Operations: Page 2

  • A photograph of a menu with Cracker Barrel branding
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Cracker Barrel: Another case of the blanding of branding

    Restaurants must engage core and growth audiences to understand what they value and which brand equities to protect, evolve or retire, writes Jon Shapiro, chief creative officer of brand experience at PV&COHO.

    By Jon Shapiro • Sept. 2, 2025
  • A bowl loaded with Chipotle's Carne Asada LTO.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle brings back Carne Asada to cure sliding sales

    The return of the highly anticipated protein could help the fast casual giant kick a sales slump that has so far proved resistant to LTOs.

    By • Sept. 2, 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
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    Permission granted by MarginEdge / Sarah Gerrity
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    Sponsored by MarginEdge

    Hack your way to easier restaurant inventories

    Maximize profits with these easy inventory hacks, saving you time, money and your sanity!

    Sept. 2, 2025
  • Restaurant server collecting payment from guests at table
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    Smallhands Creative

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    Sponsored by Toast

    Beyond the transaction: how hospitality leaders are transforming payments into a strategic asset

    A new study reveals how top leaders are turning payments from a back-office task into a strategic asset.

    Sept. 2, 2025
  • An image of two chicken wraps from McDonald's
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    Courtesy of MCDonald's
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    Restaurant winners and losers from H1 2025

    Casual dining chains, led by Chili’s, had a surprisingly strong quarter, while fast casuals, like Chipotle and Sweetgreen, struggled with consumer pullback and operations problems.

    By • Aug. 27, 2025
  • A photograph of a person's arms holding a wooden knief that is resting in a small paper box of food. Another hand is on a gray latop.
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash updates features for corporate clients

    Companies can track spending, usage and engagement by employees who participate in meal programs.

    By • Aug. 26, 2025
  • A pretzel shop in an airport.
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    jessicaphoto via Getty Images
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    Auntie Anne’s airport strategy takes flight

    High-traffic, high-volume locations connect the brand to new consumers, setting the stage for expansion beyond captive audience venues. 

    By • Aug. 25, 2025
  • A smiling man in a blue suit.
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    Courtesy of Applebee's
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    Applebee’s appoints operations, marketing chiefs

    Following a strong Q2, Dine Brands will bring on Jerrold Wong as COO and Michelle Chin as CMO to extend Applebee’s recent successes.

    By • Aug. 25, 2025
  • Two drinks, a coconut water matcha cold foam one on the left and the same base but with cold brew cold foam on the right.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks expands coconut water drinks test to 400 stores

    CEO Brian Niccol has said the chain’s menu innovation will focus on “the function-forward modern offerings that customers want.”

    By • Aug. 22, 2025
  • An image of a small blue building with White Castle signage.
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    Permission granted by White Castle
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    White Castle to open first Texas restaurant in 2026

    The Columbus-based slider chain will open the restaurant next summer in a Dallas suburb, as it continues to expand into new states.

    By • Aug. 22, 2025
  • An image of a brick building with Applebee's signage
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Activist investor targets Dine Brands

    The Edge Consulting Group, which has roughly a 1% stake in the company, wants Dine to consider divesting non-core assets like Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.

    By • Aug. 20, 2025
  • 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
  • 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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    hapabapa via 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