Operations: Page 2

  • An image of a beige building
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Daybright Coffee and Refreshment
    Image attribution tooltip

    An inside look at Chick-fil-A’s beverage concept

    Daybright, which opened Oct. 30, offers a range of smoothies, specialty coffee, iced tea, lemonades and a kid’s menu.

    By • Nov. 5, 2025
  • A photo of the outside of a Wingstop.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Wingstop
    Image attribution tooltip

    Wingstop’s comparable sales slump worsens

    Reduced spending by Hispanic and low-income consumers led to a decline in sales that exceeded expectations.

    By • Nov. 5, 2025
  • Homeroom Restaurant in Oakland, California Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Homeroom
    Image attribution tooltip
    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
  • Popeyes signage
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Popeyes
    Image attribution tooltip

    RBI appoints new Popeyes US president, Burger King US COO

    Peter Perdue has been promoted to Popeyes U.S. and Canada president, and Nicolas Henrich is now Burger King U.S. chief operating officer.

    By • Nov. 5, 2025
  • People sit inside a store drinking coffee. The sign of the store says Starbucks Coffee.
    Image attribution tooltip
    DKart via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks sells majority stake in China business for $4B

    Boyu Capital will form a joint venture with the coffee chain to grow the brand from 8,000 units in the country to 20,000 over time.

    By • Nov. 4, 2025
  • A photograph of a yellow sign with Denny's in red.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Denny’s sells itself for $620M

    TriArtisan Capital, Yadav Enterprises and Treville Capital Group will buy the chain in an all-cash transaction that will take the casual dining chain private.

    By • Nov. 4, 2025
  • An image of a light blue building with a sign that says "The original Hooters"
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Hooters Inc.
    Image attribution tooltip

    New Hooters owners plan restaurant revitalization

    Hooters Inc. and Hoot Owl Restaurants will upgrade 100 newly acquired company-owned locations and streamline the menu with better ingredients.

    By • Nov. 4, 2025
  • Person looking at charts and graphs on a tablet
    Image attribution tooltip

    iStock | Igor Suka

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Facteus

    Market research meets reality: How verified spend data is transforming restaurant decision-making

    Your dashboards look steady and surveys show loyalty—yet a competitor just took your share. See what’s really happening, and from whom.

    By Andrew Donsbach • Nov. 3, 2025
  • Marathon runners in Nashville
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Why the NYC marathon provides a golden playbook for restaurants nationwide

    Restaurant operators are running a long-distance financial race every day, focused on increasing profitability, but need to be nimble enough to take advantage of major traffic drivers in their cities, writes Julie Powell, senior director of marketing insights and intelligence at Toast. 

    By Julie Powell • Oct. 31, 2025
  • An image of the Shake Shack logo on a window.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Shake Shack grows traffic with ad spend, operational improvements

    The brand’s traffic gains were most pronounced outside the Northeast, validating its national development strategy, CFO Katie Fogerty said.

    By • Oct. 31, 2025
  • Zaxbys first Arizona unit, a restaurant with white walls and blue awnings
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Zaxbys
    Image attribution tooltip

    Zaxbys eyes non-traditional growth following first military base deal

    Non-traditional locations could help complement Zaxbys’ growing international footprint and add more high-volume units to the chain’s system.

    By • Oct. 29, 2025
  • A photo of food items on an automated production line.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Kwik Trip
    Image attribution tooltip

    Making food in house: The business case for c-store commissaries

    Retailers like EG America, Weigel’s and Kwik Trip have built their own facilities to control the quality and consistency of their foodservice programs — and the payoffs are compelling.

    By Amanda Baltazar • Oct. 29, 2025
  • An image of a happy hour sign at a restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Majority of US diners think menu prices are too high

    Buy-one-get-one offers as well as discounts are among the top incentives helping drive guests back to restaurants, according to a YouGov report.

    By • Oct. 28, 2025
  • A Qdoba store around dusk.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Qdoba
    Image attribution tooltip

    These 5 chains built significant franchised pipelines

    From Cilantro Taco Grill to PopUp Bagels, emerging chains plan to add hundreds of units and expand rapidly across the country with new operators.

    By , • Oct. 28, 2025
  • Kelly McCulloch smiles at the camera. She is Inspire Brands chief people officer.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Inspire
    Image attribution tooltip

    Inspire hires Yum vet to lead HR operations

    Kelly McCulloch brings over two decades of QSR HR experience to her new position, where she will oversee a global system that includes 650,000 workers.

    By • Oct. 28, 2025
  • Mobile screenshots of OpenTable's rewards program
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by OpenTable
    Image attribution tooltip

    OpenTable relaunches loyalty program

    Diners unlock Gold status after completing six reservations during a 12-month period, gaining access to six-months free of Uber One and priority status for last-minute reservations.

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
  • Rebel
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by GSP Retail
    Image attribution tooltip

    Rebel brings Hatch Chicken QSR to the Midwest

    The restaurant opened last month inside a 4,700-square-foot Rebel c-store in Romeoville, Illinois, about 35 miles southwest of downtown Chicago.

    By Brett Dworski • Oct. 27, 2025
  • An image of a digital menu board that says "Extra Value Meals are back" on the other panel there is a photo of an egg sandwich and a $5.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by McDonald's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Toast: Burger, burrito, cold brew prices on the rise

    Football season staples like beer and wings saw slower price increases, which could play to the advantage of casual chains, according to a Toast analysis.

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
  • A man stands at a bar checking out.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Hospitality guests’ No. 1 AI concern: the loss of human touch

    “When consumers express concern about losing the human touch in hospitality, they aren’t rejecting the technology; they’re rejecting cold service,” Reputation’s Liz Carter said.

    By Kristen Doerer • Oct. 24, 2025
  • A photo of a convenience store in the background with fuel pumps in the foreground. A sign on the building says "Wawa."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Jessica Loder/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Wawa increases coffee program customization

    Customers can use ordering touchscreens in stores to control how much milk, sweeteners and flavors they add to their beverages.

    By Jessica Loder • Oct. 23, 2025
  • A Starbucks barista pours foamed milk into a cup.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks poised to hire around 8K assistant mangers

    The chain is testing the assistant manager role — a step between hourly shift supervisor and salaried manager — at 62 stores to fine-tune the position before expanding it to nearly all U.S. and Canadian stores.

    By • Oct. 22, 2025
  • An app screen showing reservation information.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Yelp
    Image attribution tooltip

    Yelp adds AI Host and Receptionist to restaurant toolbox

     The customizable solutions can answer diner questions, ask follow-ups and book reservations, reflecting restaurant interest in voice technology.  

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
  • Various burgers from Rutter's limited-time-only menu
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Rutter's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Inside one c-store chain’s bold and greasy foodservice playbook

    As convenience chains ramp up their made-to-order menus, here’s how Pennsylvania chain Rutter’s is winning over customers with indulgent dishes like The Hangover Burger.

    By Jeff Wells • Oct. 21, 2025
  • An exterior photo of a Taim restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Taim Mediterranean Kitchen
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    4 brands growing in Cava’s shadow

    As the Mediterranean fast casual segment grows, franchised chains like Taim and Taziki’s are competing to see who will emerge as Cava’s main challenger.

    By • Oct. 20, 2025
  • A White Castle restaurant at night.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of White Castle
    Image attribution tooltip

    White Castle opens new prototype in Ohio

    The new unit takes a page out of Chick-fil-A’s playbook with a drive-thru hospitality door and features new tech like a robotic fry cook, drive-thru voice AI and self-order kiosks.

    By • Oct. 16, 2025
  • fireside
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fireside Market
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fireside Market launches food-focused c-store design

    The 9,700-square-foot store in Slinger, Wisconsin, features a drive-thru and will serve as a model for future locations, a spokesperson said.

    By Brett Dworski • Oct. 15, 2025