Operations: Page 15

  • An image of a restaurant with tables that showcases a pretzel, ice cream and cookie concept.
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fat Brands will grow a new tri-branded snack concept

    The company combined Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery and Pretzelmaker at a unit in Texas, with plans to open more.

    By • Jan. 16, 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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    Getty Images
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    QSR traffic turns positive in Q4, report shows

    A push toward more restaurant value offerings appears to be paying off, with spikes in traffic seen in October and November, according to Revenue Management Solutions data.

    By • Jan. 16, 2025
  • Homeroom Restaurant in Oakland, California Explore the Trendline➔
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    Permission granted by Homeroom
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    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
  • A photograph of a brick building with a red sign and white letters that says Chipotle.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle invests in firm that makes plant-based meat from duckweed

    The restaurant chain’s venture fund is also backing efforts reduce cow-based methane emissions.  

    By Sarah Zimmerman • Jan. 15, 2025
  • People sit in a coffee shop.
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    Starbucks reverses open-door policy as it pursues coffeehouse environment

    Under the new policy, customers will have to make a purchase if they want to hang out in Starbucks coffee shops or use its bathrooms.

    By Kristen Doerer • Jan. 14, 2025
  • A man stands on a stage talking
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    Portillo’s tests computer vision to boost drive-thru times

    Managers will see a screen flashing red if a car has sat for four minutes, allowing them to redeploy labor and move guests faster through the drive-thru.

    By • Jan. 14, 2025
  • A photo of the upgraded coffee service in a 7-Eleven in Laurel, MD.
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    Jessica Loder/C-Store Dive/Restaurant Dive
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: C-stores zero in on coffee consumers

    Wawa, Casey’s and 7-Eleven all are either updating their coffee programs or employing promotions to draw in more caffeine aficionados.

    By Jessica Loder • Jan. 14, 2025
  • An image of a store sign that says Shake Shack. To the left is a green neon sign of a burger
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    How Shake Shack plans to triple its unit count

    The chain is targeting 1,500 company-owned units by enhancing leadership, boosting operations and entering new markets, executives said at ICR. 

    By • Jan. 14, 2025
  • A building with a drive-thru that is blue and white. Signage says Just Salad.
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    Courtesy of Just Salad
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    Just Salad joins the drive-thru game

    A New Jersey outpost is the first of multiple drive-thru units the fast casual chain plans to open in 2025.

    By • Jan. 13, 2025
  • A exterior shot of the blue and yellow building with CosMc's signage
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    Permission granted by CosMc's
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    McDonald’s to shutter 3 CosMc’s, open 2 more

    The chain said its beverage-centric concept works better in smaller locations and will close larger restaurants that were converted from McDonald’s units.

    By • Jan. 10, 2025
  • An image of burritos and other items from virtual brand Man vs Fries
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    Permission granted by Virtual Dining Concepts
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    CPK adds virtual brand to menu

    The pizza chain plans to fulfill digital orders for Man Vs Fries at 118 locations, with a secret menu for dine-in guests.

    By • Jan. 9, 2025
  • A Starbucks store stands in Manhattan on January 30, 2024 in New York City.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks hands Anomaly US creative duties in blow to WPP: report

    WPP, which only won the account in October, established a bespoke Team Starbucks unit to support the coffee chain’s turnaround plan.

    By Peter Adams • Jan. 9, 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 promotes 4 executives as part of expansion push

    The appointments include a new chief operating officer, chief growth officer, president of international and chief product officer.

    By • Jan. 9, 2025
  • Bloomin' Brands is promoting Pat Hafner, currently VP of operations at Carrabba's, to president of the Italian brand.
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    Permission granted by Bloomin' Brands
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    Bloomin’ appoints EVP, president of Outback Steakhouse

    Pat Hafner, president of Carrabba’s, has worked at Bloomin’ Brands in various capacities for nearly 30 years.

    By • Jan. 9, 2025
  • An image of the inside of a Paris Baguette with tables and chairs.
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    Permission granted by Paris Baguette
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    How Paris Baguette is bringing back the neighborhood bakery

    The chain, which offers fresh-baked goodies, drinks and cakes, signed over 160 franchise deals in 2024 and aims to sign another 200 this year.

    By • Jan. 8, 2025
  • A photo of Ronald McDonald balloon at the Macy's Day Thanksgiving parade
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    Kena Betancur via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s cools on DEI, shifts to ‘global inclusion’

    The shift in strategy comes as a result of work done last year, McDonald’s said, including a “comprehensive Civil Rights Audit.”

    By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 7, 2025
  • An image of a man and woman wearing suites and in front of a blue background
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle names president

    Anthony Joseph, current chief administrative officer, takes over the role from Lisa Ingram, who will maintain her other roles of board chair and CEO.

    By • Jan. 7, 2025
  • An image of several people eating hamburgers and french fries from a generic fast food restaurant.
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    Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    8 restaurant trends to watch in 2025

    Analysts forecast a slightly rosier year, predicting that consumer demand will rise, bankruptcies will slow and increased valuations will spark M&A.

    By , • Jan. 7, 2025
  • A barista hands off coffee at a cafe.
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    Getty Images
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    Consumers want deals, convenience from personalization, survey finds

    Simple acts of recognition, with or without a human touch, can build long-term customer relationships, Boston Consulting Group’s Mark Abraham said.

    By Bryan Wassel • Jan. 6, 2025
  • A Starbucks worker pours a beverage into a cup meant to represent a customer's personal drinkware.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ turnaround plan will be ‘no quick fix,’ analysts say

    The chain wants to improve customer experience by making its stores more welcoming and speeding up service. But will the changes come fast enough?

    By Michael Brady • Jan. 6, 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 warned of Nasdaq delisting

    After third-quarter earnings disappointed and its stock price fell under $1, the company has yet to recover.

    By • Jan. 2, 2025
  • An image of a building that has WOB signage.
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    Retrieved from World of Beer Franchising on January 02, 2025
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    World of Beer emerges from bankruptcy

    The company restructured its debt and plans to open upward of 20 units within the next five years. 

    By • Jan. 2, 2025
  • A photo of Starbucks workers participating in a strike in Nottingham, Maryland, Nov. 17, 2022
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    Permission granted by Aleah Bacetti
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks Workers United launches multi-day strike

    Beginning in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, the union will expand limited strikes until Christmas Eve, potentially impacting hundreds of stores.

    By • Dec. 20, 2024
  • momofuku
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    Courtesy of Momofuku
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    Deep Dive

    From restaurant to retail: How Michelin-starred brands are infiltrating the grocery store

    The channel provides establishments such as Momofuku and Carbone with new revenue streams and an opportunity to connect more consumers.

    By Chris Casey • Dec. 20, 2024
  • An image of various restaurant gift cards with a green Olive Garden $50 gift card in the forefront.
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    Getty Images
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    Restaurant gift card sales up 17% during Thanksgiving weekend: report

    In addition to gift card sales growth, Patronix reported an uptick in in-store purchases versus digital compared to the same period last year.

    By • Dec. 20, 2024
  • A sign on a red wall that has the name "Yousef Khayat General Manager" and another sign that says "This location is closed."
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    These restaurants closed hundreds of stores in 2024

    Red Lobster closed over 100 stores prior to filing for bankruptcy, while other chains like Denny’s, which is closing 150 underperforming units, are using closures to improve system health.

    By • Dec. 19, 2024