Operations: Page 4

  • An image of various doughnuts from Krispy Kreme behind a bakery counter.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Krispy Kreme appoints CFO, chief brand officer

    The new executives replace outgoing leaders who announced their departures shortly after Krispy Kreme ended its McDonald’s partnership.

    By • July 7, 2025
  • A photograph of a burger, drink and fries from Fatburger.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fat Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fatburger signs 40-store Florida expansion deal

    This agreement will make the state a major market for the burger QSR, which has been growing through international deals and co-branding.

    By • July 2, 2025
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Trendline

    Back-of-house Technology

    From AI-enhanced POS 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
  • A photograph of a gray sign with a red box inside with white letters that says "Jack" under the box it says "in the box."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Jack in the Box prescribes poison pill to sicken activist investor

    The action is meant to keep Biglari Capital, which owns a 9.9% stake in the chain, from acquiring additional shares and to give Jack more time to turn around its business.

    By • July 2, 2025
  • A photograph of a person wearing a white shirt and black pants and black apron. The person is wiping down a kitchen surface.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Ugur Karakoc via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Why restaurants need a wake up call on food safety

    Food operators need to rise to the challenge of improving food safety and become leaders in public health, says Hal King, managing partner at Active Food Safety. 

    By Hal King • July 2, 2025
  • An image of an tabletop air hockey game in the center of a room with various arcade games. Above the air hockey game a sign says "Chuck's Arcade"
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chuck E. Cheese opens spinoff arcade concept

    Chuck’s Arcade, open in 10 mall settings, offers new and old games meant to appeal to adults and features nostalgic decor from the brand.

    By • July 1, 2025
  • Love's
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Love's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Love’s deploys ordering kiosks at 112 Arby’s restaurants

    This continues the retailer’s ongoing investment into remodeling and updating its stores to have a more modern look and feel.

    By Brett Dworski • July 1, 2025
  • An image of two chicken sliders with a handful of crinkle fries around them.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of White Castle
    Image attribution tooltip

    White Castle updates core menu with Crispy Chicken Sliders

    The QSR added a new version of its Crispy Chicken Sliders to its menu — the first permanent addition since 2022 — that is cheaper than its predecessor.

    By • June 30, 2025
  • An image of four cocktails in the foreground of different colors and a blurred bar in the background.
    Image attribution tooltip
    KatieSik via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How restaurants can build cocktail menus that shine this summer

    Flavorful, fun and eye-catching alcoholic drinks can help boost sales, but they need to be served quickly and reflect a brand ethos, experts say.

    By Danielle McLean • June 30, 2025
  • An image of a dark pink drink in a cup with a giant W on it.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Whataburger
    Image attribution tooltip

    Whataburger adds premium drinks to beverage lineup

    Whatafreshers and lemonade are the latest additions to the chain’s growing drink menu, which includes hot and iced coffee and shakes.

    By • June 27, 2025
  • An image of a white coffee cup on a table. The coffee cup hasa green logo for Starbucks.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks standardizes pricing for flavor customizations

    The changes, which include a flat 80-cent fee for any added sauces or syrups, are part of the chain’s work to improve customer experience. 

    By • June 26, 2025
  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on Jan. 31, 2025 in Daly City, California.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bloomin’ Brands drafts industry vet for CIO role

    Rafael Sanchez will lead tech operations for Outback Steakhouse’s parent company, effective June 30.

    By Lindsey Wilkinson • June 25, 2025
  • A headshot of a person in front of a blue background. The person is wearing a navy suit.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Panera Bread
    Image attribution tooltip

    Panera Bread hires transformation expert in newly created role

    Nikka Copeland will oversee the execution of the chain’s three-year growth plan as senior vice president of the Office of Transformation & Strategy.

    By • June 25, 2025
  • Jack in the Box
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Jack in the Box brings back COO position

    Shannon McKinney returns to the chain to oversee operations less than a year after it eliminated the position as part of a corporate restructuring.

    By • June 25, 2025
  • An image of a black wall inside an office with different dates on a timeline highlighting Bojangles history. In front of the wall there are three chairs.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Bojangles
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bojangles debuts new support center in North Carolina

    The headquarters in Charlotte brings all of its corporate employees under one roof and will include a full-scale test kitchen.

    By • Updated June 25, 2025
  • An image of three Krispy Kreme doughnuts and six in a box.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by McDonald's/Krispy Kreme
    Image attribution tooltip

    Krispy Kreme, McDonald’s end partnership

    Effective July 2, the two chains will stop selling doughnuts in McDonald’s restaurants, with Krispy Kreme citing profitability issues.

    By • June 24, 2025
  • The ordering counter at Town & Country Market's Field House restaurant in Mill Creek, Washington.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Town & Country Markets
    Image attribution tooltip

    How one grocer is succeeding with in-store restaurants

    While many retailers have struggled to make money with on-site eateries, Town & Country Market’s integrated approach is lifting sales throughout the store.

    By Jeff Wells • June 24, 2025
  • A man stands at a bar checking out.
    Image attribution tooltip
    NoSystem images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How will hotel F&B fare against tariffs? CEOs weigh in.

    Food and beverage costs are slated to increase as dining and bar patron levels drop, experts, the head of the National Restaurant Association and other experts noted.

    By Jenna Graber • June 23, 2025
  • An image of a black building with a green Quiznos logo on top.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Quiznos
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A

    Why Rego Restaurant’s CEO is bullish on modular construction, franchisee growth

    Neel Patel said Rego’s Qube model significantly cuts the cost of construction for the Quiznos brand and allows for an acceleration of new units.

    By • June 23, 2025
  • A smiling server takes an order from a couple seated at a restaurant table.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Smallhands Creative

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Toast

    Rewriting the playbook: How a new generation of restaurateurs is beating rising costs

    With costs soaring, the old strategies have hit a wall. Hear from restaurateurs rewriting the rules.

    June 23, 2025
  • An image of a person in a blue suit smiling.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Darden
    Image attribution tooltip

    Olive Garden president to retire, sparking C-suite shuffle

    Dan Kiernan will retire after over 30 years at Darden, including seven as Olive Garden president. John Wilkerson, current Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen president, will step into the role.

    By • Updated June 21, 2025
  • A picture of an Olive Garden restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Olive Garden
    Image attribution tooltip

    How Olive Garden’s delivery channel is impacting sales growth

    Analyst BTIG expects delivery could add hundreds of millions of dollars to the chain’s sales, with every $100 million resulting in a 2% same-store sales impact.

    By • June 20, 2025
  • A night image of a sign that says Bahama Breeze
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Krista is licensed under CC BY 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Darden considering sale of Bahama Breeze

    CEO Rick Cardenas said the chain, which closed 15 units in May, doesn’t fit within its current portfolio.

    By • June 20, 2025
  • A photograph of a red and yellow sign with a giant yellow "M" above a red box that says "McDonald's Billions Served."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mario Tama via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s appoints US CIO

    Valerie Ashbaugh is set to switch positions with long-time tech chief Whitney McGinnis, who will now be senior vice president, commercial products and platforms.

    By • June 18, 2025
  • A grab-and-go section in a store.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sam Silverstein/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Walmart is leveling up in foodservice. How can grocers compete?

    As the retailer adds hot bars, grab-and-go items and in-store QSRs, supermarkets can tap their workers and deep knowledge of their customer base as valuable differentiators, sources said.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • June 18, 2025
  • An image of a breakfast sandwich, coffee and hashbrowns on a table
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Portillo's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Portillo’s expands breakfast test

    The chain, which began testing the morning daypart in April, added five more restaurants and a new menu item to the Chicagoland pilot.

    By • June 17, 2025