Operations
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Kitchen United secures $40M, plans NYC expansion
The new funding will help the virtual kitchen company reach its aggressive goal of opening 400 kitchen centers with 5,000 kitchens within the next few years.
By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 20, 2019 -
ColumnComic Dive: Papa Shaq's Pizza
Following a major controversy, Papa John's has called on new board member Shaquille O'Neal to rescue its brand. Will the move be a slam dunk?
By John Hazard • Sept. 20, 2019 -
Will Dunkin's mobile ordering expansion challenge Starbucks?
The coffee chain made its On-The-Go mobile ordering feature accessible to all customers, not just DD Perks members, as part of its mobile app update.
By Lauren Manning • Sept. 20, 2019 -
ColumnShift Change: Yum Brands bulks up tech leadership team
This week's Shift Change also highlights executives from Noodles and Company, Scooter's Coffee, Juice It Up, Del Taco and Carrols Restaurant Group.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 20, 2019 -
&pizza deploys mobile kitchens from Zume
The partnership will allow the fast casual chain to deliver pizza and test new markets without paying for real estate.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 19, 2019 -
Panera adds menu category: grain bowls
The addition is the fast casual cafe's largest product launch of 2019 and caps off a year that included new breakfast options and a dinner pilot.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 18, 2019 -
What's cooking: An inside look at Cava's new innovation kitchen
The restaurant's redesigned downtown Washington, D.C. location features a digital menu board, new ingredients and dedicated pickup shelves.
By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Sept. 17, 2019 -
Noodles & Company introduces financial wellness benefits to attract and retain talent
When organizations provide their workers financial assistance, they not only help their staff, but they also help their bottom lines, multiple reports have shown.
By Riia O'Donnell • Sept. 16, 2019 -
Restaurants are only getting smaller, and that's by design
With fewer customers eating at restaurants, operators are eyeing more compact locations with dedicated areas for takeout orders.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 16, 2019 -
Popeyes asks customers to BYO bun after chicken sandwich sellout
The humorous campaign follows a shortage of the chain's new chicken sandwich after just two weeks.
By Barry Levine • Sept. 12, 2019 -
Wendy's cracks into the breakfast daypart, again
The fast food chain has been in and out of the morning daypart since the 1980s, but with McDonald's struggling to grow breakfast, now could be the time for the smaller chain to make its mark.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 10, 2019 -
Starbucks pickup-only store to open in NYC this fall
Like the Starbucks Now concept that opened in China, the store allow customers to order in advance using their phones and gather their items without the wait.
By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 09, 2019 -
McDonald's expands delivery with Grubhub partnership
The fast food chain continues to diversify after ending its exclusivity with Uber Eats, with this relationship also offering tech to better time order fulfillment.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 06, 2019 -
Buffalo Wild Wings adds sports gambling to its menu
A new partnership with MGM Resorts International will also create new opportunities to bring the the sports bar chain into hotels.
By Lauren Manning • Sept. 06, 2019 -
Red Robin hires Noodles & Company exec as CEO, rejects investor offer
Paul J.B. Murphy III, executive chairman at Noodles & Company, will join the troubled casual chain in October.
By Julie Littman • Sept. 05, 2019 -
Burger King cooks up 'Democratic Burger' election in France
To drive app downloads, the fast food chain will let customers vote for a menu item that will be discounted the following week.
By Dianna Christe • Sept. 04, 2019 -
OpinionStrengthening a restaurant's identity maximizes potential and profits
Restaurants need to stick to an actionable plan with a strict timeline when rolling out brand changes, says Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar President and COO Scott Taylor.
By Scott Taylor • Sept. 03, 2019 -
Deep DiveHow 5 Bay Area restaurateurs are surviving rising operating costs
Real estate pressures and a chef shortage are forcing restaurants to find creative solutions — like covering workers' Uber rides and having chefs serve diners — to protect their bottom lines and retain talent.
By Rosie Bradbury • Sept. 03, 2019 -
Column
Shift Change: Papa John's hires new CEO; Blaze Pizza CEO retires
This week's Shift Change also highlights new leadership at Arby's, Tender Greens and Pie Five.
By Julie Littman • Aug. 30, 2019 -
77% of diners check restaurant websites before visiting, survey finds
Of those users, almost 70% said that poor website design or functionality discouraged them from going to the restaurant, according to the MGH report.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 30, 2019 -
Taco Bell revamps menu, cuts 9 items
The fast food chain, which is eliminating items like two Doritos Locos Tacos flavors and the Power Menu Burrito, will roll out a shorter menu on Sept. 12 with fewer combo options.
By Julie Littman • Aug. 29, 2019 -
Buffalo Wild Wings kicks off football season with relationship-saving 'prenups'
The restaurant chain looks to protect fans' football watching with a campaign that taps more traditional views of masculinity.
By Chris Kelly and Dianna Christe • Aug. 28, 2019 -
Panera launches hybrid delivery model with DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub
A "bring your own courier model" will let diners order through the third-party platforms, but Panera's in-house fleet will deliver their meals.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Aug. 27, 2019 -
Papa John's hires Arby's president as CEO
Rob Lynch, who helped turn around Arby's through extensive marketing campaigns, steps in as the pizza chain prepares its own rebranding initiatives.
By Julie Littman • Aug. 27, 2019 -
John Schnatter unloads over $30M in Papa John's shares
The pizza brand's founder and former CEO sold over 725,000 since last week, months after selling over 3.4 million shares to UBS for $157.5 million.
By Alicia Kelso • UPDATED: Aug. 27, 2019 at 9:15 a.m.
