Operations

  • 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 Um, 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
  • 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
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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
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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
  • A person wearing a green apron hands off a reusable red cup to another person inside a coffee shop
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ holiday launch marks biggest sales day ever in North America

    Traffic spiked nearly 38% on Nov. 6, the day of the chain’s holiday rollout, which included the highly popular release of the Bearista cup, according to Placer.ai data. 

    By • Nov. 14, 2025
  • An image of a Sweetgreen restaurant with a drive-thru
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen opens first drive-thru location with automated makeline

    The Costa Mesa, California, store features an automated Infinite Kitchen makeline and a digital pickup Sweetlane, combining two of its major technology pushes.

    By • Nov. 13, 2025
  • A beige building with a green sign and white lettering that says "Panera Bread."
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Panera’s CEO prioritizes hospitality over tech

    Paul Carbone said the chain is improving order accuracy and store layouts, rather than deploying “technology that’s looking for a problem to solve.”

    By • Nov. 13, 2025
  • Plates of breakfast food.
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    Inside Dine’s push for value, dual-branded development

    Applebee’s and IHOP are making sales and traffic gains after the company emphasized both brands’ low-priced menu items this year.

    By • Nov. 13, 2025
  • Josh Allen wears a pizza sweater at a holiday party behind a table filled with pizza and Pepsi while holding a slice of pizza.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut dishes out holiday value in multichannel campaign

    The pizza chain supports its value-oriented holiday messaging with comedic ads, in-person events and digital games. 

    By Sara Karlovitch • Nov. 13, 2025
  • A table set with strike materials for Starbucks Workers United's Nov. 17 national strike.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Starbucks Workers United launches 65-store strike

    The union said its members are prepared for the longest and most serious strike in the brand’s history, aimed at pushing Starbucks to agree to more favorable contract terms.

    By • Updated Nov. 13, 2025
  • An image of various menu items from Dave & Buster's
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    Courtesy of Dave & Buster's
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    Dave & Buster’s rolls out revamped menu

    The menu, which includes 100 food and beverage items, yielded strong check growth during its pilot phase.

    By • Nov. 12, 2025
  • Culver's restaurant exterior
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    Courtesy of Culver's
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    How Culver’s home-grown franchisees power its growth

    By turning long-tenured GMs into owner-operators, the chain ensures a steady supply of franchisees who are committed to the brand and have significant operational experience.

    By • Nov. 12, 2025
  • The Wendy's logo displayed near a Wendy's restaurant on June 18, 2024 in Austin, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell / Staff via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s doubles down on marketing effectiveness as part of turnaround

    The QSR’s partnership with consultant Creed UnCo aims to clarify what drives purchasing decisions and refine messaging around value. 

    By Peter Adams • Nov. 12, 2025
  • An image of a person smiling and wearing a gray suit.
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    Courtesy of P.F. Chang's
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    P.F. Chang’s hires CEO

    Jim Mazany brings decades of restaurant executive experience to the Asian chain, which is poised to ramp up growth and refine its fast casual concept. 

    By • Updated Nov. 11, 2025
  • An evening image of a Burger King in China
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    Robert Way via Getty Images
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    RBI sells majority stake in Burger King China business

    A joint venture with Chinese asset manager CPE will focus on growing the chain from 1,250 units to 4,000 by the end of 2035.

    By • Nov. 10, 2025
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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 • Nov. 10, 2025
  • An image of a gray building with a black sign that says "&pizza"
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    Permission granted by &pizza
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    Why emerging chain &pizza just bought a Tex-Mex brand

    The creation of Latitude Food Group will allow for &pizza and Tijuana Flats to share resources while they look to grow outside their regional bases.

    By • Nov. 7, 2025
  • People walking in front of a Sweetgreen on Aug.8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Sweetgreen battered by 9.5% same-store sales drop

    The salad chain suffered one of the worst third quarters among publicly traded fast casuals, as young consumers in core markets pulled back and value plays ate into margins.

    By • Nov. 7, 2025
  • An image of sweetgreen's automated kitchen in Naperville, Illinois
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen sells Spyce to Wonder for $186M

    Sweetgreen will use the proceeds from offloading Spyce, which developed the salad brand’s Infinite Kitchen technology, to reinvest in profitability after three quarters of sales declines.

    By • Nov. 6, 2025
  • An image of a brown building with BJ's logo.
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    Permission granted by BJ's Restaurant
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    BJ’s Restaurants hires Red Robin exec as CFO

    Todd Wilson will join the company in December and will help improve the brand’s financial foundation and help it achieve its long-term strategic goals.

    By • Nov. 6, 2025
  • A photogrpah of a multi-colored building with a sign in red that says "Red Robin."
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    CRobertson via Getty Images
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    Red Robin names COO, CFO departs

    Todd Wilson will leave the company on Dec. 12 after three years at the casual dining chain, which also promoted Jesse Griffith to chief operating officer.

    By • Nov. 6, 2025