Operations: Page 3

  • A person stands in a parking lot with a blurred building with Swig signage in the background.
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    Courtesy of Swig
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    Swig plots aggressive growth with new president, franchise chief

    The dirty soda brand promoted Todd Smith from chief commercial officer to president and hired Shannon Swenson as chief of franchise partnerships.

    By • Oct. 7, 2025
  • Fiserv Clover point of sale CardFree mobile ordering payments
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Dunkin’ hits 10K stores in the US

    The coffee chain is the latest brand to pass this milestone, joining Starbucks, McDonald’s and Subway in an elite — but sometimes troubled — cohort.

    By • Oct. 7, 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
  • An image showing some of Dunkin's branding pasted on the side of a building.
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ changes its rewards redemptions, again

    A Restaurant Dive analysis of new discount rates shows the coffee chain has largely made it more expensive to redeem items.

    By • Oct. 6, 2025
  • A promotional image of one of Starbucks' AmazonGo Locations
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Why mobile-order and pickup-only restaurants fail, according to experts

    Starbucks learned the hard way that customers care more about experience than efficiency. 

    By Michael Brady • Oct. 6, 2025
  • A Cracker Barrel sign hangs on the outside of a restaurant.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Cracker Barrel sacks brand consultancy, shuffles leadership

    The chain fired the firm that advised it on its recent logo and restaurant refresh after significant consumer pushback led to a strategy reversal.

    By • Oct. 3, 2025
  • An image of a brown building with two trucks out front. Signage says Razzoo's Cajun CAfe
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    Permission granted by Razzoo's Cajun Cafe
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    Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe goes bankrupt citing competitive pressures

    Aggressive marketing and value-oriented promotions from Applebee’s and Chili’s contributed to the decline in sales, according to court filings.

    By • Oct. 3, 2025
  • A car sits underneath Taco Bell's new drive-thru camera stations, which are decorated in neon signage
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell Corp.
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    Chick-fil-A wins on order accuracy, experience at the drive-thru

    QSR speed of service improved slightly, but mobile orders, app payments and customizations have created more complex transactions, Intouch Insight’s yearly drive-thru report revealed.

    By • Oct. 2, 2025
  • An image of different DoorDash pages on a smartphone.
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    Courtesy of DoorDash
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    DoorDash’s 3 biggest consumer updates

    Diners can view videos from merchants, find restaurants on Yelp to order from and receive AI-powered, personalized recommendations.

    By • Oct. 2, 2025
  • A Qdoba storefront
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    Retrieved from Qdoba on October 02, 2025
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    Q&A

    Qdoba’s new CMO on turning the fast casual chain into a national brand

    As it rapidly expands, the chain looks to raise awareness with its first national marketing campaign, newly appointed CMO Jon Burke explains.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 2, 2025
  • A man stands on a stage talking
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    9 restaurant industry trade shows to attend in 2026

    Next year is jam-packed with restaurant conferences and trade shows that will cover key topics for the sector, ranging from franchising and menu development to economic forecasts.

    By Restaurant Dive Staff • Updated Nov. 3, 2025
  • An image of three red robots with two eyes on a street.
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    Why DoorDash built its own delivery robot

    Dot, a robot that can traverse bike lanes, parking lots and sidewalks, opens up an untapped logistics model alongside a new autonomous delivery platform.

    By • Oct. 1, 2025
  • An image of three smartphones with DoorDash app images seen
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash launches dine-in rewards, reservations

    With its new “Going Out” tab, guests can book reservations, earn in-store rewards and access exclusive offers from partner restaurants.

    By • Sept. 30, 2025
  • An image of a white and red restaurant with Krystal on the signage
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    SPB Hospitality appoints GJ Hart as CEO

    Hart, former Red Robin CEO, succeeds Josh Kern and will oversee a slimmer multi-brand platform that recently offloaded non-core brands.

    By , • Updated Sept. 29, 2025
  • A person in a suit stands on stage surrounded by a large crowd in the stands.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Deep Dive

    Why picking the right CEO makes or breaks a restaurant turnaround

    From Starbucks’ Brian Niccol to BJ’s Lyle Tick and Potbelly’s Bob Wright, boards have made headway with executives that implemented strategic improvements to help sales and traffic.

    By • Updated Sept. 29, 2025
  • A photo of people sitting at a bar watching a UFC fight on TVs behind the bar. A sign near the left side of the picture says "Rutter's. Made for you."
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    Permission granted by Rutter's
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    Rutter’s new c-store design is also a sports bar. Here’s a look inside.

    The 1747 store, named for the year Rutter's was founded, aims for a sports bar feel to encourage customers to see it as more than a pit stop.

    By Christine Blank • Updated Sept. 30, 2025
  • Patrons at a Chicago Starbucks after the coffee chain on Feb. 25, 2025.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to close roughly 400 stores, lay off 900 corporate workers

    The closures, which will largely take place over the next few days, follow a strategic review of the company’s North American store base as part of its larger turnaround plan.

    By • Updated Sept. 26, 2025
  • A photo of various cocktails, sushi and entrees from P.F. Chang's
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    Courtesy of P.F. Chang's
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    P.F. Chang’s pushes value with new cocktail menu

    The full-service Asian chain will also offer half appetizers and smaller entrees in a value move similar to those made by Olive Garden, IHOP and Chili’s.

    By • Sept. 24, 2025
  • A rendering of a Subway restaurant with tables and green walls.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway franchisees fight remodel push

    The North American Association of Subway Franchisees is backing an arbitration case brought by a franchisee and claims that mandated remodels create significant financial burdens.

    By • Sept. 24, 2025
  • A photo of the exterior of a gas station and convenience store/ A sign on the fuel canopy says Cumberland Farms.
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    Courtesy of Quorso
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    EG America bringing Krispy Krunchy Chicken to Cumberland Farms

    The fried chicken QSR will debut at five Cumberland Farms c-stores in the Florida panhandle, with the first opening this week.

    By Brett Dworski • Sept. 24, 2025
  • Women in a public bathroom freshening up
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    Tork

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    Sponsored by Tork

    The business cost of overlooked restrooms – and how to get it right

    Restroom hygiene can make or break guest loyalty – discover what US restaurants need to know.

    Sept. 23, 2025
  • An exterior shot of a Red Lobster restaurant from downhill, in the foreground, lush shrubbery separates the restaurant from the camera.
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    Courtesy of Red Lobster
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    Red Lobster deploys AI bots to answer phones

    SoundHound’s voice automation technology is expected to free up workers and improve front-of-house service.

    By • Sept. 23, 2025
  • An image of a brick building with red Chick-fil-A signage
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Chick-fil-A to open beverage concept

    Daybright, operating under subsidiary Red Wagon Ventures, will open its first location in Greater Atlanta this fall and serve coffee, smoothies and juices.

    By • Sept. 23, 2025
  • An evening shot of a building with white and red coloring and signage that says "Portillo's."
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s replaces CEO

    Michael Osanloo resigned on Monday, and Chairman of the Board Michael Miles became interim CEO. The board is searching for a replacement. 

    By • Sept. 23, 2025
  • Taco Bell's $5, $7 and $9 luxe boxes. Each combo meal contains several items, a side and a drink.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell promotes execs focused on branding, technology

    As the chain works to triple its international store count in five years, these new executive promotions can help replicate the brand’s U.S. success abroad.

    By • Sept. 22, 2025
  • An image of several food items on a table from First Watch's LTO menu with two people partially in view in the background
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    Permission granted by First Watch
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    Morning meal traffic grows as food spending stays high

    Protein-heavy items, the breakfast daypart and dishes without artificial colors are the big winners from H1 2025, according to a Circana report.

    By • Sept. 22, 2025