Restaurant of the Year: Chick-fil-A

The QSR's customer service and focus on technology have driven meteoric growth, making it the third-largest U.S. restaurant chain despite negative publicity and city bans. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 9, 2019

Emerging Brand of the Year: MOD Pizza

The top-your-own pizza chain is leveraging savvy tech investments and off-premise optimization to win a hefty — and growing — slice of market share from legacy brands and nimble newcomers. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 9, 2019

Explore the 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

Dave & Buster's cashes in on contactless commerce app

The restaurant chain's app uses NFC technology to let customers play games with a phone tap and manage rewards points.

By Robert Williams • Dec. 5, 2019

Uber Eats launches group ordering

The website feature can be used for delivery and pickup, and follows a string of similar rollouts across major third-party aggregators. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 5, 2019

Flynn Restaurant Group adopts instant pay across its 1,200 restaurants

The franchise operator has expanded its partnership with DailyPay to improve employee turnover. 

By Lauren Manning • Dec. 5, 2019

Chipotle enforces sick policy, reports no food safety issues since 2017

Following a norovirus incident in 2017 that sickened several customers, the fast casual chain has enforced its sick policy and new food safety standards, resulting in no incidents within the last two years.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 5, 2019

Postmates lays off dozens, closes Mexico City operations

The delivery provider, which has held off on its IPO, could also be exploring a sale during a time when investor sentiment has soured over the profit-starved industry.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 4, 2019

Potato shortage won't hurt french fry supply, says Idaho Potato Commission

Severe weather plagued this year's potato crop, but the potato industry is reassuring consumers that fries are still on the menu.

By Lauren Manning • Dec. 4, 2019

Surviving the $15 minimum wage: How technology can offset rising labor costs

How will you absorb the growing labor costs without raising menu prices and without decreasing food quality, portion size or service levels?

Dec. 3, 2019

Pizza Hut tests in-store kiosks with Brookshire

As the pizza chain explores more avenues to grow sales, it entered into a partnership with a grocery retailer and could expand it to other stores in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. 

By Lauren Manning • Dec. 3, 2019

Restaurant industry will be shaped by AI, autonomous vehicles in 2030

In 10 years, restaurants can expect these technologies to transform day-to-day operations, from dynamic pricing to drive-thrus, according to a National Restaurant Association report.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 3, 2019

Chick-fil-A encourages giving the gift of time with multichannel campaign

Across a TV spot, online store and pop-up shop, the QSR looks to deliver for the 73% of consumers that say they want more time with people they love this holiday season.

By Dianna Christie • Dec. 2, 2019

Subway to start the year with pricing discounts despite previous protests

Under new CEO John Chidsey, the chain eyes price cuts to at least two sandwiches, according to the New York Post, despite complaints from franchisees.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 2, 2019

Group criticizes McDonald's for fired CEO's $42M severance package

Investors and New York City's comptroller told the fast food chain that they were "distressed" by the substantial severance Steve Easterbrook received and urged it to adopt a stronger clawback policy. 

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 27, 2019

Shift Change: Starbucks hires exec focused on diversity; Carrols brings on new CFO

This week's Shift Change also highlights new executives at Roy Rogers and Another Broken Egg Cafe. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 27, 2019

Pay by the numbers: How much top restaurant execs make compared to their employees

Compensation for the CEOs of public companies averaged over $5 million in 2018 while average pay was just over $10 per hour for workers.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 27, 2019

Burger King's largest operator taps new CFO after $8.3M flub

After a major discounting error by Carrols Restaurant Group' over the summer, Realogy Holdings Corp. strategist and former CFO Anthony Hull is stepping in to restore order. 

By Jane Thier • Nov. 27, 2019

Golden Corral steps up franchisee incentives in remodel push

The buffet chain is offering $10,000 to $140,000 credits toward the remodel, marketing costs or retraining for franchisees that complete its new redesign. 

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 26, 2019

Alcohol, food sales jump at restaurants on Thanksgiving Eve

The night before, known as "Drinksgiving," is becoming one of the most popular drinking holidays of the year with guest count and sales increasing 23%.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 25, 2019

Blaze Pizza uses digital, drive-thrus to slice up market competition, says CEO Mandy Shaw

The brand's new leader believes its franchise model and focus on multiple off-premise touch points threaten fast casuals and legacy pizza chains slow to engage with third-party delivery.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 25, 2019

Shift Change: CPK's new EVP to oversee international expansion

This week's Shift Change also highlights executive news from Wingstop, Your Pizza, RAVE Restaurant Group and Kura Sushi. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 22, 2019

Wingstop lets Twitch users order food while watching livestreams

Viewers interact directly with a streamer who provides menu suggestions and then can place an order for DoorDash delivery.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 22, 2019

Workers sue McDonald's over workplace violence

The lawsuit alleges that the company's new design fails to minimize the threat of violence and that the chain doesn't adequately train staff to handle conflicts.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 22, 2019

From food halls to ghost kitchens, collaboration is on the menu for grocers and restaurants

While both can siphon dollars from the other, the right partnerships could boost operational efficiencies, drive brand awareness and elevate food offerings.

By Jeff Wells • Nov. 21, 2019

Chipotle rolls out Alexa voice ordering

The feature is part of the chain's larger digital sales platform, which is nearing $1 billion, and will allow customers to reorder their favorite meals within seconds. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 21, 2019