Operations

  • US Market
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    Retrieved from US Market.
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    US Market bringing Cinnabon QSR to all c-stores

    The first baked goods shop debuted at a c-store in Salem, Oregon, late last year.

    By Brett Dworski • Jan. 9, 2026
  • An image of back-of-house workers preparing meals in a kitchen. Their faces are blurred
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    6 restaurant trends to watch in 2026

    Restaurants may face cost savings challenges and sales declines amid  continued supply chain disruptions, but can leverage consumer demand for cheaper menu items and experiential meals to stand out.

    By , , • Jan. 8, 2026
  • 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 car at a window picking up an order from a restaurant
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    Permission granted by Salad and Go
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    Salad and Go ceases operations in Texas, Oklahoma

    The drive-thru salad chain will close 32 restaurants just months after 41 units closed and will focus on its home state of Arizona, as well as Nevada.

    By • Jan. 8, 2026
  • John Owen, Blaze Pizza's new CEO, glowers at a camera. He is a white man in a black turtleneck and dark suit coat.
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    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
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    Q&A

    Why Blaze Pizza’s new CEO began his tenure making pizzas

    John Owen told Restaurant Dive that working shoulder to shoulder with restaurant staff increased his understanding of operational issues.

    By • Jan. 8, 2026
  • A person wears a black coat and flower blouse. The person has long hair and is smiling.
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    Retrieved from CKE Restaurants/LinkedIn on January 07, 2026
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    CKE Restaurants hires Habit Burger exec as Carl’s Jr brand president

    Iwona Alter brings nearly two decades of restaurant experience and has expertise in marketing and operations.

    By • Jan. 8, 2026
  • An image of a white building with signage that says "Jollibee Home of the Famous ChickenJoy"
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    Why Jollibee is planning a US IPO for its international business

    The company will maintain its Philippine operations and stock listing, but will create a separate public company to oversee its global footprint.

    By • Jan. 6, 2026
  • An image of a person smiling at the camera.
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    Courtesy of Dutch Bros
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    Dutch Bros hires Taco Bell, Cava vet as chief shops officer

    Jennifer Somers will oversee the company’s field organization and shop operations as it works toward opening 1,000 more units by 2029.

    By • Jan. 6, 2026
  • A frosted soda and two floats from Chick-fil-A in old-school soda fountain glasses.
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    Courtesy of Chick-fil-A
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    Chick-fil-A adds floats, frosted sodas to permanent menu

    Mixing the brand’s soft serve with sodas gives Chick-fil-A an easy way to add new beverage platforms without increased complexity or equipment costs.

    By • Jan. 5, 2026
  • A person holds up a box that say Sprinkles
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    Sprinkles Cupcakes shutters all company-owned bakeries

    Company founder Candace Nelson, who sold the chain in 2012 to private equity, shared in an Instagram video that these locations closed on Dec. 31.

    By • Updated Jan. 1, 2026
  • Bolla,, firehouse
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    Permission granted by Firehouse Subs
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    Bolla Market opens first of several Firehouse Subs

    The sandwich shop debuted on Nov. 15 at a Bolla Market in Hicksville, New York. Another in Farmingdale is expected for the end of January.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 22, 2025
  • An image of a fork piercing a steak that sits on a white plate.
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    RapidEye via Getty Images
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    How restaurants are navigating tariff-related costs this holiday season

    Operators are getting creative when crafting menus, setting prices, scheduling staff, and finding new revenue amid surging expenses exacerbated by tariffs.

    By Danielle McLean • Dec. 22, 2025
  • An image of arms holding up drinks with a Mixue store in the background
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    Courtesy of Mixue
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    China’s popular Mixue boba shop launches in US

    The brand, which offers low-priced boba tea drinks, opened its first U.S. location in Los Angeles and plans to open more in New York shortly.

    By • Dec. 22, 2025
  • A Sweetgreen salad and an order of air fried potatoes.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    4 restaurant menu strategy fails in 2025

    From french fries that clogged up core operations to unprofitable doughnuts, national chains tried and abandoned a wide range of menu tactics to woo diners in 2025.

    By • Dec. 19, 2025
  • 7-Eleven
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
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    Column

    Fueling Up: How foodservice and QSRs can reshape c-store labor in 2026

    Hiring and retaining good workers has become an intractable challenge for the industry. Building first-class food programs could help retailers finally break through.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 16, 2025
  • A photo of the exterior of a store in Japan. A sign above the storesays 7-Eleven.
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    Permission granted by Frank Beard
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    Column

    The Road Ahead: What if c-stores don’t need to become QSRs?

    The success of Japan’s convenience stores demonstrates the opportunity in selling food designed for everyday living, not just indulgent moments.

    By Frank Beard • Dec. 15, 2025
  • A photograph of a gray storefrot with a yellow sign that says Qdoba
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    jetcityimage via Getty Images
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    Doherty adds Qdoba to portfolio, plans 27-unit development

    The agreement with Doherty is part of a spate of agreements by Qdoba that will result in 90 new restaurants across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

    By • Dec. 15, 2025
  • An image of a group of people holding balloons and launching confetti. They are in front of a white building with a sign that says Chipotle.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Chipotle opens 4,000th unit

    The chain is over halfway to its goal of operating 7,000 restaurants across the U.S. and Canada, and plans to add more efficient equipment across its system.

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
  • Bicycle gig workers congregate on the street with their packs.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    DoorDash, Uber Eats sue NYC over tip prompt rules

    The delivery aggregators allege that New York City’s requirement that they ask consumers to tip drivers before checkout abridges their freedom of speech. 

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
  • An image of a beige building with signage that says Dickey's Barbecue Pit.
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    J. Michael Jones via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Dickey’s discounting strategy is burning profits, franchisees say

    Marketing tactics like free sandwich cards, frequent loyalty perks and catering discounts made the brand the Bed Bath & Beyond of barbecue, operators say.

    By • Dec. 11, 2025
  • A photograph of a rectanguler sign with a Cracker Barrel logo and its Uncle Herschel mascot
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    marcnorman via Getty Images
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    Cracker Barrel’s traffic slides 7%

    The chain is working to return traffic to positive territory after its rebranding controversy by focusing on food quality, operational efficiencies and connecting better with guests.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025
  • The In-n-Out logo is displayed on the front of an In-n-Out restaurant on October 28, 2021 in Pleasant Hill, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    In-N-Out opens first Tennessee restaurants

    Three locations outside of Nashville will open this week, the first of 35 locations expected across the state.

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
  • Colin Cochran tells reporters why he thinks Starbucks Workers United will win in Cheektowaga
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    Aneurin E Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    By the numbers: 4 years of Starbucks Workers United

    Years after winning its first election, Starbucks Workers United remains without a contract despite election wins, shopfloor organizing and a national strike.

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
  • 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 updates franchising standards over value

    The chain will begin assessing pricing decisions by its operators in January to ensure that the system continues to provide the ideal customer experience. 

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
  • An image of various menu items with honey barbecue pork from McAlister's Deli.
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    Permission granted by McAlister's Deli/GoTo Foods
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    Inside McAlister’s biggest menu update in years

    The chain added several pork-based core menu items during late summer and is now testing salad and grain bowls, plus starters like dips.

    By • Dec. 8, 2025
  • A photo of Washington, DC's city hall.
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    Getty Images
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    DC labor groups want $25 minimum wage and to kill the tip credit

    Buoyed by the success of Zohran Mamdani and goaded by the revision of Initiative 82, labor organizations in Washington, D.C., are picking a bigger version of a familiar fight. 

    By • Dec. 8, 2025