Operations

  • 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
  • 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 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
  • A photo of the exterior of a building adjacent to gas pumps. A Sign over the door says Mooyah Burgers, Fries, Shakes
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    Permission granted by Mooyah
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    Texas-based burger chain opens first c-store-adjacent site

    Mooyah expects its Michigan location to be the first of many to run alongside gas stations.

    By Jessica Loder • Dec. 8, 2025
  • An image of a building with a sign that says "Sweetgreen."
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    A market of extremes: How 2026 will impact restaurant winners and losers

    Price compression has intensified competition between restaurant sectors, as executives look back on a bifurcated year.

    By • Dec. 5, 2025
  • The Panda Express storefront in Hell's Kitchen, New York City.
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    "Hells Kitchen, NYC" by Ajay Suresh is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Panda Express to pay $1M in California carbon dioxide settlement

    A lawsuit in Riverside County alleged the brand failed to adequately train staff in handling potentially hazardous materials related to soda fountains.

    By • Dec. 5, 2025
  • An image of a brick building with red Chick-fil-A signage
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Chick-fil-A shifts away from licensed non-traditional model

    The chain will move most of its roughly 400 licensed locations to an owner-operator model, allowing guests to access its app and loyalty program.

    By • Dec. 4, 2025
  • A spread of White Castle's Love Kit offering for Valentine's Day.
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle debuts burger kiosk at Boston Logan Airport

    The automated kiosk gives the chain, which has long embraced new technologies, a toehold in New England with which to build brand awareness.

    By • Updated Dec. 3, 2025
  • An image of while building with a brick facade and a logo that says "Noodles & Company."
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    JHVEPhoto via Getty Images
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    Activist investor takes stake in Noodles & Company

    Galloway Capital Partners acquired a 6% stake in the beleaguered chain, which is seeking strategic alternatives including selling part, or all, of its business.

    By • Dec. 3, 2025
  • People sit in a coffee shop.
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to pay $39M in New York City labor settlement

    New York City alleged the company violated its Fair Workweek rules upwards of 500,000 times between 2021 and 2024.

    By • Updated Dec. 3, 2025
  • Person looking at charts and graphs on a tablet
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    iStock | Igor Suka

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    Sponsored by Facteus

    Market research meets reality: How verified spend data is transforming restaurant decision-making

    Your dashboards look steady and surveys show loyalty—yet a competitor just took your share. See what’s really happening, and from whom.

    By Andrew Donsbach • Dec. 1, 2025
  • Two people talking at a restaurant high top
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    Permission granted by Terminix
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    Sponsored by Terminix®

    Protecting your brand and operations from the hidden threat of pests

    Learn why proactive pest exclusion is essential for restaurant executives.

    By Marc Potzler, Board Certified Entomologist, Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), and Technical Services Manager for Terminix® • Dec. 1, 2025
  • Exterior of a supermarket with a sign that says "Coborn's Market & Table."
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    Courtesy of Roers Companies
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    New Coborn’s store to focus on in-store dining

    The grocer is working with a pair of restaurateurs to develop a restaurant and a food court at a location set to open next year in suburban Minneapolis.

    By Sam Silverstein • Nov. 26, 2025
  • A hand drops sauce from a spoon onto plates of food.
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    Getty Images
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    Toast: Solo dining reservations jumped 22% in Q3

    Data shows a shift toward the breakfast daypart and weekdays, but weekend dinner occasions still comprise the bulk of full-service reservations.

    By • Nov. 26, 2025
  • A picture of the interior of a coffeehouse.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks anticipates Gen Z Thanksgiving traffic surge

    A whopping 70% of the cohort plans to visit a coffeehouse over the holiday, a trend the chain hopes to capitalize on through its renewed on-premise focus.

    By • Nov. 25, 2025
  • An arm reaches out of a gray car to collect a bag of food while an employee with blue gloves hands off the bag.
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    Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Speed isn’t enough anymore. Why QSR brands need to dial up the emotion.

    Chains need to focus on experiences, rituals and spaces that foster connection, writes Lotte van Uum, creative director of spatial design at FutureBrand.

    By Lotte van Uum • Nov. 24, 2025
  • A photo of crinkle fries in a box that says Sonic and two burgers next to each other in front of a blue backdrop.
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    Permission granted by Sonic Drive-In
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    NRA: Value, comfort will define 2026 menu trends

    Operators looking to take advantage of buzzy food items, like protein add-ons or smash burgers, will have to balance operational complexity with demand.

    By • Nov. 21, 2025
  • Jack in the Box
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box posts worst sales quarter in years, again

    Falling traffic and unfavorable menu mix hurt the burger chain, but executives hope that retraining its entire system will improve consistency and sales.

    By • Nov. 20, 2025
  • Papa John's pizza box is seen on July 11, 2018 in Miami, Florida
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Papa Johns CFO gains dual role, salary bump

    Appointing its finance chief Ravi Thanawala to the dual role of CFO and president could signal additional belt-tightening by the pizza chain, Cowen Partners’ Shawn Cole said.

    By Grace Noto • Nov. 19, 2025
  • An evening photo of Topfgolf with backlit lights and a white sign that says Topgolf.
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    Courtesy of Topgolf
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    Callaway sells majority stake in Topgolf for $770M

    Leonard Green & Partners purchased a 60% stake in the chain, which is valued at $1.1 billion, and will oversee its next phase of growth.

    By • Nov. 19, 2025
  • Four colorful drinks on a table.
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera plans to reach $7B in sales by 2028

    The chain’s multi-part strategic plan includes investments in beverage and bakery items and front-of-house labor. 

    By • Nov. 18, 2025
  • An image of a hand holding a smartphone and on the right a burger.
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    Courtesy of Culver's
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    Culver’s unveils rewards program

    The Delicious Rewards program offers 10 points for every dollar spent, birthday rewards and other future benefits, like offering menu development input.

    By • Nov. 17, 2025
  • An image of a red and white building with Freddy's signage.
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    Permission granted by Freddy's
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    Freddy’s operator declares bankruptcy

    M&M Custard filed for Chapter 11 after expanding into the Chicago market, where stores struggled to gain traction.

    By • Updated Nov. 17, 2025