Operations: Page 8

  • An image of a red sign with white logo that says "Wendy's." Above the sign is an cartoon image of a girl with red hair and pigtails with blue bows.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Wendy’s to invest at least $20M to boost AUV

    After same-store sales dropped two quarters in a row, the burger brand shifted money from development funds to in-store labor and equipment.

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
  • One of Serve Robotics' delivery robots.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Serve Robotics
    Image attribution tooltip

    Serve Robotics partners with DoorDash

    The companies will initially deploy bots in Los Angeles, where DoorDash is already offering bot delivery with Coco, and where Serve works with Uber Eats.

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    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
  • A close up image of a wrap with chicken.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Potbelly
    Image attribution tooltip

    Potbelly adds wraps to core menu

    The chain will offer two signature wraps and allow guests to make any sandwich into a wrap in its latest menu innovation.

    By • Oct. 8, 2025
  • A worker uses a Square tablet.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Square
    Image attribution tooltip

    Square debuts voice ordering, boosts AI assistant

    As tech firms compete to build up an all-in-one restaurant management platform, features like back-office AI and phone ordering could become important points of competition. 

    By • Oct. 8, 2025
  • Aerial photograph of a Cracker Barrel sign.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Cracker Barrel traffic nosedived after logo backlash

    Visits dropped by 10% in the weeks following the chain’s logo reversal, only improving to a 7% dip in the last week of September, according to Placer.ai.

    By • Oct. 7, 2025
  • A person stands in a parking lot with a blurred building with Swig signage in the background.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Swig
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • An image showing some of Dunkin's branding pasted on the side of a building.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dunkin'
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Razzoo's Cajun Cafe
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Taco Bell Corp.
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of DoorDash
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Qdoba on October 02, 2025
    Image attribution tooltip
    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    8 restaurant industry trade shows to attend in 2026

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

    By Restaurant Dive Staff • Updated Jan. 29, 2026
  • An image of three red robots with two eyes on a street.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by DoorDash
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by DoorDash
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Krystal
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip
    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."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Rutter's
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of P.F. Chang's
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Subway
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Quorso
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip

    Tork

    Image attribution tooltip
    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