Operations

  • A photograph of five fruit drinks within plastic cups.
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    Courtesy of Taco Cabana
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    Taco Cabana joins the refreshers trend with new drink lineup

    Cabana Refreshers will launch on July 23 starting as a limited-time offer, but could become a permanent beverage if proven popular.

    By • July 11, 2025
  • A photo of ice cream from Stewart's Shops in two cups on a table with some fall leaves.
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    Permission granted by Stewart's Shops
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    What restaurants can learn from c-store’s sweet treat offerings

    Owning their own baked goods or ice cream program gives retailers a world of innovation to play with, but comes with significant challenges, experts say.

    By Christine Blank • July 11, 2025
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Back-of-house Technology

    From AI-enhanced POS systems and analytics to robot-powered kitchen equipment, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • An iamge of a building with black facade and white logo that says "Wagamama."
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    Catherine Ivill via Getty Images
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    Wagamama hires Bloomin’ vet to oversee US development

    Suk Singh will serve as chief development officer for the U.K.-based chain’s U.S. division, with plans to grow Wagamama beyond its seven-unit toehold.

    By • July 9, 2025
  • Jack in the Box restaurant location
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Jack in the Box’s poison pill was the right move

    The chain wants to protect itself from a hostile takeover, and the limited-duration act is unlikely to impact shareholders, lawyer Keith Gottfried said.

    By • July 9, 2025
  • Two adults with two kids eats pizza at a restaurant.
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    monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
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    Little bites, big ideas: Rethinking kids’ menus for today’s tiny diners

    Winning menus go beyond chicken fingers and hot dogs, chefs say, to offer customizable, healthy and globally inspired fare. 

    By Amanda Schuster • July 9, 2025
  • A photograph of a Wienerschnitzel building
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    Courtesy of Wienerschnitzel
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    Wienerschnitzel targets East Coast with Virginia franchising deal

    Combined with a Walmart expansion agreement, the entry into these territories positions the 340-store hot dog chain for significant growth.

    By • July 9, 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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    NewSaetiew via Getty Images
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    Packaging suppliers respond to QSR diners hungry for a better experience

    Manufacturers are working with their restaurant customers to improve takeout, as well as sustainability opportunities for food service ware.

    By Shefali Kapadia • July 9, 2025
  • A building with white and brown siding with two black cars at a drive-thru. Signage says Bojangles
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Opinion

    Two lanes for AI-powered order taking in drive-thrus: Humanization vs. transparency

    While mimicking a human voice can lead to more emotionally engaging guest interactions, the stakes are higher for brands, with robotic-sounding voices offering greater transparency, says Hi Auto’s Eyal Shapira.

    By Eyal Shapira • July 8, 2025
  • The outside of a Starbucks store
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks incentivizes cost-cutting goal with exec bonuses

    The coffee giant will give top executives up to $6 million in stock grants if the brand meets cost-reduction goals by the end of fiscal 2027.

    By • Updated July 8, 2025
  • An image ofa brick colored building with a logl of a red-headed girl with pigtails.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s CEO departs for Hershey

    Kirk Tanner, who has led the company for about a year and a half, will resign from the chain to become president and CEO at the candy giant.

    By • Updated July 8, 2025
  • An image of various doughnuts from Krispy Kreme behind a bakery counter.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Krispy Kreme appoints CFO, chief brand officer

    The new executives replace outgoing leaders who announced their departures shortly after Krispy Kreme ended its McDonald’s partnership.

    By • July 7, 2025
  • A photograph of a burger, drink and fries from Fatburger.
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fatburger signs 40-store Florida expansion deal

    This agreement will make the state a major market for the burger QSR, which has been growing through international deals and co-branding.

    By • July 2, 2025
  • A photograph of a gray sign with a red box inside with white letters that says "Jack" under the box it says "in the box."
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box prescribes poison pill to sicken activist investor

    The action is meant to keep Biglari Capital, which owns a 9.9% stake in the chain, from acquiring additional shares and to give Jack more time to turn around its business.

    By • July 2, 2025
  • A photograph of a person wearing a white shirt and black pants and black apron. The person is wiping down a kitchen surface.
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    Ugur Karakoc via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Why restaurants need a wake up call on food safety

    Food operators need to rise to the challenge of improving food safety and become leaders in public health, says Hal King, managing partner at Active Food Safety. 

    By Hal King • July 2, 2025
  • An image of an tabletop air hockey game in the center of a room with various arcade games. Above the air hockey game a sign says "Chuck's Arcade"
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    Courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese
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    Chuck E. Cheese opens spinoff arcade concept

    Chuck’s Arcade, open in 10 mall settings, offers new and old games meant to appeal to adults and features nostalgic decor from the brand.

    By • July 1, 2025
  • Love's
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    Permission granted by Love's
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    Love’s deploys ordering kiosks at 112 Arby’s restaurants

    This continues the retailer’s ongoing investment into remodeling and updating its stores to have a more modern look and feel.

    By Brett Dworski • July 1, 2025
  • An image of two chicken sliders with a handful of crinkle fries around them.
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle updates core menu with Crispy Chicken Sliders

    The QSR added a new version of its Crispy Chicken Sliders to its menu — the first permanent addition since 2022 — that is cheaper than its predecessor.

    By • June 30, 2025
  • An image of four cocktails in the foreground of different colors and a blurred bar in the background.
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    KatieSik via Getty Images
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    How restaurants can build cocktail menus that shine this summer

    Flavorful, fun and eye-catching alcoholic drinks can help boost sales, but they need to be served quickly and reflect a brand ethos, experts say.

    By Danielle McLean • June 30, 2025
  • An image of a dark pink drink in a cup with a giant W on it.
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    Permission granted by Whataburger
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    Whataburger adds premium drinks to beverage lineup

    Whatafreshers and lemonade are the latest additions to the chain’s growing drink menu, which includes hot and iced coffee and shakes.

    By • June 27, 2025
  • An image of a white coffee cup on a table. The coffee cup hasa green logo for Starbucks.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks standardizes pricing for flavor customizations

    The changes, which include a flat 80-cent fee for any added sauces or syrups, are part of the chain’s work to improve customer experience. 

    By • June 26, 2025
  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on Jan. 31, 2025 in Daly City, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Bloomin’ Brands drafts industry vet for CIO role

    Rafael Sanchez will lead tech operations for Outback Steakhouse’s parent company, effective June 30.

    By Lindsey Wilkinson • June 25, 2025
  • A headshot of a person in front of a blue background. The person is wearing a navy suit.
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera Bread hires transformation expert in newly created role

    Nikka Copeland will oversee the execution of the chain’s three-year growth plan as senior vice president of the Office of Transformation & Strategy.

    By • June 25, 2025
  • Jack in the Box
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box brings back COO position

    Shannon McKinney returns to the chain to oversee operations less than a year after it eliminated the position as part of a corporate restructuring.

    By • June 25, 2025
  • An image of a black wall inside an office with different dates on a timeline highlighting Bojangles history. In front of the wall there are three chairs.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles debuts new support center in North Carolina

    The headquarters in Charlotte brings all of its corporate employees under one roof and will include a full-scale test kitchen.

    By • Updated June 25, 2025
  • An image of three Krispy Kreme doughnuts and six in a box.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's/Krispy Kreme
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    Krispy Kreme, McDonald’s end partnership

    Effective July 2, the two chains will stop selling doughnuts in McDonald’s restaurants, with Krispy Kreme citing profitability issues.

    By • June 24, 2025