Noodles & Company's new CFO talks how ghost kitchens, drive-thrus will shape the chain's future

Carl Lukach, who started at the chain in November, says 70% to 80% of the stores built this year will have a drive-thru pickup window.

By Julie Littman • March 29, 2021

Miami 1 year later: Sunshine, loose restrictions spark restaurant real estate frenzy

The city's balmy climate and open space — combined with the local government's relatively loose COVID-19 limits — insulated its dining scene from the level of revenue disruption suffered by markets like New York City.

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 26, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Restaurant Dive

Check out a selection of articles about some of the biggest trends — from the rise of dessert concepts to a cohort of Mexican chains trying to overtake Chipotle  — shaping the restaurant industry in 2024.

By Restaurant Dive staff

Washington, DC, 1 year later: Restaurants hammered by protests, insurrection and inauguration restrictions

While other major restaurant cities struggled to survive pandemic restrictions, District operators also had to contend with government-mandated curfews amid widespread protests and the fallout of the Capitol riot. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 24, 2021

Chicago 1 year later: Winter froze restaurant sales amid strict restrictions

Brutally cold weather is a staple of life in Illinois' restaurant capital, but the coronavirus forced many operators into hibernation, risking the future of one of the most impactful industries in the region.

By Julie Littman • March 22, 2021

Los Angeles 1 year later: Restaurants feel abandoned amid 'random' restrictions

California's aggressive response to the COVID-19 outbreak — including two rounds of months-long outdoor dining bans — put pressure on LA restaurants' bottom lines despite state and county aid.

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 19, 2021

New York City 1 year later: Restaurants faced a 'one-two punch'

Restaurants in the Big Apple dealt with constantly shifting dining room regulations and a tough winter climate on top of declining sales related to the pandemic.

By Julie Littman • March 17, 2021

Restaurant job growth, sales boost from stimulus checks hint at recovery

The $1,400 stimulus checks that are part of President Joe Biden's COVID-19 relief package could lift restaurant sales by low- to mid-single digits for up to seven weeks, per Bloomberg Intelligence.

By Alicia Kelso • March 9, 2021

In for a treat: Work these trends into your 2021 menus

From Spanish stews to infused seltzers, here are the top 2021 food trends and flavors you won't want to miss.  

March 1, 2021

McDonald's, Yum Brands sign global partnerships with Beyond Meat

The word "exclusive" doesn't appear in either announcement, which could mean the door is open for other plant-based partnerships as the chains ramp up their offerings in the category.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 26, 2021

Will Clubhouse be the next social media platform for marketers?

The parent company of Burger King and Popeyes jumped on the buzzy app last week, opening the possibility of another digital channel for brands to utilize.

By Chris Kelly • Feb. 18, 2021

Report: Loyalty customers spend more than twice as much on takeout meals

The spending disparity between loyalty members and non-members reflects why so many major brands, including Taco Bell, Wendy's and White Castle, have added or enhanced their loyalty programs during the pandemic.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 17, 2021

McDonald's escalates chicken sandwich wars with merch drop

A capsule collection for the new Crispy Chicken Sandwich includes a hoodie and a vinyl record with a track that will be in the chain's advertising.

By Robert Williams • Feb. 17, 2021

Starbucks is testing 100% plant-based menu at a Seattle location

The chain develops plant-based products at its R&D lab before testing them at the store, CEO Kevin Johnson said during the company's Q1 earnings call. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 3, 2021

McDonald's plans to open nearly 500 restaurants in US and IOM segments in 2021

The chain called new restaurant development an "important driver of our growth" during its recent Q4 earnings call. McDonald's will also spend $500 million to modernize 1,200 existing locations. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 1, 2021

NRA: Restaurant sales will rise 11% in 2021 after 24% dip last year

Bars and taverns suffered the most in 2020 with a sales decline of 65%, while full-service decreased 30%, according to the National Restaurant Association's 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report. 

By Julie Littman • Jan. 26, 2021

Survey: 26% of consumers currently comfortable dining indoors

A new report from HealthCare Insider finds that comfort levels about dining at a restaurant differ by gender and geographic location, with men 40% more likely than women to feel comfortable eating indoors by spring. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 25, 2021

Cannabis consumers and QSR: A love affair

Cannabis consumers are the ideal target audience for restaurant brands looking to drive traffic and grow revenue in a post-pandemic world.

Jan. 25, 2021

Chick-fil-A scores highest 'brand intimacy' marks among QSRs during the pandemic

This MLBM ranking also comes as several brands, including McDonald's, KFC and Burger King, pull a page from Chick-fil-A's playbook by launching signature chicken sandwiches.

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 19, 2021

Restaurants will see transition, not recovery, in 2021, experts say

Though 2021's performance will still be marred by dining room closures and capacity restrictions, there is still opportunity for the industry to take steps toward market improvement, panelists shared at ICR Monday. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 12, 2021

Major gap exists between casual and QSR recovery, per NPD data

The full-service category experienced transaction declines of 30% in December versus an 8% decrease for quick-service restaurants.

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 11, 2021

Menu claims help increase profit

Consumers are still interested in premium ingredients and transparency when choosing where to go and what to order when dining out.

Jan. 11, 2021

Del Taco bulks up off-premise channels with new prototype

The design can be adapted to fit within 1,200 to 2,400 square feet, which will expand site selection options outside of the QSR chain's traditional freestanding drive-thru model.  

By Julie Littman • Jan. 6, 2021

Applebee's franchisee pilots drive-thru

A Texas operator is retrofitting a restaurant to include a mobile pickup window, and will gauge feedback to inform future store design plans. 

By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 5, 2021

McDonald's stirs up chicken sandwich wars with 3 new entries

The sandwiches fulfill franchisees' demand for competitive new chicken offerings to better compete with Chick-fil-A, which the National Owners Association listed as a top priority in 2019. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 5, 2021

6 restaurant trends that will shape 2021

Managing virtual brands and stabilizing labor forces could be challenging in the new year, but curbside, drive-thru and ghost kitchens hold strong growth potential, analysts say.

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Jan. 4, 2021