Operations
-
OpinionStrategies for restaurants to address financial distress in the UK and US
Restaurants should identify cash shortfalls in their business models and share information with stakeholders to implement a comprehensive consensual restructuring, say attorneys at Goodwin's Financial Restructuring Group.
By Simon Thomas, Oonagh Steel, Michael Goldstein, Howard Steel • Nov. 30, 2020 -
Courtesy of Burger King
How the pandemic is shaping restaurant design
There's no one blueprint for a restaurant that is both safe amid COVID-19 and engaging. Restaurant Dive spoke with major chains and design experts about assets that could be popular solutions.
-
Explore the Trendline➔
Permission granted by Homeroom
TrendlineIndependent restaurants
In an industry built on in-person interactions and long-term relationships with customers, the COVID-19 crisis was a serious blow to independent operators, but many have pivoted and found new ways to reach diners.
By Restaurant Dive staff -
Courtesy of Saladworks
Fast casual Saladworks opens in a Cincinnati Kroger
The salad chain has opened 22 stores over the first half of 2020 despite the pandemic, leaning into more unconventional locations, including supermarkets and military bases.
By Rosie Bradbury • Nov. 25, 2020 -
Courtesy of Bloomin' Brands
How 13 casual chains are turning sales around
Even though full-service chains' still face an uphill battle, many are seeing positive results from accelerated off-premise initiatives and new offerings that could last even after the pandemic.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 24, 2020 -
Permission granted by Starbucks
Starbucks boosts employee pay as US wages rise
The coffee giant will hike wages at least 10% for baristas, shift supervisors and cafe attendants hired on or before Sept. 14. Starting pay will also be raised 5%.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 19, 2020 -
Permission granted by Arby's
Deep DivePandemic revs up drive-thru design innovations
With drive-thru traffic increasing in the double-digits over the last two quarters, QSRs like Arby's, McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell have developed prototypes that better streamline the channel.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 19, 2020 -
Permission granted by //3877
Deep DiveDesigning with distance: How restaurants are evolving to meet pandemic needs
Forced air blasted between bar seats. Chef's kitchens encased in glass cubes. Garage-style, floor-to-ceiling windows. Experts predict what could become dominant design assets across the industry.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 18, 2020 -
Industry Dive
Why Chipotle CTO compares technologists to air traffic controllers
CTO Curt Garner says collaboration skills helped the company sustain its digital sales by layering technologies.
By Roberto Torres • Nov. 17, 2020 -
Dine Brands taps new CEO
Though the company's overall performance is slowly recovering, Realogy Franchise Group CEO John Peyton will take the reins of the company at a very delicate point in time.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 17, 2020 -
How 5 mega chains are designing restaurants for a digital future
From McDonald's to Chipotle, limited-service brands are spending big on drive-thru, drive-in and pickup technology to grow revenue as the contactless experience becomes king. Here’s a breakdown of their designs.
By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Nov. 17, 2020 -
The image by Chickfila is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Chick-fil-A goes modular with offsite restaurant rebuild
Frey-Moss Structures helped the chain create its first modular restaurant in Roswell, Georgia, in about half the time of a traditional scrape and build.
By Zachary Phillips • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Washington joins several states in weeks-long dining room bans as coronavirus cases surge
Oregon, New Mexico and Michigan have also temporarily closed indoor dining, which could put more restaurants that were starting to see signs of recovery at risk of permanent closures.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Full-service restaurants 'particularly risky' for COVID-19 spread, study finds
New research from Stanford University and Northwestern University also suggests that full lockdowns aren't necessary to control the virus, and that masks, social distancing measures and reduced capacity all work.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 11, 2020 -
Courtesy of Chipotle
Chipotle to open its first digital-only restaurant
The Digital Kitchen concept in Highland Falls, New York, will offer pickup and delivery only and could expand into more urban locations that wouldn't support a full-size restaurant.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 11, 2020 -
Courtesy of McDonald's
McDonald's new loyalty program will optimize digital, drive-thru opportunity
The chain will begin piloting the program, which offers personalized orders and deals across all digital touchpoints, at select Phoenix, Arizona, restaurants prior to a nationwide launch next year.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 09, 2020 -
Deep DiveWill ghost kitchens define the restaurant industry's future?
While investor interest booms and sales have the potential to outpace traditional models, questions linger about how much this emerging market could disrupt business in the long term.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 09, 2020 -
Wendy's taps operations chief as chain shifts focus to digital channels
To create more consistent experiences across its entire footprint, the chain named Deepak Ajmani as its new chief operating officer overseeing both company and franchise locations.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 06, 2020 -
Papa John's continued sales growth attracts lucrative franchisees
The chain reported a revenue increase of 17% year-over-year to $472.9 million for Q3, exceeding Wall Street expectations, and the fifth-consecutive quarter of comparable sales growth.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 05, 2020 -
Courtesy of White Castle
The cooking robotics space expected to be a $322M business by 2028, study says
The fast food industry is expected to see a 17% per year growth rate through 2028, the highest of any sector, according to Research Nester.
By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 05, 2020 -
Wendy's breakfast, digital drive best same-store sales in 15 years
The QSR chain has plenty of room to grow its morning daypart since consumer awareness of the menu is about 50% and many of its existing customers haven't tried it yet.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 04, 2020 -
Permission granted by Reginald J. Miller, vice president and global diversity, equity and inclusion officer, McDonald's
McDonald's taps new DEI leader
The evolution of McDonald's diversity, equity and inclusion practices has been in the spotlight throughout leadership changes, discrimination lawsuits and alleged labor violations.
By Sheryl Estrada • Nov. 03, 2020 -
Aurify preps for expansion of Le Pain Quotidien brand in New York City
The company, which bought the cafe bakery chain for $3 million in June, will open at least 10 locations inside former Maison Kayser locations by early 2021.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 03, 2020 -
Emma Liem Beckett/Restaurant Dive
A DC ghost food hall gives a glimpse of a post-pandemic restaurant future
By the third weekend of dining room closures, restaurateur Aaron Gordon was pulling 100% of sales compared to 2019 through delivery and takeout alone. That spurred an idea, and in September Ghostline launched with six restaurants.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 02, 2020 -
Courtesy of Jordan Strauss for Wendy’s
Wendy's turns drive-thru into spooky Halloween experience
For people not near the Los Angeles "scare-thru," the chain is running a coupon effort on Twitter to ramp up usage of its app and loyalty program.
By Aaron Baar • Oct. 30, 2020 -
Restaurants weigh survival chances without full capacity or winterization efforts
As colder months approach, nearly half of operators think they would last less than a year if they continue to have restricted dining, according to a Rewards Network survey.
By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 30, 2020
