Operations: Page 16

  • The exterior of the FTC headquarters.
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    Getty Images
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    FTC excludes restaurants from junk fee rule

    In another regulatory victory for restaurants, the Federal Trade Commission backtracked on including restaurant fees in its price transparency rule.

    By • Dec. 19, 2024
  • An image of a pink sign that says "Saucy"
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    Permission granted by Saucy by KFC
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    Inside KFC’s tech-centric concept

    Opening Monday in Orlando, Florida, Saucy focuses on chicken tenders and will use order-ahead pickup technology to boost speed and efficiency.

    By • Dec. 19, 2024
  • 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 table set with strike materials for Starbucks Workers United's Nov. 17 national strike.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks Workers United members vote to authorize strike

    While bargaining has progressed, the union said the company hasn’t presented a comprehensive economic framework.

    By • Dec. 17, 2024
  • 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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    The restaurant industry’s top 3 winners and losers of 2024

    Sales and traffic fell for many brands, like Starbucks and McDonald’s, but fast casuals like Chipotle and Cava had a good year.

    By , • Dec. 17, 2024
  • An image of a black building with windows and The Cheesecake Factory signage.
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
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    Why activist investors will keep targeting restaurants in 2025

    From a CEO-ouster at Starbucks to pressure on The Cheesecake Factory to spin off smaller brands, activist investors took dramatic measures to boost shareholder value in 2024.

    By • Dec. 16, 2024
  • An image of a piece of paper that says late rent notice
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    Getty Images
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    Nearly half of independent restaurants couldn’t pay rent in November: report

    Rental delinquencies were up 11% last month compared to 2023 as operators struggled with rising operating costs, according to Alignable.

    By • Dec. 16, 2024
  • Love's
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    Retrieved from Naf Naf.
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    How c-stores pushed the envelope on foodservice in 2024

    From creating new restaurant concepts to expanding menus and bringing in QSRs, retailers keep seeking new ways to enhance this key category.

    By Jessica Loder • Dec. 13, 2024
  • An image of various doughnuts from Krispy Kreme behind a bakery counter.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Krispy Kreme online ordering disrupted by cyberattack

    After an attack on part of its information technology systems, the chain said it is working to restore online ordering. Store operations were not impacted.

    By • Dec. 11, 2024
  • An exterior image of a white restaurant with a yellow decoration and signs that say Church's Chicken
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    Courtesy of Church's Chicken
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    Church’s Texas Chicken turns to drive-thru AI

    SoundHound’s technology could help the chicken chain speed up order processing by shifting workers from order taking to food making.

    By • Dec. 11, 2024
  • An image of an airport sign that says Terminal B with a restaurant sign highlighted in the foreground.
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    Getty Images
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    Taking flight: Why more restaurant chains are catering to travelers

    While big chains appear in numerous airports and train stations, emerging competitors like Slim Chickens and Pollo Campero are also using these locations to build brand awareness.

    By • Dec. 11, 2024
  • The prize center inside a Dave & Buster's restaurant
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    Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic via Getty Images
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    Dave & Buster’s CEO steps down as sales slide

    Chris Morris’ resignation follows several quarters of falling same-store sales as consumers pulled back from restaurant spending.

    By • Dec. 11, 2024
  • An image of three smartphone screens with various words and insights from Yelp reviews.
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    Permission granted by Yelp
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    Yelp enhances platform with more personalized home feeds

    The review platform added over 20 features, such as AI-powered review insights and enhancements to its business product suite.

    By • Dec. 10, 2024
  • An image of several specialty drinks from Taco Bell's Live Mas Cafe lined up on a white counter top.
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell/Diversified Restaurant Group
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    An inside look at Taco Bell’s beverage concept

    Live Más Café offers drinks that appeal to Gen Z consumers like chillers, agua frescas and specialty coffee drinks.

    By • Dec. 10, 2024
  • A person eats Smashburger food
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    Courtesy of Smashburger
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    Smashburger’s CMO on righting the brand’s course with a new visual identity

    New chief marketer Thomas Prather says the fast casual chain was “adrift” after adjustments made during the pandemic period.

    By Chris Kelly • Dec. 9, 2024
  • A photo of various drinks from Jollibee
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    Courtesy of Jollibee
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    Jollibee courts Gen Z with new premium drinks

    The Signature Sips menu offers 16-ounce quenchers, freezes and iced tea starting at $3.99.

    By • Dec. 6, 2024
  • Church's Chicken restaurant exterior
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    Courtesy of Church's Chicken
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    Why Church’s launched a loyalty program for its value-seeking customers

    Church’s Texas Chicken is one of a growing number of companies that have launched or revamped loyalty programs with a focus on driving more value for members. 

    By Michael Brady • Dec. 6, 2024
  • A Torchy's Tacos sign shot from a low angle.
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    Getty Images
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    Torchy’s Tacos deploys phone AI ordering

    The chain is using SoundHound’s tool, which can handle customized orders and answer questions about the menu, at all of its 130 locations. 

    By • Dec. 5, 2024
  • A customer in a green shirt and jeans watches workers complete a food order in a Chipotle restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Chipotle raises menu prices by 2%

    This is the chain’s first nationwide price increase since 2023 and will help offset low single-digit food cost inflation.

    By • Updated Dec. 5, 2024
  • An image of Red Loster sign on the outside of a restaurant
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    10 of the restaurant industry’s most impactful bankruptcies of 2024

    While dozens of brands and operators filed for bankruptcy this year, a sample of major filings show a range of problems from rising labor costs to low traffic.

    By • Dec. 5, 2024
  • A store interior with white tile, red accents and pickup cabinets.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut tests new US store design

    The Yum Brands chain hopes self-service kiosks and other new features will drive more transactions and in-store traffic.

    By • Dec. 4, 2024
  • An image of a white building with Keke's logo
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    Permission granted by Keke's Breakfast Cafe/Photo by Seth Parker with Parker Studios
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    Keke’s Breakfast Cafe on path to reach 200 locations

    Two years after Denny’s acquired the breakfast chain, it has signed commitments for over 140 units and is in the early stages of remodeling more than 50 locations.

    By • Dec. 4, 2024
  • Applegreen
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    Permission granted by Applegreen
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    Applegreen to open larger travel centers in the US as part of $1B investment

    The Dublin-based company plans to also expand its foodservice and EV charging infrastructure across the U.S., Ireland and the U.K.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 3, 2024
  • A man wears a gray suit and stands in front of a glass window.
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s names Jack in the Box exec as COO

    Tony Darden joins Portillo’s as the chain focuses on improving operations and building restaurants with high AUVs.

    By • Dec. 3, 2024
  • An image of a restaurant with beige paint and a stone facade with "Red Lobster" signage
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Red Lobster adds happy hour as turnaround continues

    The seafood chain is looking to reverse its sales troubles of recent years, and discounts on drinks and apps could help it draw consumers.

    By • Dec. 2, 2024
  • A wood frame of a McDonald's under construction.
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    Tim Boyle via Getty Images
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    Back to Basics: How to find the right site for a new store

    Each type of real estate comes with new opportunities and potential pitfalls. Picking the right site requires a deep analysis of the location, its area and the challenges that come with it, experts say. 

    By Danielle McLean • Dec. 2, 2024