McDonald's buys Dynamic Yield for $300M to improve drive-thru experience

The new technology will be used to roll out digital menu boards that can change depending on the weather, time of day and existing restaurant traffic, providing more personalization at the drive-thru. 

By Julie Littman • March 26, 2019

Virtual kitchen startup Keatz secures $13.5M in new funding

The Berlin-based cloud kitchen company has hefty competition in the European market, with Uber Eats and eatsa also doubling down in this segment. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 25, 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

Wetzel's Pretzels to test delivery with virtual kitchen

The Kitchen United partnership lets the pretzel chain break free of its mall-based locations and stave off competition from Auntie Anne's, which has already made big off-premise moves. 

By Julie Littman • March 25, 2019

San Antonio Airport ban unlikely to ruffle Chick-fil-A's feathers

The hyper-popular chicken chain continues to gobble up market share and earn top scores in consumer satisfaction, despite long-standing accusations of LGBTQ discrimination.

By Kevin Whiteley • March 25, 2019

Blockchain card offers low cost payment technology for restaurants

Yosemite Card offers zero to extremely low transaction fees by removing intermediaries during the payment process, giving restaurants a new way to reduce overall operating costs.

By Julie Littman • March 22, 2019

Dunkin' and Saucony bring back doughnut-themed running shoe

Last year's Boston Marathon collaboration between the two local brands quickly sold out, prompting them to create a new limited-edition offering.

By Erica Sweeney • March 22, 2019

Shift Change: Chipotle, Papa John's add female board members; 3 Potbelly directors depart

This week's Shift Change also highlights executive news at Smoothie King and Starbucks. 

By Julie Littman • March 22, 2019

Starbucks invests $100M in food, retail incubator

The coffee giant's backing of Valor Siren Ventures, a fund that will support food and technology startups, could drive innovation that would give it an edge over competitors. 

By Julie Littman • March 21, 2019

Burger King sets rivals' ads aflame with AR app

Customers in Brazil win a free Whopper for virtually burning print and billboard ads of competitors like McDonald's.

By Robert Williams • March 21, 2019

Maryland legislature advances statewide EPS foam ban bill

The legislation would ban foam containers in restaurants and other food service establishments starting next summer. If signed into law, it will be the first such statewide policy in the U.S.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 21, 2019

The blunt truth: Cannabis retail is here

It's a growth industry where the potential is high, but retailers, restaurants and consumers are on a steep learning curve. 

By Daphne Howland • March 21, 2019

Forecasting for the future: What restaurants need to calculate

Restaurants can no longer rely on just historical data to predict demand, and should carefully examine labor and inventory to grow efficiency, says Fourth CTO Christian Berthelsen.

By Christian Berthelsen • March 20, 2019

Denny's turns to tech, Magic Johnson for new leadership training program

The casual chain is hoping to boost recruitment and retention with programs that use different technologies to teach skills needed for employees to succeed in the restaurant industry.

By Julie Littman • March 20, 2019

Sandwich chain Blimpie lifts customer spending 11% with personalized offers

At 70 locations, the Mobivity-powered test issued personalized offers to customers' phones and paper receipts based on their order history.

By Robert Williams • March 20, 2019

Yum Brands works on science-based carbon emissions reduction targets

If Yum sets goals in accordance with Science-Based Targets Initiative standards, it would be the second restaurant group do so — but it's a heavy lift for the firm with thousands of franchised restaurants.

By Emma Cosgrove • March 19, 2019

IHOP to open 19 locations in Pakistan

Dine Brands joins the likes of FAT Brands, Yum and McDonald's expanding into Asia-Pacific markets hungry for convenient and affordable American eateries. 

By Kevin Whiteley • March 19, 2019

McDonald's to improve delivery packaging, drive-thru times

Now that the chain has brought delivery to more than 9,000 U.S. locations, it aims to improve awareness and overall experience as dine-in traffic slips. 

By Julie Littman • March 18, 2019

Buffalo Wild Wings debuts 'Jewel Stool' supporting vasectomy patients for March Madness

Part of a larger campaign, the customized barstool recognizes the uptick in surgeries that occur around the college basketball tournament. 

By Erica Sweeney • March 18, 2019

Nearly 40% of restaurant, hospitality workers are sleep deprived

Restaurant workers that aren't getting enough sleep are more likely to be dissatisfied and look for another job, adding to the ongoing retention issues plaguing the industry. 

By Kevin Whiteley • March 18, 2019

Shift Change: Popeyes and J. Alexander's under new leadership, Wingstop adds chief growth and experience officer role

This week's Shift Change highlights exec changes at Dunkin' Brands, Wingstop, Restaurant Brands International and J. Alexander's.

By Julie Littman • March 15, 2019

Burger King takes on Starbucks with app-based coffee subscription service

BK Café Coffee lets users pay $5 per month — or, "the price of a large cappuccino from Starbucks"— for a daily brew. 

By Peter Adams • March 15, 2019

Shake Shack's four-day workweek test improves retention

Months after its initial test in Las Vegas, the chain has expanded short workweeks for managers to one-third of its system, and says the change is attracting job seekers. 

By Julie Littman • Updated Nov. 5, 2019

Order up: Kroger announces new in-store eateries

Mariano's will open Pork & Mindy barbecue joints inside select stores while Kroger Marketplaces in Ohio will soon get outposts of the popular Rapid Fired Pizza chain.

By Lauren Manning • March 15, 2019

Del Frisco's forges ahead on expansion plans despite significant traffic declines

The restaurant group plans to add 11 new bartaco locations by the end of 2020, and CEO Norman Abdallah is hopeful the brand's performance will boost Double Eagle and Del Frisco's Grille's business.

By Alicia Kelso • March 14, 2019

DoorDash overtakes Grubhub in delivery market share

Ongoing expansion and new restaurant partnerships have paid off as the company rose from 15% share of consumer spend to over 27% in one year. 

By Julie Littman • March 13, 2019