Operations: Page 3

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    Smallhands Creative

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    Sponsored by Toast

    Choosing a POS system: What restaurant operators prioritize in 2026

    A practical guide to how restaurants evaluate POS systems in 2026, including real operator insights.

    By Tessa Zuluaga • March 30, 2026
  • Town Pump
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    Retrieved from Town Pump.
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    Town Pump to place standalone coffee kiosks in its parking lots

    The 400-square-foot sites will be branded as Stonehouse Coffee Shots, after the retailer’s coffee program, and will feature pickup and drive-thru windows.

    By Brett Dworski • March 27, 2026
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Back-of-house Technology

    From AI-enhanced inventory management systems and analytics to robot-powered kitchen equipment, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • An image of smartphone screens highlighting private dining options on OpenTable
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    Courtesy of OpenTable
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    How OpenTable’s updated client agreements will impact restaurants

    Effective April 16, the reservation platform said it will require its partner operators to agree that it is the primary table management system to ensure accuracy and guest data protections.

    By • March 26, 2026
  • An image of three large platters in the forefront with various food items. I nthe bagkround there are three cups, chips and tortillas.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    How 10 major restaurant chains are overhauling their strategies

    From Wendy’s to Outback, heavyweight brands are investing in new menu items and operational improvements  — often accompanied by closures and renovations — to get back on track.

    By • March 26, 2026
  • An image of a small Starbucks storefront with brown paneling and green siren logo inside an airport. Several people are sitting in chairs with luggage.
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    Brycia James via Getty Images
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    Starbucks tests new ordering channels for licensed stores

    Kiosks and scheduled orders could be coming to Starbucks cafes in airports, as the chain looks to speed up operations at high-traffic licensed stores.

    By • March 25, 2026
  • A person holds a smartphone that shows tracking information for a delivery order from Domino's
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s uses AI to improve Tracker pickup and delivery times

    The tracking engine combines inputs from team members with machine learning to offer more accurate time estimates.

    By • March 25, 2026
  • Popeyes opened its Times Square location in 2022.
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    Permission granted by Popeyes
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    Popeyes hires US COO from Burger King

    Chris Padoan's appointment signals a greater investment in Popeyes’ store-level execution, as the chain lags its chicken competitors in operations. 

    By • March 25, 2026
  • A red sign that says Chick-fil-A on a white wall.
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Why Chick-fil-A is spending millions to build its own distribution network

    A $50 million Lubbock, Texas, facility will open in 2027, while the company builds at least four other distribution centers to serve hundreds of units.

    By • March 24, 2026
  • Boxes of Panda Express lunches
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    JP Yim via Getty Images
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    Panda Express taps tech, distribution network to keep menu fresh

    The restaurant chain has only six months to lock in suppliers that can scale to demand for new menu items, Chief Supply Chain Officer Roland Ornelas said.

    By Antone Gonsalves • March 24, 2026
  • An image of a McDonald's sign
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    JillianCain via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s Big Arch Burger drives only mild traffic boost

    Traffic rose just 2.2% during the week of the premium burger’s launch despite the product generating significant social media buzz, per Placer.ai.

    By • March 23, 2026
  • Smiling server with Bojangles box in hand
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Sponsored by Fountain

    How Bojangles cut time-to-hire by more than 80%

    How Bojangles cut time-to-hire by 80% and boosted applicant engagement.

    March 23, 2026
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    Permission granted by Bonchon
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    Bonchon hires Pollo Campero vet as chief development officer

    Blas Escarcega joins the chain as it focuses on rapid growth in the U.S., where it now has over 150 units.

    By • March 20, 2026
  • A person standing in front ot a mural speaks into a microphone and raises his fist.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Chicago Mayor plans to veto tipped wage freeze

    The city council froze the tipped minimum wage at 76% of the city’s overall wage, following industry opposition to the gradual end of the tip credit.

    By • March 20, 2026
  • An image of a person wearing a suit with arms crossed and smiling. The person is in front of a wall with news clips in the background.
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fat Brands CEO agrees to temporary leave of absence

    Andrew Wiederhorn can still bid on the company during its sales process, but will be removed from management in exchange for the company receiving debtor-in-posession financing.

    By • March 19, 2026
  • An image of a brick building with Pizza Hut logo on the side.
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    jetcityimage via Getty Images
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    These 6 restaurant chains will close hundreds of units this year

    From Wendy’s to Papa Johns and Pizza Hut, chains facing several quarters of consecutive same-store sales and traffic declines are removing underperforming units from their systems.

    By • March 19, 2026
  • A picture of an Olive Garden restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    How snow derailed Olive Garden’s traffic growth

    Darden will run an extra week of value promotions for Olive Garden this quarter after bad weather stunted transactions.

    By • March 19, 2026
  • A close up of a gas pump that shows unleaded, plus and premium fuel with prices over $4 and $5 a gallon.
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    Getty Images
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    Gas price spikes don’t impact restaurant traffic: BTIG

    By analyzing 20 years of data, the firm found little correlation between gas prices hikes and restaurant traffic drops.

    By • March 18, 2026
  • An image of a Wetzel's Pretzels inside a convenience store.
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    Permission granted by Wetzel's Pretzels
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    Wetzel’s Pretzels plans to double c-store presence

    After opening a company record 20 QSRs in nontraditional locations in 2025, the chain is pursuing convenience retail growth over the next two years.

    By Jessica Loder • March 18, 2026
  • An image of various burritos and other items from Taco Bell.
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell
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    Q4 2025’s restaurant winners and loses

    Casual dining? Good, not great. Fast casual? Bad, not terrible. Taco Bell? Living Más. Wendy's? Living Menos.

    By • March 16, 2026
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s hires former Papa Johns exec as chief development officer

    Jennifer Pecoraro-Striepling will oversee the chain’s real estate, site selection strategy and construction, and help develop prototypes in her new role.

    By • March 16, 2026
  • A close up photograph of a cheeseburger with tomatoes, red onions, lettuce and pickles.
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    Getty Images
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    Beef costs exceed burger prices, pressuring QSRs

    A Datassential report revealed that prices for the menu item are up 14%, while meat costs are up 32% over the past two years.

    By • March 13, 2026
  • Customers enter a McDonald's restaurant.
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    Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s reportedly eyes $3 or less value platform

    The low-priced menu will include items like a four-piece Chicken McNuggets and a sausage biscuit when it launches in April, per The Wall Street Journal.

    By • March 12, 2026
  • 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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    Krystal promotes COO from parent company

    Amanda Hyde expands her role at the QSR chain, partnering with operators and franchisees to improve performance and support growth.

    By • March 12, 2026
  • Casey's
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    Retrieved from Casey's.
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    Casey’s built its brand on pizza. Now it’s chasing chicken wings.

    The Iowa retailer plans to roll out the wing line to all 2,900-plus stores over the next two years as it diversifies its fast-growing food business.

    By Brett Dworski • March 12, 2026
  • Layne's Chicken Fingers
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    Permission granted by Layne's Chicken Fingers
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    Layne’s Chicken Fingers thinks it has what it takes to go national

    Cane’s. Dave’s. Now Layne’s? A small Texas chicken chain wants to be the next big thing. Multi-unit operators, a simple menu and a premium product could make it happen.

    By • March 11, 2026