The Latest

  • An image of a man leaving a Chipotle. He is holding a brown bag.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Tracking the same-store sales of 21 major restaurant chains

    Very few chains — not even Chipotle and Domino’s — were immune from same-store sales slides reported in Q1 2025 as consumers spend less.

    Updated May 21, 2025
  • A beige building with gold signage that says "Nusr-Et"
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    Leon Neal via Getty Images
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    Nusr-Et Steakhouse closes all but 2 US restaurants

    The fine dining chain owned by celebrity chef Salt-Bae has shifted focus to international growth.

  • Blaze Pizza's new signature pizzas.
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    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
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    Blaze Pizza appoints Starbucks vet as COO

    Jaime Denney, who has over 25 years of restaurant experience, will oversee company and franchise operations and work to boost speed, profitability and hospitality.

  • A photo of Washington, DC's city hall.
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    traveler1116 via Getty Images
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    DC city council pauses tipped wage hike

    In a possible prelude to repealing Initiative 82, a plan to eliminate the tipped minimum wage, the council voted Tuesday to delay a $2 wage increase scheduled for July 1.

    Updated June 4, 2025
  • An image of a person wearing a suit and smiling.
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    Permission granted by CKE Restaurants
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    CKE hires former Yum Brands exec as international president

    Ewan Davenport spent over nine years in leadership roles with Pizza Hut international and succeeds Mike Woida, who retired earlier this year.

  • Two people hold Zaxbys food.
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    Courtesy of Zaxbys
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    Zaxbys’ latest LTO emphasizes late-night dining

    The fried chicken chain joins brands like Pizza Hut, Wendy’s and Portillo’s in making late-night occasions a strategic priority.

  • Rendering of Walmart Wienerschnitzel restaurant.
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    Retrieved from PR Newswire.
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    Walmart to bring Wienerschnitzel restaurants to 6 stores

    The retailer has partnered with the hot dog chain, marking its latest move to grow its roster of in-store quick-service restaurant partners.

  • An image of a brick building with a logo that says Saladworks
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    Retrieved from Saladworks on June 03, 2025
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    Saladworks to expand in North Carolina with 10-unit deal

    The chain, which once leaned on alternative growth vehicles like ghost kitchens and automated saladbots, will open the first of these traditional units in 2026.

  • A waiter picks up a cash tip from a table.
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    kali9 via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    No taxes on tips may happen soon. Here’s what it could look like for hospitality workers.

    Congress could pass legislation that includes eliminating taxes on tips as soon as this month. But what the legislation will look like — and its effects — are still up for debate.

  • A Dave's Hot Chicken fast casual restaurant in Chicago viewed from above.
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    Dave’s Hot Chicken sells majority stake to Roark

    The long-rumored deal will help the chain hit its ambitious unit growth targets as it looks to become the leading fast casual chicken brand.

  • U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a chart while speaking during a “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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    Chip Somodevilla / Staff via Getty Images
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    How tariffs could impact 11 major restaurant companies

    While a bulk of chains, including Sweetgreen and Chipotle, expect minimal impact to food costs because of domestic supply chains, the cost of new equipment could rise.

  • An image of a red and white building with Freddy's signage.
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    Permission granted by Freddy's
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    Freddy’s to open first Canadian restaurant

    The Winnipeg unit is the first outside the U.S. for the growing burger chain, which is building out a significant store pipeline.

  • A photograph of the inside of a restaurant with chairs and tables
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    Retrieved from Mooyah Burgers Fries & Shakes on June 02, 2025
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    Mooyah Burgers Fries & Shakes appoints Papa Johns vet as president

    Michael Meche, who spent almost 30 years at the pizza chain, joins the burger brand as it prepares for accelerated growth.

  • The sign on a Red Robin restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Red Robin ‘far from claiming victory’ despite comps growth

    The casual chain’s turnaround efforts are paying off in terms of comparable sales and profits, but executives say a repeat performance is unlikely in Q2.

  • An image of several food items on a table from Jack in the Box's Munchies Under $4
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    Courtesy of Jack in the Box
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    Jack in the Box promotes permanent CFO

    Dawn Hooper, who has served as interim finance head for months, takes the role as the company faces sales trouble and the pending sale of Del Taco.

  • A hand drops sauce from a spoon onto plates of food.
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    Gins Wang via Getty Images
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    Full-service restaurant uncertainty: Why diners are trading up and down

    Customers are pulling back on spending in full-service dining — except when they aren’t. Both fine dining establishments and massive casual brands must adapt to mixed signals.

  • A view of the United States Court of International Trade in New York City, on June 22, 2019.
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    The image by ajay_suresh is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    US court blocks Trump’s sweeping tariffs

    The Court of International Trade said the president overstepped his authority, halting various duties. After an appeal, the ruling has been paused.

    Updated May 29, 2025
  • A standalone Yoshinoya restaurant.
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    creativica via Getty Images
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    Yoshinoya America hires Better Buzz Coffee exec as president

    Paul Nishiyama, former COO of the coffee chain, will join the chain as it looks to resume growth after several years of stagnant unit count.

  • 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 hits 300 restaurants

    As fast casual restaurants outperform the rest of the industry, the chain signed a record number of franchising agreements in Q1 and its AUV is growing.

  • Adam, a robot made by Richtech Robotics, makes an espresso drink at the National Restaurant Association Show in May 2025.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Reporter’s notebook: 3 unanswered questions from the NRA Show

    Can a robot really replace a worker? Will tariffs trigger a recession? Can you charge $14 for a mocktail?

  • Robot arms make a pizza.
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    Courtesy of Donatos Pizza
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    Donatos Pizza to open automated restaurant in airport

    The pizza chain, which has worked toward operating robotic pizzerias since 2023, said an airport environment is ideal for the concept.

  • A sign advertising a digital ordering app is displayed at a McDonald's.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    How restaurant chains are updating their marketing menus in tough economy

    Marketers at QSR and fast casual brands are taking big swings with creative campaigns, evolving loyalty strategies and digital technology investments.

  • Three fast food beverages stand in line.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s will wind down CosMc’s, test drinks

     The Golden Arches will start shuttering its beverage innovation spinoff’s units in late June, just 18 months after its first location opened. 

  • A corporate headquarters in a flat landscape dotted with lakes.
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    TW Farlow via Getty Images
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    Darden closes one-third of Bahama Breeze restaurants

    The company closed 15 Bahama Breeze locations across eight states in May, as part of a push for its smaller brands to focus on high-performing units. 

  • A photo of a parking lot with a number of EV chargers set up alongside the parking spaces.
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    Courtesy of BP Pulse
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    BP Pulse is bringing EV chargers to Waffle House

    Chosen sites in the Southeast and the Sunbelt will get six electric vehicle charging bays, with the first locations coming online next year.