The Latest

  • The words "accelerating growth" appear in white text on a blue background of flowing, wave-like designs, accompanied by the Informa TechTarget logo and company name.
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    Informa TechTarget

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    Note from the Editor-in-Chief

    A change in ownership and what it means for our readers.

  • 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.

  • A man wears a gray suit and stands in front of a glass window.
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s names Jack in the Box exec as COO

    Tony Darden joins Portillo’s as the chain focuses on improving operations and building restaurants with high AUVs.

  • Applegreen
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    Permission granted by Applegreen
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    Applegreen to open larger travel centers in the US as part of $1B investment

    The Dublin-based company plans to also expand its foodservice and EV charging infrastructure across the U.S., Ireland and the U.K.

  • An exterior image of a BurgerFi restaurant
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    Permission granted by BurgerFi
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    BurgerFi sells its assets for $54M

    CEO Carl Bachmann has left the chain after holding the post for over a year, joining Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and Wings’ new owner.

  • A car sits underneath Taco Bell's new drive-thru camera stations, which are decorated in neon signage
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell Corp.
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    Taco Bell’s drive-thru cameras give diners a shot at Super Bowl cameos

    Rewards members who stop by the touring camera stations to snap a pic have a chance to be featured in the brand’s big game ad.

  • An image of a restaurant with beige paint and a stone facade with "Red Lobster" signage
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Red Lobster adds happy hour as turnaround continues

    The seafood chain is looking to reverse its sales troubles of recent years, and discounts on drinks and apps could help it draw consumers.

  • A wood frame of a McDonald's under construction.
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    Tim Boyle via Getty Images
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    Back to Basics: How to find the right site for a new store

    Each type of real estate comes with new opportunities and potential pitfalls. Picking the right site requires a deep analysis of the location, its area and the challenges that come with it, experts say. 

  • Various Italian dishes, pastas and entrees from Maggiano's set on a red and white checkered table cloth.
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    Courtesy of Maggiano's Little Italy
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    Maggiano’s appoints KFC exec to marketing role

    Mike Wesley, who spent 14 years in marketing positions at the fried chicken brand, will help the casual chain amplify brand awareness and drive marketing and promotional activities.

  • A stock image of a bowl of bi bim bap.
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    4kodiak via Getty Images
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    NRA predicts a big year for Korean, Vietnamese and Filipino flavors

    The NRA also found that cold brew, sweet and spicy ingredients, and a focus on sustainability are trends to watch for 2025.

  • Circle K
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive, data courtesy of Brett Dworski
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    Couche-Tard has a new opponent in sight: QSRs

    The retailer is banking on its new value meals to boost same-store merchandise revenue, which has dropped the past four quarters.

  • A Jack in the Box sign looms ominously from behind a hedge.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box eliminates COO position

    Tony Darden will leave his position as SVP and COO and Ryan Ostrom, current EVP and chief marketing and digital officer, will assume responsibility for Jack in the Box’s operations.

  • A promotional image for Chipotle's smoked brisket menu item. Text on the image reads, "Limited time only Smoked Brisket Chipotle"The image shows a burrito bowl with rice, beans, meat and peppers on the left. On the right is sliced beef with a cup of dipping sauce and sliced peppers.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    ‘Not just the beef’: How Chipotle’s supply chain helped bring back smoked brisket

    The return of the popular menu item required what CEO Scott Boatwright called “a huge cross-muscle effort.”

  • The exterior of a Cava in Chicago
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    Permission granted by Cava
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    The restaurant industry’s Q3 winners and losers

    2024 has hammered many chains with closures, declining sales and problems of brand perception. But some, like Cava and Chili’s, have managed to rise above the fray.

  • An image of a Starbucks sign
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks scheduling tools crippled by Blue Yonder outage

    A ransomware attack against the software vendor has pushed the coffee chain to temporarily rely on manual scheduling to ensure workers are paid for hours.

  • A family holds up glasses in cheer while eating at a Thanskgiving meal.
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    ozgurcankaya via Getty Images
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    Over a third of consumers plan to order takeout, delivery for Thanksgiving

    Of the consumers planning to order out, a majority said it was easier and a third said it’s cheaper or equal to the cost of buying groceries and cooking, according to Popmenu.

  • An image of a woman standing in front of a Subway logo.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway CEO John Chidsey to retire

    Chidsey will leave the company after five years, and Carrie Walsh, current president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, will serve as interim CEO.

    Updated Nov. 26, 2024
  • A woman holds up her smart phone to a tablet that is asking what percentage of a tip should be added.
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    lechatnoir via Getty Images
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    Are customers tipping more? Here’s what the data says.

    While customers feel more pressure to tip across industries, they still tip a relatively stable 18% at restaurants.

  • Union members hold up a sign reading 'Wage Theft' with similar graphic design to a Waffle House sign behind them.
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    Courtesy of Union of Southern Service Workers
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    Waffle House claims NLRB process is unconstitutional

    The casual chain has faced union organizing activity for over a year, and now wants the court to weaken the agency tasked with regulating labor law.

  • An image of a sign that says Giordano's pizza.
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    Retrieved from Giordano's on November 22, 2024
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    Portillo’s CMO named CEO at Giordano’s pizza chain

    Nick Scarpino, who has worked in various marketing roles at Portillo’s since 2015, will succeed Yorgo Koutsogiorgas in December.

  • An image of various items from McDonald's included in its McValue meal.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s to launch value platform in January

    The platform will include the $5 Meal Deal, exclusive in-app offers, local food and drink deals and Buy One, Add One for $1.

  • Wendy's Global Next Gen store design features a pick-up window for delivery orders and in-store shelving for digital pick-up orders.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Flynn Group buys 32 more Wendy’s

    The large multi-unit operator now owns about 5% of Wendy’s U.S. store system, plus its Australian and New Zealand master franchises.

  • An image of a veal parmesan chop with marinara sauce and mozzarella on a dark table.
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    Permission granted by Maggiano's
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    Maggiano’s is just getting started with menu updates, remodels

    In his first months as the chain’s VP of innovation and growth, Anthony Amoroso helped create new menu items like Rigatoni al la Vodka and updated the Caesar salad, both of which are already driving sales.

  • The Starbucks company logo on a glass door.
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Starbucks appoints former Mars sustainability exec as CSO

    Marika McCauley Sine, who previously served as Mars’ global vice president of sustainability and chief sustainability officer, will oversee the coffee chain’s net-zero transition.

  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box sales continue to lag, but unit count grows

    Comparable sales headwinds haven’t slowed Jack in the Box’s growth, with the brand opening more stores than it closed for the second year in a row.