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 photograph of a gray sign with a red box inside with white letters that says "Jack" under the box it says "in the box."
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box prescribes poison pill to sicken activist investor

    The action is meant to keep Biglari Capital, which owns a 9.9% stake in the chain, from acquiring additional shares and to give Jack more time to turn around its business.

  • A photograph of a burger, drink and fries from Fatburger.
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fatburger signs 40-store Florida expansion deal

    This agreement will make the state a major market for the burger QSR, which has been growing through international deals and co-branding.

  • JD Vance walks out of a metal detector at the U.S. Capitol.
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    Al Drago via Getty Images
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    Restaurant groups split over No Tax on Tips until 2028

    The Senate passed a tax and spending deal that will exempt up to $25,000 in cash tips annually from federal income tax for some service workers.

  • A photograph of a person wearing a white shirt and black pants and black apron. The person is wiping down a kitchen surface.
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    Ugur Karakoc via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Why restaurants need a wake up call on food safety

    Food operators need to rise to the challenge of improving food safety and become leaders in public health, says Hal King, managing partner at Active Food Safety. 

  • An image of an tabletop air hockey game in the center of a room with various arcade games. Above the air hockey game a sign says "Chuck's Arcade"
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    Courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese
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    Chuck E. Cheese opens spinoff arcade concept

    Chuck’s Arcade, open in 10 mall settings, offers new and old games meant to appeal to adults and features nostalgic decor from the brand.

  • Two iced coffee drinks in glass jars with cream being poured into the one on the right and filtering through. The jars are on a silver tray with a white linen napkin, two straws, a spoon and a bowl.
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    viennetta via Getty Images
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    Beverage trends: The forces shaping the coffee sector in 2025

    Small coffee chains are looking to experiential coffee occasions to outcompete major chains, but they’re not abandoning menu innovation.

  • Love's
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    Permission granted by Love's
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    Love’s deploys ordering kiosks at 112 Arby’s restaurants

    This continues the retailer’s ongoing investment into remodeling and updating its stores to have a more modern look and feel.

  • An image of four cocktails in the foreground of different colors and a blurred bar in the background.
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    KatieSik via Getty Images
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    How restaurants can build cocktail menus that shine this summer

    Flavorful, fun and eye-catching alcoholic drinks can help boost sales, but they need to be served quickly and reflect a brand ethos, experts say.

  • Pita Pit restaurant
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    JHVEPhoto via Getty Images
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    Pita Pit faces EEOC charges after firing a pregnant worker following her WFH request

    Management allegedly called the charging party’s pregnancy “a distraction.”

  • An image of two chicken sliders with a handful of crinkle fries around them.
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle updates core menu with Crispy Chicken Sliders

    The QSR added a new version of its Crispy Chicken Sliders to its menu — the first permanent addition since 2022 — that is cheaper than its predecessor.

  • A beige building with a yellow "M" and white "McDonald's" sign.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s adds Daily Double to menu

    The Golden Arches said the burger has performed well in several markets and will use it to anchor a pricier value meal option.

  • An image of a dark pink drink in a cup with a giant W on it.
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    Permission granted by Whataburger
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    Whataburger adds premium drinks to beverage lineup

    Whatafreshers and lemonade are the latest additions to the chain’s growing drink menu, which includes hot and iced coffee and shakes.

  • An aerial view of a building with white "Chili'"s sign alongside a red pepper.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Former general manager can proceed with age bias case after Chili’s failed to retain documents, 6th Circuit rules

    A former restaurant general manager raised trial questions over whether he was fired because Chili’s wanted a more youthful culture, the appeals court held.

  • A Serve Robotics Robot in front of Atlanta's skyline.
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    Courtesy of Serve Robotics
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    Uber Eats, Serve Robotics roll into Atlanta

    The robotics firm will offer delivery to about 50,000 Atlanta residents as it continues expanding its partnership with Uber Eats.

  • An image of various cold beverages from Taco Bell.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell doubles down on beverages

    The chain launched a new drinks lineup nationwide and plans to expand its Live Mas Café concept to 30 additional locations.

  • An image of an adult and child looking up at the sky where there is a drone carrying a red bag.
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    Permission granted by Flytrex/DoorDash
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    DoorDash drone delivery takes off in Texas

    Flytrex will provide the service within the Dallas-Fort Worth area from dozens of restaurants, including Papa Johns.

  • An image of a white coffee cup on a table. The coffee cup hasa green logo for Starbucks.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks standardizes pricing for flavor customizations

    The changes, which include a flat 80-cent fee for any added sauces or syrups, are part of the chain’s work to improve customer experience. 

  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on Jan. 31, 2025 in Daly City, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Bloomin’ Brands drafts industry vet for CIO role

    Rafael Sanchez will lead tech operations for Outback Steakhouse’s parent company, effective June 30.

  • A headshot of a person in front of a blue background. The person is wearing a navy suit.
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera Bread hires transformation expert in newly created role

    Nikka Copeland will oversee the execution of the chain’s three-year growth plan as senior vice president of the Office of Transformation & Strategy.

  • An image of a black wall inside an office with different dates on a timeline highlighting Bojangles history. In front of the wall there are three chairs.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles debuts new support center in North Carolina

    The headquarters in Charlotte brings all of its corporate employees under one roof and will include a full-scale test kitchen.

    Updated June 25, 2025
  • Jack in the Box
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box brings back COO position

    Shannon McKinney returns to the chain to oversee operations less than a year after it eliminated the position as part of a corporate restructuring.

  • A table with different chicken items from Taco Bell
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell
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    It’s the summer of chicken for QSRs

    Chains including Culver’s, McDonald’s and Taco Bell hope to attract customers with new poultry lineups this season.

  • An image of three Krispy Kreme doughnuts and six in a box.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's/Krispy Kreme
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    Krispy Kreme, McDonald’s end partnership

    Effective July 2, the two chains will stop selling doughnuts in McDonald’s restaurants, with Krispy Kreme citing profitability issues.

  • The ordering counter at Town & Country Market's Field House restaurant in Mill Creek, Washington.
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    Courtesy of Town & Country Markets
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    How one grocer is succeeding with in-store restaurants

    While many retailers have struggled to make money with on-site eateries, Town & Country Market’s integrated approach is lifting sales throughout the store.