The Latest

  • Grubbrr's kiosks on display at the National Restaurant Association Show in 2024.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    9 restaurant industry trade shows to attend in 2025

    The coming year is brimming with restaurant conferences and trade shows covering key issues for the business sector, from franchising strategy to economic forecasts.

  • Various people with a drink and sweeteners
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    Permission granted by Smucker's
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    Sponsored by Smucker's

    Do your beverage offerings welcome all tastes?

    Learn more about what your ideal Sweeteners offering looks like!

  • An image of CKE Restaurants CEO Max Wetzel
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    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants
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    Tropical Smoothie Cafe appoints new CEO

    Max Wetzel, who previously served as CEO at CKE Restaurants for over a year, joins the smoothie chain months after it was acquired by Blackstone.

  • A smiling white man in a blue shirt and a gray jacket with notch lapels.
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    Courtesy of Red Lobster
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    Red Lobster hires Brinker exec as COO

    Larry Konecny joins the seafood chain, which recently emerged from Chapter 11, after a 17-year tenure at Maggiano’s Little Italy.

  • A rendering if a red and orange building with El Pollo Loco signage.
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    Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
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    El Pollo Loco ramps up remodel efforts with low-cost design

    A new prototype, which includes furniture upgrades and energy-efficient hoods and HVAC, will help reduce buildout costs from $2.2 million to $1.8 million.

  • Culver's restaurant exterior
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    Courtesy of Culver's
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    EEOC alleges Culver’s operators fired a transgender worker who complained about deadnaming

    Four workers, including the transgender worker who was the subject of the harassment, were fired a day after reporting the behavior to the general manager, EEOC alleged.

  • A man takes orders at a Starbucks counter.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    How Starbucks plans to get back to being a coffeehouse

    The coffee giant thinks ceramic mugs, a coffee condiments bar and comfy chairs are a good start toward improving its in-store vibe.

  • Overly busy restaurant
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    JazzIRT via Getty Images
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    The restaurant labor market in 6 key statistics

    Turnover has fallen in H1 2024, while unemployment and total jobs in restaurants remained steady, indicating a return to pre-pandemic labor market dynamics.

    Updated Nov. 4, 2024
  • A photo of a phone showing a Paytronix app.
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    Courtesy of Paytronix
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    Paytronix acquired by The Access Group

    The deal will expand the offerings available through Paytronix’s platform and help accelerate its growth, executives said.

    M&A
  • A photo of a whole pepperoni pizza in a box and several other slices of pizza either on a while background or in a triangle-shaped box. The boxes say "7-Eleven."
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven crashes the $5 value meal party

    Customers can get two of the chain’s “new, bigger” pizza slices and a 20-ounce Coke or Sprite in the latest cost-conscious c-store deal.

  • An image of a white building with yellow signage that says McDonald's
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s E. coli outbreak now tied to 90 illnesses

    The CDC said Wednesday that it’s likely that slivered onions from Taylor Farms used on Quarter Pounders caused the outbreak.

  • An image of a red sign with white logo that says "Wendy's." Above the sign is an cartoon image of a girl with red hair and pigtails with blue bows.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s to close 140 poor-performing restaurants in Q4

    To boost the health of the overall system, the chain will close outdated restaurants that have operating margins below average and unit volumes of about $1.1 million.

  • A Starbucks worker holds a beverage.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks to eliminate non-dairy milk upcharge, hold prices steady

    The coffee giant will move towards greater price transparency on customized drinks while cutting back on ineffective discounts, CEO Brian Niccol said.

  • An exterior image of a Shake Shack restaurant
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack to launch loyalty program in 2025

     A rewards program will be a long-term sales driver, but it will not likely impact 2025 performance at the fast casual chain.

  • An image of a a white building with Chipotle signage at night.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Fast casual chains steam ahead with expansion as other sectors pull back

    Shake Shack, Chipotle and Wingstop are on track to open over 700 units combined this year, while targeting strong sales growth.

  • A photograph of a brick building with a red sign and white letters that says Chipotle.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle remains focused on core strategy, efficiency improvements, interim CEO says

    Under Scott Boatwright, Chipotle aims to follow a steady course and carry out key initiatives like adding expediters and back-of-house equipment to boost throughput.

  • An image of a menu board from McDonald's showing quarter pounders crossed off and words that say "back soon."
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    With E. coli outbreak contained, McDonald’s focuses on next steps

    The chain’s traffic fell almost 10% nationwide and more than 30% in Colorado in the days following the public health crisis, according to visitation data.

  • An image of a Perkins Express with a front counter, display cases and point-of-sales system.
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    Permission granted by Perkins
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    Perkins to open fast casual stores in Texas debut

    Griddle & Go will serve as the casual chain’s entry to the Lone Star state as it expands into major U.S. markets.

  • Three versions of Subway's value meal, each consisting of a six-inch sub, small drink and sides.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway adds $6.99 meal deal through year’s end

    The monthslong discount signals a shift towards greater value emphasis for the chain, which has stayed largely aloof from 2024’s QSR price wars.

  • An image of a sign that says $5 Meal Deal on a window of a McDonald's
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s US comp sales turn positive in Q3

    The fast food giant gained traffic with the help of its $5 Meal Deal and expects to release a holistic value platform in early 2025.

  • A large Zaxbys chicken finger pack. Many chicken fingers, pieces of toast and fries in a box.
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    Courtesy of Zaxbys
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    Zaxbys raises 4 dishes from LTO to permanent status

    As the chicken chain looks to accelerate national growth, new menu items could play a pivotal role in driving sales.

  • 7-Eleven
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    Retrieved from Seven & i Holdings.
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    7-Eleven plans 600 stores with new food-focused design by 2027

    The retailer’s newest format features “a larger product assortment and expanded food and beverage offerings,” CEO Joseph DePinto told investors on Thursday.

  • A Denny's location in Emeryville, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    3 ways Denny’s is boosting the digital guest experience

    The chain continues to invest in virtual brands as well as direct and third-party ordering. It also will revise its loyalty program to build its digital customer base.

  • An image of a McDonald's sign with Combo Meals. The Quarter Pounder meals are crossed out and say they will be back soon.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s to return Quarter Pounders to menu this week

    After tests confirmed fresh beef patties were not the source of an E. coli outbreak, the chain said it will bring the burgers back to the menu.

  • A restaurant sign on an Art Deco building. The restaurant is empty, the sky beside the sign is a cold, harsh blue.
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    Roman Tiraspolsky via Getty Images
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    TGI Fridays has closed 60 stores since September

    The casual dining chain, which may be considering bankruptcy after a failed merger, has closed roughly 100 stores since January. 

  • An image of a McDonald's Quarter Pounder, fries and a coke.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s E. coli outbreak has sickened 75 people

    An additional 26 individuals said they fell ill after eating at the fast food chain, according to a Friday update from the CDC.