Operations

  • An image of various burritos and other items from Taco Bell.
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell
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    Q4 2025’s restaurant winners and loses

    Casual dining? Good, not great. Fast casual? Bad, not terrible. Taco Bell? Living Más. Wendy's? Living Menos.

    By • March 16, 2026
  • An image of a person wearing a black suit jacket
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s hires former Papa Johns exec as chief development officer

    Jennifer Pecoraro-Striepling will oversee the chain’s real estate, site selection strategy and construction, and help develop prototypes in her new role.

    By • March 16, 2026
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Back-of-house Technology

    From AI-enhanced inventory management 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
  • A close up photograph of a cheeseburger with tomatoes, red onions, lettuce and pickles.
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    Getty Images
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    Beef costs exceed burger prices, pressuring QSRs

    A Datassential report revealed that prices for the menu item are up 14%, while meat costs are up 32% over the past two years.

    By • March 13, 2026
  • Customers enter a McDonald's restaurant.
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    Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s reportedly eyes $3 or less value platform

    The low-priced menu will include items like a four-piece Chicken McNuggets and a sausage biscuit when it launches in April, per The Wall Street Journal.

    By • March 12, 2026
  • An image of a white and red restaurant with Krystal on the signage
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    Krystal promotes COO from parent company

    Amanda Hyde expands her role at the QSR chain, partnering with operators and franchisees to improve performance and support growth.

    By • March 12, 2026
  • Casey's
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    Retrieved from Casey's.
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    Casey’s built its brand on pizza. Now it’s chasing chicken wings.

    The Iowa retailer plans to roll out the wing line to all 2,900-plus stores over the next two years as it diversifies its fast-growing food business.

    By Brett Dworski • March 12, 2026
  • Layne's Chicken Fingers
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    Permission granted by Layne's Chicken Fingers
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    Layne’s Chicken Fingers thinks it has what it takes to go national

    Cane’s. Dave’s. Now Layne’s? A small Texas chicken chain wants to be the next big thing. Multi-unit operators, a simple menu and a premium product could make it happen.

    By • March 11, 2026
  • A marketing image for Burger King's reworked Whopper
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King names 2 new agencies following viral Whopper bite moment

    Mojo Supermarket, now the chain’s U.S. social AOR, claimed credit for a video swiping at McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski’s awkward Big Arch review. 

    By Peter Adams • March 10, 2026
  • Renderings of the interior of Gong cha's new store design for its bubble tea shops.
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    Courtesy of Gong cha
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    Gong cha buys 170 US stores from master franchisee

    The purchase will help the bubble tea brand strengthen its U.S. system and ultimately speed up growth as it targets 1,000 units in the country.

    By • March 9, 2026
  • An image of people with gray hair holding up wine glasses while at a restaurant
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    Getty Images
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    How restaurants can prepare for an influx of aging diners

    People aged 65 and older will account for 18% of all U.S. restaurant spending in 2030, up from just 10% in 2025, according to Technomic.

    By Michael Brady • March 9, 2026
  • Pilot
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    Permission granted by Pilot
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    Pilot to overhaul foodservice program at all locations

    A new combination made-to-order and grab-and-go platform aims to set a consistent standard for the retailer’s menu, SVP Sean Marrero said.

    By Brett Dworski • March 9, 2026
  • Chef paying bills in the kitchen
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    andresr via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Oracle

    When your POS can’t keep up: The real cost of disconnected restaurant tech

    Discover how disconnected POS tech stalls growth—and how integration unlocks smarter, faster decisions.

    March 9, 2026
  • An image of a Applebee's and IHOP dual-branded restaurant inside an airport
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    Courtesy of Dallas Love Field
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    Dine Brands targets non-traditional spaces for dual-branded concept

    Airports and other 24/7 locations are ideal for the Applebee’s/IHOP restaurants because they offer morning and evening menu items, the company said.

    By • March 6, 2026
  • An image of a worn sign on a window that says "sorry we're closed."
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    Getty Images
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    BBI: 15% of restaurants could close in 2026

    Nine percent of full-service restaurants are at risk of shuttering, while only 4% of limited-service units could close this year, Black Box Intelligence data shows

    By • March 6, 2026
  • A close up imae of a white sign with Cracker Barrel logo and Uncle Herschal mascot.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Cracker Barrel reports steepest traffic decline since botched rebrand

    Despite focusing on menu quality and value, the chain reported a 10% traffic drop nearly six months after it attempted to remove its iconic Uncle Herschel from its branding.

    By • March 5, 2026
  • A close up image of three burritos from Del Taco.
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    Courtesy of Del Taco
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    Del Taco unveils 18-month turnaround plan

    Under its Project Sunrise roadmap, the chain will focus on quality and consistency of menu items, bold innovation to drive trial, expansion of catering and a more impactful loyalty program.

    By • March 5, 2026
  • A close up photograph of a partial Starbucks siren logo as seen from the top of an office building.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to open Nashville corporate office

    The coffee chain will use the Tennessee location to support its ongoing growth efforts across the Southeast. 

    By • March 4, 2026
  • A chef prepares a seasonal Easter dish with pickeled egg dyed prupose and served with a watercress salad and olive oil dressing
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    Getty Images
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    How spring holidays can boost restaurant sales

    Savvy planning for St. Patrick’s Day and Easter visits can help restaurants recover after a challenging winter season.

    By Danielle McLean • March 4, 2026
  • A close upimage of a Papa Johns sign with red lettering and a white background. There is green trim around the sign.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Why Papa Johns is going back to basics in latest marketing shakeup

    The pizza chain has reestablished local marketing co-ops and plans to launch a creative platform in collaboration with new AOR Leo Chicago.

    By Chris Kelly • March 3, 2026
  • An image of an interior restaurant with a order lane and seating area and orange, blue and white decor
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    Courtesy of Schlotzsky's Deli
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    Schlotzsky’s rebrands, launches new prototype

    The chain’s latest store design features self-order kiosks, a designated pickup area and a smaller footprint to slash operating costs by up to 25%.

    By • March 2, 2026
  • Chef working at a restaurant and looking at a recipe on a tablet computer – commercial kitchen concepts
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Oracle

    From data fog to clarity: How a unified POS clears the air for restaurant growth

    Discover how a unified POS turns scattered data into real-time insights that boost revenue, efficiency and smarter decisions.

    March 2, 2026
  • An image of two individuals with the one on the left wearing a blue suit. The person on the right is in black and white with a dark shirt on.
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    Courtesy of GoTo Foods
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    GoTo Foods appoints Roark exec as CFO

    Brett Ubl becomes chief financial officer at the restaurant company, while Francisco Bram joins as chief growth officer as the company prepares for additional global expansion.

    By • Feb. 27, 2026
  • Papa Johns Cool Ranch Papadia sandwiches in various packaging and contexts.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns will drop Papadias, Papa Bites from menu

    While the two items drove incremental sales in past quarters, they can disrupt operational rhythm and create more complexities, CEO Todd Penegor said.

    By • Feb. 27, 2026
  • An image of a building with a sign that says "Sweetgreen."
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen may change its pricing after disaster quarter

    The salad chain suffered the worst quarter among major fast casual restaurants. It is now rethinking everything from core prices to its menu’s emphasis on bowls.

    By • Feb. 27, 2026
  • An image of Papa Johns sign on a store
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns will close 300 restaurants

    As part of its transformation, the chain will close units that are over 10 years old with AUVs under $600,000 and has already cut 7% of its corporate staff.

    By • Feb. 26, 2026