FTC, states sue Toast over fees

The agency and eight states allege that the point-of-sale services provider charges its restaurant clients and their customers hidden fees.

By Justin Bachman • Updated Oct. 30, 2026

Chili’s sales are up 52% over 3 years. Here’s how it’s serving diners.

The chain shows no signs of slowing down as it laps multiple years of double-digit same-store sales growth and invests in training, equipment and staffing. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 29, 2026

Sweetgreen raises top manager pay to $200K

The change is a substantial increase in the brand’s compensation ceiling, reflecting continued investment in career paths and retention, according to COO Jason Cochran.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 27, 2026

What the midterm elections mean for restaurants

With affordability reshaping party politics, restaurants can’t look to a single party to defend all their interests, the National Restaurant Association said.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 26, 2026

Restaurant chain to pay $3M to settle EEOC allegations of rampant sexual harassment

The agency learned of at least 100 women negatively affected by the work environment at California-based Il Fornaio’s multiple locations, an EEOC attorney said.

By Laurel Kalser • Oct. 20, 2026

Sweetgreen hires Starbucks vet as chief people officer

Lauren Crowley joins the brand amid an ongoing turnaround strategy that includes new training programs for restaurant-level employees.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 12, 2026

Starbucks shutters 250 underperforming stores

The brand said the closures would impact locations that can’t deliver the coffeehouse experience or financial performance it expects.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 24, 2026

KFC tests breakfast and table service at new restaurant

The chain wants to offer fast casual service for QSR prices at an experimental unit designed for maximum sales volume, rather than for efficiency.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 24, 2026

Starbucks, Florida AG ink deal to end lawsuit over alleged illegal DEI practices

Attorney General James Uthmeier alleged that the chain excluded or disfavored nonminorities in a lawsuit that mirrored recent federal enforcement activity.

By Ryan Golden • Sept. 21, 2026

Chipotle to place apprentice managers in all company-owned locations

These high-performing employees are working toward a general manager role and will be a key part of staffing newly opened restaurants. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 16, 2026

Why 2026 is the year of employee retention

Nearly half of operators surveyed by Toast said they plan to keep the same staffing levels, an increase of 10 points year over year.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 4, 2026

Mamdani makes NYC outdoor dining year-round

New York City's mayor signed a bill this week lifting seasonal restrictions on roadway cafes and permitting winterization of outdoor dining structures.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 3, 2026

Uber, Wonder issue layoffs

Uber cut 10% of its workforce, or over 3,000 employees, while Wonder reduced its employee roster by 150 this week, as each delivery-focused platform plans for its next phase of growth.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 3, 2026

Can restaurants avoid the next Cyclospora outbreak?

The parasite is hard to trace and harder to kill. With recent cuts to food safety regulators, restaurants will be hard pressed to keep their supply chains clean.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 3, 2026

Starbucks faces another union boycott, activist investor pressure

Pro-labor investors want the chain to split its board chair and CEO roles as Starbucks Workers United asks consumers to join its contract fight.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 31, 2026

FTC to disburse $23.8M from Grubhub settlement

Grubhub originally settled with the Federal Trade Commission in 2024 for allegedly unfairly blocking consumers and deceiving drivers in pay messaging.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 13, 2026

Cava’s investment in value and wages pays off

The fast casual brand’s longstanding effort to underprice inflation has helped it drive sales growth in lower-income trade areas.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 12, 2026

Jalapeños served at Qdoba, Chipotle tied to Salmonella outbreak

Both chains stopped serving potentially contaminated peppers after hundreds of consumers across 27 states fell ill.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated Aug. 10, 2026

Chipotle pulls some jalapeños over Salmonella concerns

The brand, which has a long history of food safety scares, said its ingredient tracking system identified a batch of peppers that may have been affected.  

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 5, 2026

Why do so many restaurants insist on employee gimmicks?

Canned phrases, scripted songs and choreographed dance routines aim to boost brand consistency and memorability but risk alienating customers and employees, experts say.

By Michael Brady • Aug. 3, 2026

Starbucks remodels, service tweaks are paying off

The coffee giant gained same-store sales momentum in the U.S. market with its third consecutive quarter of comps growth.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 30, 2026

Taco Bell tied to Cyclospora outbreaks in 4 more states

While the chain removed potentially contaminated lettuce by July 17, the long incubation period of the parasite — upwards of two weeks — means new cases may continue into early August.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 27, 2026

Taco Bell flooded with lawsuits over diarrhea outbreak

The fast food giant, supplier Taylor Farms and at least one franchisee face legal action from consumers in multiple states over alleged deceptive marketing and illness tied to lettuce.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 23, 2026

What 10 leading restaurant companies pay their CEOs — and their hourly workers

Median hourly compensation hovers near, and sometimes below, the poverty line, while leading restaurant CEOs earn tens of millions.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 22, 2026

Burger King reworks manager role to support guest experience

The chain is redefining its restaurant manager role with a new, more distinct uniform and new responsibilities to better address guest concerns.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 20, 2026