47% of operators say moving to online ordering is their biggest challenge

This is particularly true for the majority of fine dining and upscale restaurants that didn't offer online ordering prior to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to an Upserve survey. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 30, 2020

Breakfast continues to drag McDonald's sales

Much like other QSRs, a lack of commuters significantly impacted McDonald's morning daypart, but the chain plans to invest in the growing segment coming out of the pandemic. 

By Julie Littman • July 29, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Menu development

Restaurants big and small are experimenting with their menus to align with the preferences of on-the-go diners and mitigate the impact of rising food costs, supply chain disruption and shrinking consumer discretionary funds. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

Major QSRs hiking delivery menu prices by over 15%

Chains like McDonald's, Starbucks and Chick-fil-A, which offer low-ticket items, are among those more likely to charge higher prices for items ordered via delivery, according to Gordon Haskett analysis. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 28, 2020

McDonald's pauses dining room reopenings, will require diners to wear masks

The chain's new face covering requirement will be effective Aug. 1 in its nearly 14,000 U.S. restaurants, and its dining room reopening plans have been delayed to Aug. 23. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 27, 2020

Black business owners discouraged from applying for PPP loans, study says

Roughly 75% of all PPP loans did not include any demographic information because that information was not provided by the borrowers, but 41% of Black-owned businesses shuttered operations between February and April. 

By Sheryl Estrada , Emma Liem Beckett • July 24, 2020

Coronavirus exacerbates racial wage gap for tipped workers, report finds

Black women tipped workers make almost $5 less than white men tipped workers in the U.S, a One Fair Wage study shows. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 24, 2020

Coronavirus has already shuttered 16K restaurants, Yelp says

As restaurants grapple with trying to stay in business, Yelp's latest data shows that in states like Florida and Texas, a 50% rise in consumer interest in dining out in May preceded COVID-19 outbreaks in June.

By Alicia Kelso • July 23, 2020

Danny Meyer's restaurant group eliminates no-tipping policy

Union Square Hospitality Group is moving away from its controversial "Hospitality Included" model amid the pandemic so employees have the chance to access extra compensation from diner tips.  

By Alicia Kelso • July 21, 2020

81% of operators say third-party delivery helped prevent layoffs

Ninety-two percent ​of restaurants plan to continue working with third-party delivery services beyond the COVID-19 crisis, according to an Uber Eats/Technomic survey. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 21, 2020

96% of restaurants require staff to wear masks

Restaurants are increasingly mandating employee temperature checks, requiring staff to wear gloves and installing plexiglass shields, says Black Box Intelligence, but these features can be costly while sales are down. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 20, 2020

Gen Z wants brands to be 'fun,' 'authentic' and 'good,' study says

With high expectations for digital experiences, 82% of the cohort say they trust a company more if it uses images of real customers in its advertising.

By Robert Williams • July 13, 2020

California recloses all indoor dining

Restaurants can continue to offer outdoor dining, takeout and delivery, but brewpubs, bars and breweries must cease all operations.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated July 14, 2020

Starbucks leads in forging emotional connections among fast food brands, study says

The impact of positive emotions on performance has been mixed during a crisis that's delivered an unprecedented hit to restaurants.

By Dianna Christie • July 10, 2020

53% of restaurants closed amid coronavirus have shuttered permanently, Yelp data shows

In early June, the number of diners seated across Waitlist and Yelp Reservations was down 57% compared to pre-pandemic levels. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 6, 2020

McDonald's puts reopening on hold for 3 weeks as COVID-19 spreads

Roughly 2,200 of the chain's U.S. locations are open for limited dine-in service, and the fast food giant said operators can continue to let diners eat inside if local municipalities allow it.

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 2, 2020

Starbucks continues plant-based push with Impossible breakfast sandwich

As consumer interest in meat alternatives surges, the coffee chain joins Burger King and Dunkin' in adding these items to its morning menu.

By Julie Littman • June 23, 2020

Restaurant gift card sales grow nominally prior to COVID-19

New data from Paytronix shows a 10% increase in gift card sales from 2017 to 2018, but just a 1% uptick from 2018 to 2019. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 23, 2020

Coronavirus stalls 2020 breakfast wars

With fewer commuters and rising unemployment, the pandemic hit the morning daypart hard and halted growth plans at McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's.

By Julie Littman • June 17, 2020

Burger King serves up 100K breakfast sandwiches to 'night owls'

The chain is rolling out the plant-based Impossible Croissan-wich and aims to drive foot traffic to restaurants by not offering the giveaway for delivery orders.

By Robert Williams • June 16, 2020

Sanitation will be top diner concern post-coronavirus, report reveals

A clean restaurant is more important to customers than taste and value, according to Datassentia​l.

By Emma Liem Beckett • June 15, 2020

Starbucks reverses policy, allows employees to wear Black Lives Matter attire

The decision follows backlash and calls to boycott the chain after BuzzFeed shared an internal company memo telling employees such clothes could be misconstrued and lead to violence. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • June 12, 2020

68% of restaurants allowed to reopen dining rooms

Customer transactions at major restaurant chains have already shown signs of improvement, with transactions down 18% during the week ending May 31, 3% better than the previous week, according to NPD Group data.

By Alicia Kelso • June 10, 2020

City restaurants see greater impact from COVID-19 closures

More restaurants have closed in urban areas than other regions during the pandemic, according to Datassential, and many in cities will face short-term disruptions from protests.

By Emma Liem Beckett • June 5, 2020

66% of consumers aren't ready to dine in yet, study says

Concern about further spread of COVID-19 and whether dine-in service is safe has some consumers waiting to return to dining rooms despite reduced restrictions.  

By Lauren Manning • May 26, 2020

Walnuts are the next big plant-based ingredient on the menu

Walnuts play a starring role in the focus for clean label, plant-based meat alternatives.

May 26, 2020