Noodles & Company introduces financial wellness benefits to attract and retain talent

When organizations provide their workers financial assistance, they not only help their staff, but they also help their bottom lines, multiple reports have shown.

By Riia O'Donnell • Sept. 16, 2019

Restaurants are only getting smaller, and that's by design

With fewer customers eating at restaurants, operators are eyeing more compact locations with dedicated areas for takeout orders.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 16, 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

Popeyes asks customers to BYO bun after chicken sandwich sellout

The humorous campaign follows a shortage of the chain's new chicken sandwich after just two weeks.

By Barry Levine • Sept. 12, 2019

Wendy's breakfast menu arrives next month

The fast food chain has been in and out of the morning daypart since the 1980s, but with McDonald's struggling to grow breakfast, now could be the time for the smaller chain to make its mark.

By Julie Littman • Updated Feb. 4, 2020

Starbucks pickup-only store to open in NYC this fall

Like the Starbucks Now concept that opened in China, the store allow customers to order in advance using their phones and gather their items without the wait. 

By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 9, 2019

McDonald's expands delivery with Grubhub partnership

The fast food chain continues to diversify after ending its exclusivity with Uber Eats, with this relationship also offering tech to better time order fulfillment.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 6, 2019

Buffalo Wild Wings adds sports gambling to its menu

A new partnership with MGM Resorts International will also create new opportunities to bring the the sports bar chain into hotels. 

By Lauren Manning • Sept. 6, 2019

Red Robin hires Noodles & Company exec as CEO, rejects investor offer

Paul J.B. Murphy III, executive chairman at Noodles & Company, will join the troubled casual chain in October.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 5, 2019

Burger King cooks up 'Democratic Burger' election in France

To drive app downloads, the fast food chain will let customers vote for a menu item that will be discounted the following week.

By Dianna Christe • Sept. 4, 2019

Strengthening a restaurant's identity maximizes potential and profits

Restaurants need to stick to an actionable plan with a strict timeline when rolling out brand changes, says Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar President and COO Scott Taylor. 

By Scott Taylor • Sept. 3, 2019

How 5 Bay Area restaurateurs are surviving rising operating costs

Real estate pressures and a chef shortage are forcing restaurants to find creative solutions — like covering workers' Uber rides and having chefs serve diners — to protect their bottom lines and retain talent.

By Rosie Bradbury • Sept. 3, 2019

Shift Change: Papa John's hires new CEO; Blaze Pizza CEO retires

This week's Shift Change also highlights new leadership at Arby's, Tender Greens and Pie Five. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 30, 2019

77% of diners check restaurant websites before visiting, survey finds

Of those users, almost 70% said that poor website design or functionality discouraged them from going to the restaurant, according to the MGH report.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 30, 2019

Taco Bell revamps menu, cuts 9 items

The fast food chain, which is eliminating items like two Doritos Locos Tacos flavors and the Power Menu Burrito, will roll out a shorter menu on Sept. 12 with fewer combo options.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 29, 2019

Buffalo Wild Wings kicks off football season with relationship-saving 'prenups'

The restaurant chain looks to protect fans' football watching with a campaign that taps more traditional views of masculinity.

By Chris Kelly and Dianna Christe • Aug. 28, 2019

Panera launches hybrid delivery model with DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub

A "bring your own courier model" will let diners order through the third-party platforms, but Panera's in-house fleet will deliver their meals.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Aug. 27, 2019

Papa John's hires Arby's president as CEO

Rob Lynch, who helped turn around Arby's through extensive marketing campaigns, steps in as the pizza chain prepares its own rebranding initiatives.

By Julie Littman • Aug. 27, 2019

John Schnatter unloads over $30M in Papa John's shares

The pizza brand's founder and former CEO sold over 725,000 since last week, months after selling over 3.4 million shares to UBS for $157.5 million.

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Aug. 27, 2019

Shift Change: Jollibee taps new leadership team for Smashburger

The Filipino restaurant group hired a new president, marketing chief and head of finance for its U.S. burger brand, along with a president for North America. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Aug. 23, 2019

Grubhub, Lettuce deliver a Whole30 ghost restaurant

The diet's first branded restaurant could give Grubhub a leg up over delivery rivals in the Chicago market with relatively low startup investment.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Aug. 22, 2019

Postmates introduces 'health care options,' access to college courses for gig workers

Back in July, Postmates CEO Bastian Lehmann expressed support for "a comprehensive approach" to gig workers that removed classification confusion.

By Jennifer Carsen • Aug. 21, 2019

Cava's first test kitchen will accelerate menu innovation

The chain's data scientists will analyze diner reactions to products in real time and evaluate which products and technologies should be scaled. 

By Rosie Bradbury • Aug. 20, 2019

Minneapolis banned drive-thrus. Will more cities follow?

The ban comes two months after Long Beach, California, imposed a six-month moratorium on drive-thrus and as other cities push to reduce carbon emissions and improve pedestrian safety. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 19, 2019

Meet the multi-format store

Denver's Choice Market is a c-store, grocer and fast-casual restaurant that does nearly a third of its business online — and it has big growth plans.

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 19, 2019

Shift Change: Yum Brands taps COO David Gibbs as CEO

This week's Shift Change also highlights the departure of McDonald's manager of culinary innovation, a new CFO at Bonchon and a new chief legal officer at El Pollo Loco. 

By Julie Littman • Aug. 16, 2019