Operations: Page 11

  • An arm holds a smartphone over a takeout box that is on a red table. On the right is a QSR code.
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash adds loyalty program for partner restaurants

    Restaurants can choose from visit-based or spend-based rewards programs, and customers can accrue points across multiple channels, including in-store.

    By • Aug. 20, 2025
  • A beige building with Barvo! Cucina Italiana logo
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    TennesseePhotographer via Getty Images
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    Bravo Brio Restaurants declares bankruptcy a second time

    Restaurants in shopping centers with high vacancy and low foot traffic have struggled, especially with softening consumer discretionary spending.

    By • Aug. 19, 2025
  • 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
  • An image of different bowls with foods and hands making tacos.
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    Permission granted by Del Taco/ezCater
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    Del Taco expands catering with ezCater

    The partnership is live in about 250 restaurants, and more units will be phased onto the platform through 2026.

    By • Aug. 19, 2025
  • People stand in front of kiosks by a McDonald's
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    Getty Images
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    Fast food brands fire up AI despite challenging backdrop

    McDonald’s, Chipotle and Yum Brands are embedding the technology into workflows to streamline processes and improve customer and employee experiences.

    By Lindsey Wilkinson • Aug. 18, 2025
  • A rendering of brick buildings and trees. In the center building there is a logo that says sweetgreen
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Fast casual chains remain optimistic about unit development

    Despite Wingstop, Sweetgreen and Chipotle posting negative comparable sales in Q2, they remain focused on building stores and expanding into new markets.

    By , • Aug. 15, 2025
  • A Whatburger storefront. A sign outside reads, "Whataburger".
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    Courtesy of https://stories.whataburger.com/press-kit
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    Whataburger hires COO from Flynn Group

    Jessica Reicher brings considerable operations experience from her work at Nando’s, Fuddrucker’s and Yum Brands to the growing burger brand.

    By • Aug. 14, 2025
  • A white building with windows on the front with a large sign that says Cava
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava leans on tech to free up workers’ time to connect with guests

    The company is investing in automated food production for digital orders only, as “technology should enhance, not replace the human experience,” CEO Brett Schulman said.

    By Bryan Wassel • Aug. 14, 2025
  • An image of a Noodles & Company restaurant with outdoor seating
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company accelerates closure of underperforming restaurants

    The chain closed 20 company-owned units last year and saw a bump in traffic and sales at nearby restaurants. Now it plans to shutter up to 32 more.

    By • Aug. 14, 2025
  • Various Italian dishes, pastas and entrees from Maggiano's set on a red and white checkered table cloth.
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    Courtesy of Maggiano's Little Italy
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    Maggiano’s president departs as brand turnaround proceeds

    Rich Kissel, a longtime Chili’s exec who helped revive the chain, joins Maggiano’s as COO after Dominique Bertolone’s resigned as brand president.

    By • Aug. 14, 2025
  • An image of a Chili's sign with a red chili pepper.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Chili’s same-store sales growth tops 20%, again

    Three years into its turnaround strategy, the chain continues to outperform the casual dining industry with double-digit traffic growth.

    By • Aug. 14, 2025
  • A photograph of a red and yellow sign with a giant yellow "M" above a red box that says "McDonald's Billions Served."
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s launches first-party delivery channel with DoorDash

    Guests using McDonald’s new white-label DoorDash site don’t need an account or an app to place a delivery order.

    By • Aug. 13, 2025
  • Peter the Pita Chip plushie on a Cava bag
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava’s traffic growth slows as consumers show reticence

    Fast casual segment leaders fell behind some fast food competitors in sales growth this quarter, with Cava the latest to post flat traffic growth.

    By • Aug. 13, 2025
  • An image of a stainless steel kitchen makeline
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    Courtesy of Chipotle/Hyphen
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    Cava joins Chipotle in backing Hyphen with $10M

    The automated makeline company will use the money to accelerate the deployment of its technology, but Cava’s CFO says testing at the brand is unlikely until 2026.

    By • Aug. 12, 2025
  • An image of six cookies of different colors and flavors in front of a white background.
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands, Virtual Dining Concepts
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    Fat Brands to serve Great American Cookies at Chuck E. Cheese

    The delivery-only partnership with Virtual Dining Concepts will bring the cookie brand to 400 Chuck E. Cheese locations initially.

    By • Aug. 12, 2025
  • Wendy's
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Wendy’s wants good experiences to drive frequency as consumers pull back spending

    Customer satisfaction for orders placed through employees and made digitally were each up significantly year over year, but it wasn’t enough to offset a negative quarter.

    By Bryan Wassel • Aug. 12, 2025
  • A white container with a DoorDash logo sits on a table next to a green cup with a Jamba logo and a pretzel.
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    Courtesy of GoTo Foods, DoorDash, Wing
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    GoTo Foods launches drone delivery in Texas

    Through a partnership with DoorDash and Wing, the company will offer fast delivery from select restaurants in Frisco, Fort Worth and Plano.

    By • Aug. 11, 2025
  • A waiter picks up a cash tip from a table.
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    Getty Images
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    Tips drop as consumer spending stalls

    Average tip size has shrunk from 15.5% in 2023 to 14.9% in the second quarter of 2025, leaving workers with less pay, a July report from Square showed.

    By • Aug. 8, 2025
  • A Sweetgreen salad and an order of air fried potatoes.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Unprofitable Sweetgreen cuts workers and fries

    With same-store sales down by 7.6% and losses mounting, the salad chain is looking to trim operational complexity and corporate expenses.

    By • Aug. 8, 2025
  • A view of a Wendy's restaurant on May 12, 2021 in Pinole, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s adopts McDonald’s chicken tender playbook, boosts beverages

    After an unfocused promotional calendar failed to boost sales, CEO Ken Cook said cold brew with cold foam and sparkling energy drinks will play a key role for the brand.

    By • Aug. 8, 2025
  • An image of Burger King restaurant in a new design
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King speeds up refranchising, adds late-night hours

    Investments in everything from remodels to operating hours helped the chain’s U.S. stores find some sales strength this quarter.

    By • Aug. 7, 2025
  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box posts worst sales quarter in years

    The burger brand shed traffic and closed stores. Del Taco did too. Now, executives are banking on real estate sales and reimages at 1,000 stores to strengthen the company.

    By • Aug. 7, 2025
  • One of Serve Robotics next generation robots
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    Courtesy of Serve Robotics
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    Little Caesars offers robotic delivery in LA with Serve

    The deal is part of Serve and Uber Eats’ plan to deploy upwards of 2,000 delivery robots by the end of 2025.

    By • Aug. 6, 2025
  • A sign is posted in front of a Taco Bell restaurant on May 01, 2024 in Richmond, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Yum Brands turns to AI to aggregate social media, third-party reviews

    The Byte system of AI technologies is helping power advanced Voice of the Customer tools while improving the drive-thru experience, executives said on a Q2 2025 earnings call.

    By Bryan Wassel • Aug. 6, 2025
  • A smiling white man in a burgundy Noodles & Company shirt.
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company promotes COO to CEO

    Joe Christina, who joined the company in February, will replace Drew Madsen, who led the brand’s sweeping menu overhaul.

    By • Aug. 6, 2025
  • Taco Bell is testing a new design for its Go Mobile stores, pictured here.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    KFC and Pizza Hut drag Yum’s US earnings, again

    Yum hopes the strategies that have powered Taco Bell’s positive same-store sales streak could help reverse KFC’s lackluster performance.

    By • Aug. 5, 2025