie King, Church's Chicken hire CMOs; Bojangles' top marketing leader to retire

The latest installment of Shift Change highlights executive changes at Starbucks, Church's Chicken, Smoothie King, Bojangles' and more. 

By Julie Littman • March 8, 2019

Wendy's trolls McDonald's on Frozen Food Day

A frozen cake for "you know who" reminded Twitter followers that its rival uses frozen beef and offered a free burger through Wendy's mobile app.

By Robert Williams • March 7, 2019

Yum China's Innovation Center could help fend off US transplants

The Yum Brands spinoff believes product experimentation is key to its success in the fast-changing market, where American heavyweights Shake Shack and Starbucks are testing their own new concepts. 

By Kevin Whiteley • March 7, 2019

KFC's crowdfunding campaign gauges interest in half-baked ideas

Contributors to the Indiegogo site could win branded swag for supporting potential products like a Kentucky Fried Hot Tub or location-tracking necktie.

By Erica Sweeney • March 6, 2019

Habit Burger to open more drive-thrus this year

Car service will hit more than 20 locations, following moves by Chipotle and Panera as the fast casual category looks to capture more customers on the go.

By Julie Littman • March 5, 2019

Papa John's founder John Schnatter agrees to resign from board

A settlement signals the beginning of the end of a yearlong dispute between the ousted founder and corporate, which could allow the pizza chain to put greater focus on new marketing efforts.

By Julie Littman • March 5, 2019

Bartender told to dress 'date-ready' gets $80K settlement

The restaurant also agreed to provide her with a positive written job reference and to allow EEOC to conduct a workplace climate survey.

By Riia O'Donnell • March 5, 2019

Dunkin' trolls McDonald's over Donut Sticks launch

The coffee chain mockingly tweeted "blueprints" of new donut packaging, which emulate the burger giant's Big Mac box, suggesting McDonald's copied its Donut Fries offering.

By Kevin Whiteley • March 5, 2019