Marketing

  • A lighted McDonald's sign at dusk reading 'Extra Value Meals are back.'
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s Extra Value Meals insulated sales from diner price sensitivity

    Reductions in combo meal prices helped McDonald’s offset consumer pullback in the U.S. in Q3, and the chain will double down on its value efforts.

    By • Nov. 5, 2025
  • Group of friends enjoying party
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    BONNINSTUDIO/stock.adobe.com

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    Sponsored by Rokt

    Gen Z vs. Gen X: Winning both generations at the QSR checkout

    Catering to rival tastes? The checkout is where QSRs can personalize for every customer.

    By Rob Murphy • Nov. 3, 2025
  • Homeroom Restaurant in Oakland, California Explore the Trendline➔
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    Permission granted by Homeroom
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    Trendline

    Independent restaurants

    Dining room refreshes, menu innovation and other unique offerings can help independents stand out from competitors, win new customers and keep existing ones coming back. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • A nighttime photo of Chili's building with green and red neon signage
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    Courtesy of Brinker International
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    Chili’s wants to win 2026 with remodels, chicken sandwiches

    After a wildly successful 2025, Brinker’s flagship brand wants to convert value wins into a durable advantage — but it will need more than savvy marketing. 

    By • Oct. 31, 2025
  • An image of the Shake Shack logo on a window.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack grows traffic with ad spend, operational improvements

    The brand’s traffic gains were most pronounced outside the Northeast, validating its national development strategy, CFO Katie Fogerty said.

    By • Oct. 31, 2025
  • P.F. Chang's campaign
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    Courtesy of P.F. Chang's
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    P.F. Chang’s CMO on igniting a new brand platform, holiday campaign

    Sonika Patel explains how the chain is centering the dining experience with a “Light the Fire” platform and seasonal push on digital and CTV.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 30, 2025
  • An aerial view of a building with white "Chili'"s sign alongside a red pepper.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Chili’s dramatic sales growth continues with 13% traffic jump

    Chili’s marketing, which sets the chain in direct price competition with QSRs, delivered a sixth-straight quarter of double-digit same-store sales growth.

    By • Oct. 29, 2025
  • An image of a digital menu board that says "Extra Value Meals are back" on the other panel there is a photo of an egg sandwich and a $5.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    Toast: Burger, burrito, cold brew prices on the rise

    Football season staples like beer and wings saw slower price increases, which could play to the advantage of casual chains, according to a Toast analysis.

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
  • Person walking down street drinking hot drink
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    Sergey Sokolov / Unsplash

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    Sponsored by Talon.One

    Brewing loyalty at speed: Scooter’s Coffee redefines rewards for the modern guest

    QSR loyalty is evolving—data-driven personalization is turning fast service into lasting connection.

    Oct. 27, 2025
  • Streamer Cody “Clix” Conrod for Cava
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava ties gaming culture to loyalty rewards with Clix collaboration

    A partnership with the pro Fortnite player centers on a Cava Pass Challenge that looks to drive more people to the chain’s newly revamped loyalty program.

    By Peter Adams • Oct. 20, 2025
  • An orange background with simulated phone screens showing how Philz Coffee's loyalty system works.
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    Courtesy of Philz Coffee
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    Philz Coffee launches points-based loyalty program

    Fresh off its acquisition by Freeman Spogli, the coffee brand is adding a new system meant to reward frequency and deepen consumer connections.

    By • Oct. 17, 2025
  • An image of a customer entering a Cava restaurant.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Cava adds tiers, status matching to rewards program

    Consumers who can prove elite status in some other brands’ loyalty programs will be able to slot into the higher tiers of Cava’s system.

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
  • An image of a red sign with white logo that says "Wendy's." Above the sign is an cartoon image of a girl with red hair and pigtails with blue bows.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s to invest at least $20M to boost AUV

    After same-store sales dropped two quarters in a row, the burger brand shifted money from development funds to in-store labor and equipment.

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
  • Domino's rebranded assets
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Inside Domino’s first refresh in a decade — including its ‘cravemark’

    With younger consumers in mind, the pizza chain has a new look and sound, including an audio-visual expression voiced by singer Shaboozey.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 8, 2025
  • Aerial photograph of a Cracker Barrel sign.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Cracker Barrel traffic nosedived after logo backlash

    Visits dropped by 10% in the weeks following the chain’s logo reversal, only improving to a 7% dip in the last week of September, according to Placer.ai.

    By • Oct. 7, 2025
  • An image showing some of Dunkin's branding pasted on the side of a building.
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ changes its rewards redemptions, again

    A Restaurant Dive analysis of new discount rates shows the coffee chain has largely made it more expensive to redeem items.

    By • Oct. 6, 2025
  • A Starbucks remade as a "Starbies"
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks ties in-store experiences, rewards to new Taylor Swift album

    The chain has outfitted a Nashville store with a pop-up vinyl shop, photo booth and more, and claims it is throwing “the largest global listening party.”

    By Peter Adams • Oct. 6, 2025
  • Jack in the Box video game
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    Courtesy of Jack in the Box
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    Jack in the Box launches AI-powered in-app game to deliver value

    DealQuest: Revenge of the Munchies offers bigger rewards the deeper players get into the game, potentially attracting cash-crunched consumers.

    By Aaron Baar • Oct. 3, 2025
  • A Qdoba storefront
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    Retrieved from Qdoba on October 02, 2025
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    Q&A

    Qdoba’s new CMO on turning the fast casual chain into a national brand

    As it rapidly expands, the chain looks to raise awareness with its first national marketing campaign, newly appointed CMO Jon Burke explains.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 2, 2025
  • A photograph of a brick building with signage that says "Krystal"
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    Krystal launches first loyalty program

    Consumers will earn 10 points for every dollar spent, as the QSR brand looks to drive frequency and increase check.

    By • Oct. 1, 2025
  • A man stands on a stage talking
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    9 restaurant industry trade shows to attend in 2026

    Next year is jam-packed with restaurant conferences and trade shows that will cover key topics for the sector, ranging from franchising and menu development to economic forecasts.

    By Restaurant Dive Staff • Updated Nov. 3, 2025
  • A hand dips a chicken tender into a sauce
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    Courtesy of The Wendy's Company
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    Wendy’s chicken tenders are here

    The brand teased the addition of chicken tenders on its August earnings call, following the lead of McDonald’s and Taco Bell, which both added chicken strips this year.

    By • Sept. 30, 2025
  • A burritio, chips, drink, side of queso and some salsas.
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    Courtesy of Moe's Southwest Grill
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    Moe’s Southwest Grill adds value meal for under $10

    The fast casual sector is facing value pressure from both directions, as QSRs cut combo prices and casual dining emphasizes holistic value.

    By • Sept. 24, 2025
  • An image of a store sign that says Shake Shack. To the left is a green neon sign of a burger
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack appoints first chief brand officer

    Michael Fanuele, who has consulted for Shake Shack since early this year, joins the chain as it increases paid media ad spend and marketing.

    By • Sept. 23, 2025
  • Taco Bell's $5, $7 and $9 luxe boxes. Each combo meal contains several items, a side and a drink.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell promotes execs focused on branding, technology

    As the chain works to triple its international store count in five years, these new executive promotions can help replicate the brand’s U.S. success abroad.

    By • Sept. 22, 2025
  • An image of several food items on a table from First Watch's LTO menu with two people partially in view in the background
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    Permission granted by First Watch
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    Morning meal traffic grows as food spending stays high

    Protein-heavy items, the breakfast daypart and dishes without artificial colors are the big winners from H1 2025, according to a Circana report.

    By • Sept. 22, 2025