Operations

  • A photograph of a selection of food items, including pepperoni pizza, chicken wings and burgers next to a green checkered back with wording that says Wonder The Cravings Expert.
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    Courtesy of Wonder
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    Wonder lays off 533 as part of production consolidation

    The food hall company is closing two New Jersey facilities and moving to a high-capacity location in the Garden State that will better support long-term growth.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • A close-up photograph of an orange sign that says Tropical Smoothie Cafe that is next to a palm tree logo shaped as a T.
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    Courtesy of Tropical Smoothie Cafe
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    Tropical Smoothie Cafe unveils rebrand, new logo

    The chain’s updated look will also include a redesigned web and app that will offer more seamless browsing, customizations and access to loyalty rewards.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • A table with a salad, cheeseburger quesadilla and a plate of rice
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    Permission granted by Applebee's
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    How a popular burger drove Applebee’s to double down on cheese

    The O-M-Cheese Burger hit on consumer preferences for cheese, affordability and a fun experience, leading to an expanded lineup. 

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • A close up photograph of a red out of business sign hanging on a store window.
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    Getty Images
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    Why multi-unit restaurant franchisee bankruptcies are surging in 2026

    High labor and food costs and slumping sales have caused franchisee bankruptcies to reach pre-pandemic levels, but various strategies could help mitigate the problem.

    By Danielle McLean • Sept. 16, 2026
  • People walk past a Chipotle storefront.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle to place apprentice managers in all company-owned locations

    These high-performing employees are working toward a general manager role and will be a key part of staffing newly opened restaurants. 

    By • Sept. 16, 2026
  • A photograph of a makeline with various cabinets and ingredients ready to deploy into bowls.
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    Permission granted by Wonder
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    Wonder deploys first automated makeline

    The food hall company will use the tech it acquired from Sweetgreen for $186 million to offer lower prices, extended hours and expand into new markets.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
  • A zoomed in image of a smartphone with a on orange app square that says "Grubhub" in white.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    DoorDash buys Grubhub campus unit for $300M

    DoorDash will continue to expand Grubhub’s former campus dining operations, and Wonder will use money from the deal and an investment to sustain growth.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
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    Courtesy of GoTo Foods
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    GoTo Foods appoints McDonald’s vet as Jamba president

    Lucy Brady joins the beverage brand as its parent company reshuffles other positions in its C-suite.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
  • A fire crew member uses a firehose on a structure that burned down by fire
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    DBrownPhotos/Shutterstock.com

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    Sponsored by Society Insurance

    Wildfire preparedness: How restaurants can better protect themselves

    For restaurant owners, wildfire preparedness belongs in your risk management plan.

    Sept. 14, 2026
  • Three 7 Brew drinks on a table
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    Courtesy of 7 Brew
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    Q&A

    How 7 Brew’s first CMO is marketing the fastest-growing brand in the US

    Ex-KFC CMO Nick Chavez is building on existing brand love for the beverage chain with culture-hacking campaigns and a loyalty app that is social by design.

    By Chris Kelly • Sept. 11, 2026
  • A photograph of a dining table with two blue Walmart bags next to a pile of Papa Johns pizza boxes. A mother and child are on the right taking soup cans out of one of the blue bags.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns to offer delivery from Walmart

    Using Walmart Express Delivery, customers can order fresh pizza on its own or as part of their grocery haul this fall.

    By • Sept. 11, 2026
  • A photograph of a corner restaurant with beige paint and a green sign that says O'Charley's
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    jetcityimage via Getty Images
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    O’Charley’s closes all corporate restaurants after strategic review

    The 55-year-old casual dining chain, which once had 250 units, has reportedly closed its remaining 49 company-owned locations.

    By • Sept. 10, 2026
  • An image of the Domino's mobile app with with details of its $5 coupon campaign.
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    Courtesy of Domino's Pizza
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    How Domino’s app redesign went wrong and what CX leaders can learn

    Full-scale redesigns are increasingly out of step with how leading brands manage digital experiences, experts say.

    By Michael Brady • Sept. 9, 2026
  • A photograph of a stripped out restaurant with wall studs and HVAC visible.
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    Getty Images
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    Why second-generation restaurant space doesn’t always make sense

    “The goal isn't to open the cheapest restaurant. The goal is to make the smartest investment,” East Coast Wings + Grill CEO Sam Ballas said.

    By Michael Brady • Sept. 9, 2026
  • An evening photograph of a brick building with green and yellow signage that says "Potbelly."
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    Permission granted by Potbelly
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    Potbelly expands into Georgia

    The chain opened its first company-owned location in the Peach State as it aims to grow beyond 500 units this year.

    By • Sept. 9, 2026
  • A white resturant with a patio with black trim. There is a logo that says Brass Tap
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    Permission granted by The Brass Tap
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    How The Brass Tap uses local flair to create unique experiences

    Operators are free to employ regional touches, like a Wild West theme in a Texas location, to create a dining experience rivalling independent restaurants.

    By • Sept. 8, 2026
  • A photograph of a glass window to a Domino's restaurant with a red sign that says now hiring.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why 2026 is the year of employee retention

    Nearly half of operators surveyed by Toast said they plan to keep the same staffing levels, an increase of 10 points year over year.

    By • Sept. 4, 2026
  • Walmart now delivers Dunkin'
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Dunkin’ partners with Walmart for delivery

    The service follows a similar announcement with Subway as the retailer aims to become a contender in the restaurant delivery space.

    By Kaarin Moore • Sept. 3, 2026
  • A person with a beard speaks at a podium.
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    Ryan Murphy via Getty Images
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    Mamdani makes NYC outdoor dining year-round

    New York City's mayor signed a bill this week lifting seasonal restrictions on roadway cafes and permitting winterization of outdoor dining structures.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026
  • Heads of iceberg lettuce in a grocery store.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Can restaurants avoid the next Cyclospora outbreak?

    The parasite is hard to trace and harder to kill. With recent cuts to food safety regulators, restaurants will be hard pressed to keep their supply chains clean.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026
  • A daytime photograph of a small gray and orange building with "Salad and Go" signage.
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    The image by Salad and Go is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    7 Brew outbids Dutch Bros in $143M offer for Salad and Go units

    The drive-thru coffee chain proposed to take over half of the bankrupt fast casual’s closed locations. 

    By • Updated Sept. 2, 2026
  • A group of people stand behind a blue ribbon and in front of a store that has two signs saying Saladworks and Frutta Bowls.
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    Courtesy of Woworks
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    Woworks targets 40 openings this year

    Saladworks’ parent has already debuted 23 units, nearly half of which are co-branded, and is on pace to double its new restaurant openings this year.

    By • Sept. 2, 2026
  • A photograph of a beige building with blue signage that says Little Blue Menu
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    Retrieved from Chick-fil-A on August 28, 2026
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    Chick-fil-A to close remaining Little Blue Menu restaurant

    The College Park, Maryland, restaurant, which was a delivery-centric test concept, will offer only Chick-fil-A menu options beginning next year.

    By • Aug. 31, 2026
  • A close up photograph of several bowls with food from Roti Modern Mediterranean
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    Courtesy of Roti Modern Mediterranean
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    Opinion

    The future of restaurant growth is not a brand. It is a portfolio.

    Creating a platform of chains provides more flexibility as competition for consumer dollars rises, writes Edible Brands’ CEO Somia Farid Silber.

    By Somia Farid Silber • Aug. 28, 2026
  • Man Pays Restaurant Bill with Credit Card
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    Getty Images
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    Gen Z is boosting restaurant traffic

    Bars and independents are outperforming chains, and consumers are shifting from grocers to restaurants, according to Bank of America data.

    By • Aug. 28, 2026