Corporate: Page 2

Apollo considers selling Qdoba for $550M

The company's asking price is 80% higher than the $305 million it paid to buy the chain from Jack in the Box in 2018. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 19, 2019

Burger King sued over cooking Impossible Whoppers on same grills as meat

Meanwhile, other QSRs like White Castle and Dunkin' have already put protocols in place to keep the products separate from meat during the cooking process. 

By Lauren Stine • Nov. 19, 2019

KFC's CTO started as an intern. Now he leads its tech strategy

Chris Caldwell has had a front-row seat to Yum Brands' modernization, from rolling out Microsoft Exchange Servers to AI-enabled drive-thrus.  

By Samantha Ann Schwartz • Nov. 19, 2019

Starbucks loses traffic to open bathroom policy

A new study found that visits to Starbucks dropped 6.8% following the company's adoption of the new store rule in May 2018.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 18, 2019

Chick-fil-A will no longer donate to anti-LGBTQ nonprofits

The fast food chain's charitable arm will highlight organizations that focus on education, homelessness and hunger.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 18, 2019

Class action suit alleges McDonald's manager groped, shoved employee

At the heart of the allegations is McDonald's status as a franchisor, and the consequences that may hold for workers.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 15, 2019

Column

Comic Dive: Chicken Sandwich Kerfuffle

Recent missteps by Chick-fil-A, which is closed on Sundays, has given Popeyes easy marketing fodder around its viral dish.

By John Hazard • Nov. 15, 2019

Column

Shift Change: Subway, Blaze Pizza hire new CEOs

This week's Shift Change also includes executive news from The Krystal Company, CKE Restaurants, Just Salad and Women's Foodservice Forum. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 15, 2019

Just Salad's new CFO arrives from Noon Mediterranean CEO post

Stefan Boyd has previously served as CFO of Le Pain Quotidien and as an investment banking associate at JPMorgan.

By Jane Thier • Nov. 14, 2019

KFC pilots drive-thru-only concept in Australia

The location features five drive-thru lanes that accept orders and payments through the chain's mobile app as well as lanes to accept on-the-spot orders.

By Lauren Stine • Nov. 14, 2019

Landry's makes $40M offer for bankrupt Houlihan's

Landry's made its third transaction within the last few months following its acquisition of two Del Frisco's concepts and its bid for Restaurants Unlimited. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 14, 2019

Subway taps new CEO after a year-plus wait

John Chidsey, formerly chairman and CEO of Burger King Holdings, will take the helm of the sandwich chain, which hasn't had a permanent leader since last summer.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 13, 2019

DoorDash delivery workers earn 12.5% more on average under new pay model

Overall Dasher earnings including tips rose $1.30 in October, the platform's first full month under the payment system, according to a company blog post. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 13, 2019

4 challenges McDonald's new CEO must overcome

Chris Kempczinski inherits a tense relationship with franchisees and employee frustration over sexual harassment and minimum wage — issues he must deescalate to keep the world’s largest fast food chain on top.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 12, 2019

Q&A

Lunch Break: Applebee's VP of strategy dishes on the power of direct delivery

Developing direct delivery alongside a portfolio of third-party partnerships can expand a restaurant's reach and maintain control of diner relationships, Scott Gladstone told Restaurant Dive. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 12, 2019

Starbucks brews buzz for mobile pay with 'Merry Coffee' holiday cups

Short video spots and digital display banners encourage customers to place orders through the chain's app.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 11, 2019

Subway enforcing 20-year lease agreements to stem store closures, NY Post reports

Franchisees told the publication those who don't renew their five-year leases must complete a corporate questionnaire to try and find replacement operators.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 11, 2019

TGI Fridays to go public in $380M sale to Allegro Merger

The chain signed a deal Friday with the special purpose acquisition firm, which will take on $350 million of the restaurant's debt.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 08, 2019

Buffalo Wild Wings to conduct sensitivity training following alleged racist incident

The company's response appears to borrow from the playbook of employers that have faced similar incidents, like Starbucks.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 08, 2019

Opinion

Reduce restaurant theft with better onboarding and reporting practices

Businesses need to review training materials and offer a clear way to address issues swiftly to prevent serial theft, says Ethics Suite president and co-founder Juliette Gust. 

By Juliette Gust • Nov. 08, 2019

Popeyes traffic rose 299% during its chicken sandwich relaunch

The spike on Nov. 3 surpassed the initial rollout's traffic peak of 256%, and had a halo effect for KFC, which saw 29% gains on the same day, per Placer.ai data. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 08, 2019

Column

Shift Change: McDonald's CEO, chief people officer out; Papa John's restructures senior management

This week's Shift Change also has executive news from Ike's Love & Sandwiches and Guy Fieri's new Chicken Guy concept. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 08, 2019

McDonald's invests in solar, wind projects

The QSR joins Starbucks as one of the only restaurant brands investing in renewable energy projects as part of long-standing sustainability initiatives. 

By Lauren Stine , Julie Littman • Nov. 08, 2019

Papa John's CFO to step down in 2020

Joe Smith has been at Papa John's for nearly 20 years, and has been CFO since 2017. He will stay in the role until the company finds a replacement.

By Jane Thier • Nov. 07, 2019

Chili's dishes out custom merch to showcase free delivery promotion

Rewards members could win a #ChilisMyHouse starter pack that includes a custom doormat, baby back ribs-scented candle and more.

By Barry Levine • Nov. 07, 2019