Corporate Operations

  • A smiling white man in a blue v-neck sweater in front of a stark white background.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen hires Amazon, Starbucks alum as development chief

    The embattled fast casual chain’s newest C-suite appointment may signal a shift toward experiential store design.

    By • May 1, 2026
  • A photo of the outside of a Wingstop.
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop links same-store sales slides to Iran War

    Low-income consumers cut spending following gas price spikes, but large portions and a loyalty update could bring them back, the chain’s CEO said.

    By • April 29, 2026
  • Front-of-end restaurant staff uses SevenRooms' customer relationship management software. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Courtesy of SevenRooms
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    Trendline

    How AI is shaping the restaurant industry

    Automated technology can transform restaurant systems and relieve pressure from rising operating costs, opening up new opportunities for chains looking to sharpen their value proposition. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • An exterior photograph of a brick Starbucks coffee shop.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks turnaround plan is paying off, CEO says

    A litany of changes, from remodels to customizable caffeine levels, are helping the coffee giant grow transactions and speed up its turnaround.

    By • April 29, 2026
  • A spread of KFC items including sandwiches, snackers, nuggets, fries and drinks.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    Yum Brands wants AI and beverages to supercharge growth

    The company tested AI-arranged digital menu boards at Taco Bell and created a KFC Global Innovation Pantry to transfer successful LTOs between markets.

    By • Updated April 29, 2026
  • Fast food kids meal with orange packaging.
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    Courtesy of Whataburger
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    Whataburger adds toys, interactive packaging to kids meals

    The new kids meals could help the chain compete for family dining dollars with QSR brands that have long offered kids flashy meal perks. 

    By • April 29, 2026
  • Six drinks, all colorful, comprising the vanguard of McDonald's post-CosMc's premium drinks lineup.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s adds beverage specialists to make refreshers, dirty sodas

    High-performing crew members will be trained for the beverage station, with all crew members eventually rotating into the role.

    By • April 28, 2026
  • A sign on a Chipotle restaurant.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle appoints Fernando Machado as chief brand officer

    The former CMO at companies including Burger King and Activision Blizzard takes a role last held by longtime brand marketer Chris Brandt.

    By Chris Kelly • April 27, 2026
  • Bags of Blue Bottle coffee are on a store shelf
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Nestlé sells Blue Bottle Coffee to Centurium Capital

    The deal with the Chinese coffee giant includes the brand's cafes and the majority of its CPG business, a spokesperson confirmed.

    By Laurel Deppen • April 23, 2026
  • A selection of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's food with new branding
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    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.
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    Hardee’s operator files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

    ARC Burger’s 77 stores have been closed since December, following a lawsuit by Hardee’s against the operator.

    By • April 23, 2026
  • A photo of several sandwiches on a wooden table with a green and white box behind them that says Speedy Cafe Sandwiches.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven adding catering to restaurant locations

    The company has partnered with ezCater on bulk ordering at Speedy Café and Laredo Taco locations, further supporting its foodservice ambitions.

    By Jessica Loder • April 23, 2026
  • A Domino's worker loads an order into a car.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Why old school pizza delivery won’t disappear, despite third-party dominance

    Platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash can bring new visibility and customers to pizza chains. But first-party delivery still often remains supreme.

    By Danielle McLean • April 22, 2026
  • A close up photograph of a partial Starbucks siren logo as seen from the top of an office building.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks Nashville HQ will cost $100M, employ 2K workers

    The chain will relocate some teams and hire new workers to staff a regional headquarters with proximity to key suppliers and expected growth markets.

    By • April 22, 2026
  • A White Castle burger kiosk at Boston's Logan Airport.
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    Permission granted by White Castle
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    White Castle to deploy 1K slider kiosks

    The chain will work with Automated Retail Technologies to bring the robotic technology to areas off-limits to traditional QSRs.

    By • April 22, 2026
  • A sign on a Chipotle restaurant.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    A look at how Chipotle’s loyalty relaunch could affect customer behavior

    Value is key to the loyalty revamp, and the approach could drive in-restaurant traffic and help the company win over less frequent customers.

    By Bryan Wassel • April 20, 2026
  • A photo of a Cava location in a brick endcap retail space.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava opens first St. Louis location in Midwestern growth push

    Cava could reach 500 restaurants nationwide later this year, thanks in part to new market entries and infill in areas where it has a modest presence.

    By • April 17, 2026
  • A Starbucks store stands in Manhattan on January 30, 2024 in New York City.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks lets customers discover drinks, start orders in ChatGPT

    The app, in beta, takes the prompt-driven inspiration of ChatGPT and pushes customers into the Starbucks ecosystem to complete their orders.

    By Bryan Wassel • April 15, 2026
  • A fast casual restaurant with a celebratory crowd ready for its opening.
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    Courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Chicken Salad Chick hires Popeyes exec to lead franchised growth

    Brian Lindley joins the chain as it continues franchised expansion, particularly with younger operators, while reducing the operating costs of its stores.

    By • April 14, 2026
  • A farmers' hand picking up a potato from the ground
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    Artist Representation LLC / Andrea D’Agosto

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    Sponsored by Lamb Weston

    Field to fry: What sustainability actually looks like in the potato supply chain

    90% of consumers say sustainability matters. One supplier is showing what that means in practice.

    April 13, 2026
  • Two people sit at a table in a dark cafe with warm lighting.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks hires Chipotle’s chief development officer

    Stephen Piacentini will help the coffee chain execute its ambitious renovation and development plans as part of the Back to Starbucks initiative.

    By • April 10, 2026
  • An image of a black building with windows and The Cheesecake Factory signage.
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
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    The Cheesecake Factory, Chick-fil-A leads AUVs among major restaurant chains

    Pizza brands, sandwich chains and beverage concepts tended to have weaker average unit volumes than casual dining brands and chicken QSRs in 2025, according to Circana’s data.

    By • April 6, 2026
  • A picture of Burger King signs.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Burger King to hire 60K workers as part of turnaround

    Investment in menu items, marketing and renovations have helped the chain bring in customers. Now it needs the workers to serve them.

    By • April 2, 2026
  • A Starbucks barista hands a customer a coffee
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks adds performance bonuses for frontline workers

    Baristas and shift supervisors could see $300 quarterly bonuses starting in July, while Starbucks is expanding tipping across ordering channels.

    By • Updated April 3, 2026
  • An image of a gray building with a white logo that says "Shake Shack"
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack will overhaul its tech with focus on AI, loyalty

    The fast casual burger brand hopes a new rewards system, modernized point-of-sale platform and AI-backed operational analytics will aid its growth.

    By • April 2, 2026
  • A Firehouse Subs location
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    TennesseePhotographer via Getty Images
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    How Firehouse Subs is leveraging franchise incentives to speed up growth

    RBI’s smallest chain wants to speed up openings and fill in key U.S. markets, with bonuses targeting strong operators and multi-unit development.

    By • April 1, 2026
  • An image of a small restaurant with people gathered around. Thereis 7 Brew signage.
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    Permission granted by 7 Brew
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    7 Brew will open its first college location in the fall

    The fast growing coffee chain’s non-traditional walk-thru locations at high-traffic retailers and universities could help it strengthen its on-premise experience.

    By • April 1, 2026