Operations

  • A diamond sign with red and blue and a white words that say "Domino's"
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Domino’s new CEO plans on ‘getting closer to the customer’

    The company will sharpen promotions through its loyalty app and improve consistency in an effort to drive greater frequency, CEO Joe Jordan said.

    By Bryan Wassel • Oct. 14, 2026
  • Krispy Kreme's Times Square location in NYC
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    Courtesy of Krispy Kreme
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    Krispy Kreme signs deal to open 33 units in New York metro

    Franchisee Original Entrepreneurs has worked with the brand since 2017, and has experience running donut shops in a highly competitive environment.

    By • Oct. 14, 2026
  • A car drives to a drive-thru window at a Kentucky Fried Chicken storefront.
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    Courtesy of Yum! Brands
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    Why Yum Brands is deepening supplier relationships

    The restaurant company has built a network of suppliers that are “ready to flex with us” if disruption strikes, Chief Supply Chain Officer Eric Craft said.

    By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 14, 2026
  • A daytime image of a Domino's restaurant and sign
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Domino’s focus shifts toward driving ticket growth

    CEO Joe Jordan said the chain will improve franchisee profitability by driving order counts and ticket totals through promotions and menu innovation.

    By • Oct. 13, 2026
  • An image of a a white building with Chipotle signage at night.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    How 4 restaurant brands hit big development milestones this fall

    Cava and Dave’s Hot Chicken surpassed 500 units, while Chipotle reached 1,500 Chipotlanes.

    By , • Oct. 13, 2026
  • A person in a suit stands on stage surrounded by a large crowd in the stands.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Analysis

    Was a Starbucks buyout of Chipotle even possible?

    The coffee giant denied it was buying the burrito chain, but analysts offered an interesting view of what a mega-merger would have meant to the restaurant industry.

    By • Oct. 12, 2026
  • A rendering if a Papa Murphy's and Pinkberry restaurant
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    Courtesy of Papa Murphy's
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    Papa Murphy’s to open co-branded Pinkberry restaurants

    The take-and-bake pizza chain will open three such restaurants, which are expected to provide franchisees with additional revenue streams and dayparts.

    By • Oct. 9, 2026
  • A hand holds up a smartphone with Fatburger Rewards on screen
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    Permission granted by Fatburger
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    Fatburger launches first rewards program

    Members earn points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases and receive $5 discounts for every 75 points accrued, a strategy that could help boost sales and frequency.

    By • Oct. 9, 2026
  • Customers line up in a drive-thru at a Starbucks store
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    When the drive-thru feels fast and friendly, satisfaction grows

    Dutch Bros Coffee, Chick-fil-A and Starbucks ranked as not just the friendliest brands, but the ones with the highest overall satisfaction, a QSR and InTouch CX study found. 

    By Bryan Wassel • Oct. 9, 2026
  • A Hardee's location
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    gsheldon via Getty Images
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    CKE appoints IHOP alum as Hardee’s president

    Alisa Gmelich brings over 30 years of brand experience to her new role, where she will oversee growth, guest experience improvements and menu optimization.

    By • Oct. 8, 2026
  • An image of a blue gray buidling with white columns. It has signage that says Sweet Tomatoes in red.
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    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
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    Souplantation parent will open first CA restaurant since 2020

    The chain, which closed all of its locations during Chapter 7 liquidation six years ago, will open a Sweet Tomatoes in Fountain Valley by 2027.

    By • Oct. 8, 2026
  • A photograph of an empty McDonald's restaurant within a warehouse
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s navigates pushback over Next initiatives

    Franchisees were reportedly surprised by remodel costs, per Bloomberg, and McDonald’s has been sued for using a pricing tool that allegedly determined what customers would be willing to pay.

    By • Oct. 8, 2026
  • A photograph of the inside of a car where two people are sitting. In the center there is small cups of chicken and fries.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC expands into snacking with Go Buckets

    The low-cost menu item includes six varieties and is aimed at helping the chain expand its afternoon daypart.

    By • Oct. 7, 2026
  • A person taps on a touch screen monitor that has a chatbot on it. The person is in a restaurant and wearing an apron.
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    Getty Images
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    Why restaurants face pushback, risk when integrating AI tools

    Employee and consumer concerns over inaccuracy and inefficiency have proven true at some chains, so operators must slow-roll AI tools to ensure they solve more problems than they create, experts said. 

    By Danielle McLean • Oct. 7, 2026
  • Several screenshots of a Kura Sushi's rewards program
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    Courtesy of Kura Sushi
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    Kura Sushi adds tiers to loyalty program

    The sushi chain joins a growing list of brands, including Charleys, Panera and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, to adopt the model alongside flexible rewards. 

    By • Oct. 7, 2026
  • A potograph of a group of people walking through a convention hallway. Signs say National Restuanat Association Show
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    Courtesy of National Restaurant Association Show
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    Restaurant industry events to attend in 2027

    Next year will be 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 • Oct. 6, 2026
  • A photograph of a digital menu board at McDonald's with various meal options.
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s disputes reports that it uses AI to set prices

    The chain provides franchisees with tools, resources and recommendations for pricing, but operators ultimately make menu price decisions. 

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
  • A photograph of a damaged restaurant with Moe's Southwest Grill signage.
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    Allison Joyce via Getty Images
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    Why restaurants’ worst disaster losses come after the damage is done

    Operators need a plan for what happens after an extreme weather event or man-made accident, but most don’t have one, experts say.

    By Michael Brady • Oct. 5, 2026
  • An image of Papa Johns sign on a store
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns’ CMO on how the brand is reasserting itself as delivery evolves

    Newly appointed Global CMO Chris Lyn-Sue digs into the chain’s Walmart Express Delivery partnership and his plans for the rest of the year.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 5, 2026
  • Panelists on a screen.
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    Kelly Stroh/Restaurant Dive
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    How restaurants can mitigate rising fuel costs

    Evaluating delivery frequency and leveraging route optimization and scenario planning can help brands combat higher transportation expenses, experts say.

    By Alejandra Carranza • Oct. 5, 2026
  • A photograph of a group of people standing behind a ribbon. A person in the middle holds big scissors that are about to cut the ribbon.
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    Courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Chicken Salad Chick targets Northeast for growth

    The fast casual chain has signed deals in New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia where consumer demand remains strong.

    By • Oct. 2, 2026
  • An image of a gray building with Charleys signage
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    Retrieved from Charleys on October 02, 2026
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    Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings updates menu, rewards program

    The 850-unit chain added seven items and launched a campaign to persuade consumers to choose hot sandwiches over cold grab-and-go.

    By • Oct. 2, 2026
  • An image of a red scooter with a DoorDash bag on it.
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash overhauls operating system for restaurants to deepen consumer relationships

    The delivery giant is tying together customer data from a variety of ordering channels in a move it says can increase sales and frequency.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
  • A photograph of a chicken sandwich, criss-cut fries and a soda.
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    Permission granted by Smashburger
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    Smashburger grills up 2 new chicken sandwiches

    The fast casual burger chain has seen sales and revenue growth in recent quarters after focusing on improved operations and hospitality.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
  • A hand holds a wrap and dips it into a cup of sauce.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    How Sweetgreen’s Gen Z focus is paying off

    The chain pushed its wraps on social media to capture young consumers’ attention. Now, one out of five transactions include a wrap and repeat visits remain strong.

    By • Sept. 30, 2026