Will Toast raise prices this year?

The restaurant point-of-sale provider may give clients a choice when it makes price adjustments, following a fee flub last year.

By Caitlin Mullen • Jan. 12, 2024

7 restaurant industry trends to watch in 2024

Development costs will remain high and service fees could frustrate diners, but personalized offers and labor-saving tech may give brands an edge.

By Emma Liem Beckett , Aneurin Canham-Clyne , Julie Littman • Jan. 10, 2024

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

Taco Bell expands value menu

In a bid to boost value and increase digital engagement, Taco Bell is adding six value items and a veggie combo.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 8, 2024

Personalization will rule restaurant loyalty programs in 2024

Major chains are using real-time consumer data and artificial intelligence to provide more personalized perks, which may grow engagement even as diners’ emotional attachment to brands dips. 

By Danielle McLean • Jan. 4, 2024

Starbucks will accept diners’ personal mugs for drive-thru, app orders

The chain has implemented new equipment and standardized its process for fulfilling personal cup orders following a 200 drive-thru-store test last year. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 3, 2024

Chipotle curates workouts on Strava to support New Year’s resolutions

Fitness enthusiasts can run or walk various route segments on Strava that end at Chipotle restaurants for a chance to win free Lifestyle Bowls.

By Aaron Baar • Jan. 2, 2024

Burger King turns hangovers into discounts with facial recognition

In the tradition of its “Whopper Detour” and “Burn that Ad” campaigns, the chain’s latest stunt uses mobile technology to drive engagement.

By Chris Kelly • Dec. 21, 2023

How c-stores are using food, merch and more to boost holiday traffic

Whether it’s festive coffees, ugly sweaters or even a seasonally themed pic from Wally’s photo booth, c-stores are taking a variety of approaches to engaging customers.

By Christine Blank • Dec. 19, 2023

Cava is bolstering customization through catering, loyalty strategy

The Mediterranean chain is testing restaurant models with expanded kitchen space to support catering and a new, bankable points rewards program to deepen engagement, said CEO Brett Schulman.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 14, 2023

CosMc’s service model, pricing unlikely to hurt Starbucks, analysts say

The concept’s drinks and snacks are similar to Starbucks and Dutch Bros’ offerings, but CosMc’s comparative discount may not make up for a “lack of human interaction,” per a William Blair report.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 12, 2023

NRA: 63% of adults plan to eat out during holidays

Millennials are the top demographic to visit restaurants during the holidays as a way to avoid crowded grocery stores, per a National Restaurant Association survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 8, 2023

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. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 4, 2023

Make your restaurant the entertainment go-to place with DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS

Ensure your restaurant is set up to keep your guests coming back week after week, season after season.

Dec. 4, 2023

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.

By Chris Kelly • Nov. 30, 2023

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.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 28, 2023

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.

By Jessica Loder • Nov. 28, 2023

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.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated Nov. 29, 2023

Coffee, tea QSRs report traffic bump from return to office

Category operators opened 3,500 new units as of March 2023 compared to March 2022 following a spike in consumer demand, according to Circana data.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 27, 2023

The public dislikes tip pools, Pew finds

Tip pools have proved a controversial wage-and-hour topic, especially when back- and front-of-house staff are both included.

By Ryan Golden • Nov. 17, 2023

Report: 64% of diners to order holiday items from restaurants

Thirty-seven percent of consumers say they would rather order their entire holiday meal from a restaurant, according to a HungerRush survey. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 14, 2023

Combating record olive oil prices: Exploring alternatives

Olive oil is a staple in most restaurant kitchens, beloved for its flavor and versatility. But right now, the olive oil market is in chaos

Nov. 6, 2023

Starbucks to expand snacks, baked goods as food sales near $6B

About half of those sales are driven by the company’s all-day breakfast items, including sous vide egg bites, breakfast sandwiches and breakfast wraps.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 3, 2023

Wendy’s breakfast discounts, late-night traffic buoy sales

The chain has maintained strong profitability on morning daypart promotions, said CFO Gunther Plosch, and late-night sales have increased by double digits year over year. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 2, 2023

Limited-time offers have come roaring back to life. Here’s how c-stores are capitalizing.

LTOs are gaining steam and have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels as retailers and restaurants look to spur traffic with exciting new dishes.

By Christine Blank • Oct. 23, 2023

Pizza Hut is keeping thousands of restaurants open until midnight

The pizza giant is hoping to capture sales to younger customers through its late-night delivery and carryout offerings across much of its U.S. system. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated Oct. 20, 2023