Toast's new offerings reflect tech's growing role in customer experience

The platform has launched a suite of new features, including Toast Guest Feedback, which allows restaurants to respond to guest reviews in real-time.

By Alicia Kelso • March 6, 2019

Mario Batali is no longer in the restaurant business

The celebrity chef has given up his stake in Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group following backlash incited by sexual misconduct allegations, and will no longer profit from the 16 restaurants the firm manages.

By Julie Littman • March 6, 2019

Explore the 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

Papa Gino's, D'Angelo see 14x response rate for SMS offers

A mobile campaign with Mobivity's Recurrency platform drove more than 25,000 transactions and $125,000 in attributable revenue.

By Robert Williams • March 6, 2019

Famous Dave's to test ghost restaurant, virtual kitchen concepts

The barbecue chain joins Red Robin, Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's as it rolls out delivery-only concepts to strengthen its off-premise push.  

By Julie Littman • March 6, 2019

Habit Burger to open more drive-thrus this year

Car service will hit more than 20 locations, following moves by Chipotle and Panera as the fast casual category looks to capture more customers on the go.

By Julie Littman • March 5, 2019

Papa John's founder John Schnatter agrees to resign from board

A settlement signals the beginning of the end of a yearlong dispute between the ousted founder and corporate, which could allow the pizza chain to put greater focus on new marketing efforts.

By Julie Littman • March 5, 2019

Dunkin' trolls McDonald's over Donut Sticks launch

The coffee chain mockingly tweeted "blueprints" of new donut packaging, which emulate the burger giant's Big Mac box, suggesting McDonald's copied its Donut Fries offering.

By Kevin Whiteley • March 5, 2019

Restaurants need to incorporate apps to keep a seat at the table

As ordering online increases, eateries need to change their strategies related to customer flow, menus, real estate and data, says Ritual CEO Ray Reddy. 

By Ray Reddy • March 4, 2019

Shift Change: Wingstop's CXO leaves; Salata adds chief development officer

The latest installment of Shift Change highlights executive changes at Wingstop, Salata Salad Kitchen, Robeks and Pancheros Mexican Grill.

By Julie Littman • March 1, 2019

Domino's value offerings protect it from third-party delivery threat, report says

While rivals Pizza Hut and Papa John's test the waters with outside delivery partners, Domino's is still focusing on in-house technology to improve its efficiency and guest experience.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 28, 2019

Panda Express adds plant-based options following PETA petitions

Responding to activist pressure, the nation's largest Chinese food chain will remove chicken broth and animal seasonings from several dishes such as chow mein and eggplant tofu.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 27, 2019

Delivery throws restaurants a lifeline during extreme weather

Heat waves and snow storms can cripple sales for restaurants that rely on dine-in traffic, but delivery partnerships can help squeeze new growth opportunities out of inclement conditions. 

By Julie Littman • Feb. 27, 2019

Presto, ShiftOne gain new funding for employee retention technology

Presto will put $30 million in new investments toward its AI platform, and ShiftOne will use its additional $2.6 million to bring new features to its scheduling system as demand for staffing forecasting grows. 

By Kevin Whiteley • Feb. 27, 2019

Shake Shack overhauling enterprise systems with 'Project Concrete'

The burger chain is investing in automated business processes to eliminate administrative manual tasks.

By Samantha Schwartz • Feb. 27, 2019

Uber Eats strengthens position in UK delivery, plans to leave India

Ahead of a potential IPO, the aggregator is gunning for more market share in the U.K., while it pulls out of other overseas markets to help turn a profit.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 26, 2019

Burger King, KFC revamp brand mascots as chicken rivalry heats up

Burger King has debuted the "K.F.G.," or King of Flame Grilling — which mocks Colonel Sanders — while KFC rolls out a RoboCop iteration of its mascot.

By Erica Sweeney • Feb. 25, 2019

Shift Change: Shake Shack beefs up c-suite; PDQ adds first CMO

The latest installment of Shift Change highlights executive changes at Shake Shack, PDQ, REGO Restaurant Groups and Wendy's.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 22, 2019

Baskin-Robbins sees 12% lift in store visits from Spotify ads

The ice cream chain matched 430,000 U.S. store visits to an audio ad via new measurement partner Placed.

By Robert Williams • Feb. 22, 2019

GetSwift's farm-to-table, scheduling tech deals solidify its last-mile offering

As more companies look to improve their delivery operations, they have found that they also need staffing solutions such as scheduling to go along with it.  

Feb. 22, 2019

NYC bans discrimination based on hairstyle

The guidance from the New York City Commission on Human Rights makes it illegal for restaurants and other employers to fire workers, noting black workers' right to wear natural, treated or untreated hairstyles.

By Emma Liem Beckett , Valerie Bolden-Barrett • Feb. 21, 2019

Just Eat to drop restaurants with a 'zero' hygiene rating

The food delivery platform will invest $1.3 million in helping partner businesses improve food safety protocol after a BBC investigation found rodent carcasses and droppings at some locations. 

By Kevin Whiteley • Feb. 21, 2019

AirAsia looks to launch a QSR that serves its airplane food

CEO Tony Fernandes' move reflects the growing focus on quality food and restaurant brand partnerships in the air travel world. 

By Kevin Whiteley • Feb. 20, 2019

Starbucks' first all-day cafe could give it an edge in China

The global coffee giant's new concept could help its battle against Luckin, which has been threatening Starbucks' growth overseas. 

By Julie Littman • Feb. 19, 2019

Shift Change: Shake Shack, REGO Restaurant add senior marketing execs

This week, this Restaurant Dive series also highlights new executives at Bloomin' Brands, Waitr, Bojangles' and Fazoli's.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 15, 2019

How in-house delivery gives Jimmy John's greater control

The sandwich chain's refusal to team with third-party services allows it to focus on quality food and service, ShiftPixy CEO Scott Absher writes.  

By Scott Absher • Feb. 15, 2019