The Latest

  • A chef cooking in the kitchen with pots, pans, and a restaurant stove in the background
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    Miodrag Ignjatovic via Getty Images
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    The restaurant labor market in 6 key statistics

    Slowing turnover, steady unemployment and flat real wage growth point to growing restaurant employer power over workers compared to 2022 and 2021.

    Updated Nov. 3, 2023
  • A restaurant customer using a card to pay via a Square tap device at the counter.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    For most restaurants, the AI revolution will start small

    Tech leader and operator Ming-Tai Huh on how AI can measurably increase your bottom line through small improvements. 

  • An image of Craig LeMieux, CEO of Rock N Roll Sushi and Terri Jessen, VP of operations
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    Permission granted by Rock N Roll Sushi
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    Rock N Roll Sushi hires experienced franchise exec as CEO

    Craig LeMieux, who has decades of franchising experience, will lead the chain as its top executive. Terri Jessen was appointed VP of operations. 

  • Red Robin menu items, including shrimp, fries and rigs atop white plates.
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    Permission granted by Red Robin
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    How 6 casual chains revamped their menus in 2023

    IHOP, Denny’s, Red Robin and TGI Fridays emphasized menu updates this year in a bid to boost traffic and sales.

  • An exterior photo of CaliExpress by Flippy restaurant in California
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    Retrieved from CaliExpress by Flippy on December 05, 2023
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    Miso Robotics to open autonomous restaurant in California

    CaliExpress by Flippy was created in partnership with Cali Group and PopID and uses robotic arms to cook burgers and fries, requiring minimal human labor.

  • A photo of Wawa pizza in a box.
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    Jessica Loder/C-Store Dive/Restaurant Dive
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    Column

    Fueling Up: People hate Wawa’s pizza. Here’s what the company can do about it.

    Critics and consumers have harshly judged the retailer’s pies since they debuted this summer. If sales are also poor, it may need to pull pizza from its menus, one expert says.

  • An image of a woman picking up a DoorDash order
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash pauses some NYC driver perks, plans to raise fees

    After a judge dismissed an appeal against a delivery driver minimum wage law last week, DoorDash will pay its drivers $29.93 per hour of active time, excluding tips, in the Big Apple.

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    Permission granted by Huddle House
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    Huddle House hires former Long John Silver’s CEO as brand president

    Blain Shortreed, who has over 30 years of restaurant experience, will oversee company operations, franchising, marketing and culinary innovation.

  • A Papa John's sign.
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    Joe Raedle / Staff via Getty Images
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    Papa Johns will pay $175K to settle ADA claim involving service dog

    The worker was not allowed to bring to work the dog he needed for his commute — despite running the accommodation past the store manager ahead of time, according to the complaint. 

  • Two hands holding up gift cards from Cheesecake Factory
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    Courtesy of The Cheesecake Factory
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    Restaurant gift card sales rose during Thanksgiving holiday weekend

    Guests spent 7.3% more on restaurant gift cards during the Thanksgiving weekend compared to the same period in 2022, per Paytronix data. 

  • A McDonald's store is shown in Houston, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s asks SCOTUS to hear no-poach case

    A group of former employees sued in 2018, alleging that hiring restrictions between the fast food chain and its franchises constituted a “per se” violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

  • A Domino's branded plow in the snow
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    Courtesy of Domino's Pizza
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    Q&A

    Why Domino’s is awarding half a million dollars in snow plowing grants

    Chief Brand Officer Kate Trumbull explained how the chain’s latest effort shows off an "experienced by few, seen by many" ethos.

  • Burger King gets a fresh look
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    A look back at 8 major franchisee bankruptcies in 2023

    Burger King, Popeyes, McDonald’s and more saw multi-unit operators go belly-up due to struggles with inflation, low traffic and rising costs.

  • Delivery workers rally for higher pay and safer working conditions in New York City.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    New York judge tosses delivery firms’ effort to overturn $17.96 wage

    After a judge denied appeals efforts from Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub, New York City says the companies must pay drivers $17.96 an hour in their next pay cycles.

  • A portrait photo of Dominique Bertolone, incoming president of Maggiano's little italy.
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    Courtesy of Brinker
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    Brinker appoints MGM Resorts exec as Maggiano’s president

    Dominique Bertolone joins the casual dining Italian brand as it faces sliding traffic and looks to resume growth.

  • Justin Murakami was promoted to COO of Sprinkles in Nov. 2023.
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    Courtesy of Sprinkles
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    Sprinkles promotes new COO

    Justin Murakami will lead operations as the company prepares to expand its network of production and pantry bakeries, as well as its cupcake “ATMs.”

  • McDonald’s employee Nidia Torres speaks at a rally of fast food workers and supporters for passage of AB 257, a fast-food worker health and safety bill, on April 16, 2021
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    How 5 restaurant chains are preparing for $20 wage in California

    Brands like McDonald’s and Chipotle are planning menu price hikes and investing in operations and tech improvements to offset higher labor costs.

  • Inspire Brands logo
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    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
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    Inspire Brands changes its corporate structure

    The company’s new structure is centered on brands, commercial and company restaurants and growth, to take advantage of its scale and shared services.

  • Influencer Kerwin Frost poses with McDonald's Happy Meal
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s reinvents McNugget Buddies for streetwear-minded adults

    For its latest nostalgia play, the chain teamed with multifaceted artist and influencer Kerwin Frost to put a new spin on the iconic collectibles.

  • Kroger and Kitchen United partnered in 2021 to open ghost kitchen sites inside the grocery store.
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    Courtesy of Kroger/Kitchen United
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    Kitchen United will sell or close all physical units, pivot to software

    The ghost kitchen pioneer, which raised $100 million last year to expand its food halls, began to offload its physical locations months ago. It has already shuttered its Kroger outposts, which made up 44% of its footprint.

    Updated Nov. 29, 2023
  • A promotional image of Subway's footlong chocolate chip cookies.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway will bring footlong cookie to permanent menu

    When the sandwich chain debuted the oblong dessert at a Miami “Cookieway” pop-up last year, supply ran out in less than two hours.

  • An image of a waitress serving three people at a table.
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    3 ways restaurants can drive traffic in 2024

    Operators are reaching a price hike ceiling as diners worry about their spending, but deep discounts can hurt margins, making it tricky to offer meaningful value, Deutsche Bank analyst Lauren Silberman said at RFDC.

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    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
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    A Taco Bell worker reported a party where co-workers were ‘openly having sex.’ Employees retaliated and HR did nothing, a lawsuit alleges.

    An employee said she was told to transfer locations after reporting threats of harassment to human resources.

  • Four Starbucks cold coffees topped with holiday themed cold foams.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks adds 4 holiday cold foam flavors

    Starbucks’ new holiday cold foam could help drive year-round consumption of cold coffee, even as customization strains store-level labor.

    Updated Nov. 29, 2023
  • A photo of meatloaf from Travel Center's of America's dinner menu.
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    Permission granted by TravelCenters of America
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    Can c-stores become dinner destinations?

    While the industry is better known for beverages and snacks, a growing emphasis on meals can open big opportunities for retailers with the right offers.

  • A woman is ordering food off of a self-service kiosk.
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    frantic00 via Getty Images
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    Why QSRs are doubling down on kiosks

    Burger King, Taco Bell and Shake Shack are among the chains adding this technology to boost check and reduce labor pressure.