Corporate Operations

  • A photo of food items in a warming case in either wrappers or boxes. The boxes read "Hatch chicken."
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    Permission granted by Rebel
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    Rebel introduces Hatch Chicken QSR

    The proprietary eatery features a variety of chicken and sides and is expected to expand to 20 additional stores next year.

    By Jessica Loder • Oct. 2, 2024
  • A Chick-fil-A restaurant in New York City.
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    Courtesy of Chick-fil-A
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    Chick-fil-A to open 5 UK restaurants in 2 years

    The chicken chain will spend $100 million in the next decade to make the U.K. its first major international market, starting with restaurants in London, Leeds, Liverpool and Belfast.

    By • Sept. 26, 2024
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    Caiaimage/Martin Barraud via Getty Images
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    Restaurant CEO shakeups continue in September

    The flood of executive changes in August swept into September, as brands dissolved offices, announced transition plans and replaced ousted chiefs.

    By • Sept. 20, 2024
  • BurgerFi franchisee in Alpharetta, Georgia
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    Permission granted by BurgerFi
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    BurgerFi secures funds to operate through bankruptcy

    A court approved $3.5 million in funding from TREW Capital Management, giving the burger brand sufficient cash to operate without closing stores.

    By • Sept. 17, 2024
  • MOD Pizza
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    Permission granted by MOD Pizza
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    Mod Pizza will refranchise corporate stores

    The pizza chain’s new owner, Elite Restaurant Group, is undertaking a comprehensive refranchising effort at the largely company-operated brand.

    By • Sept. 13, 2024
  • A smiling white man in a suit. He's wearing a jacket with peaked lapels and no tie, for what it's worth.
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    Permission granted by Starbucks
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    Starbucks CEO’s 4-part strategy hinges on coffeehouse roots

    In a letter to workers and consumers, Brian Niccol laid out a multipart strategy for revitalizing the chain’s core business in the U.S.

    By • Sept. 10, 2024
  • An image of an indoor mini golf course with neon lighting
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    Permission granted by Puttshack
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    Puttshack enters Minnesota with planned mini golf center

    The eatertainment chain’s expansion could indicate vitality for the sector, which has seen layoffs and disappointing sales at some brands in recent weeks.

    By • Sept. 10, 2024
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Deep Dive

    Brian Niccol was hired to transform Starbucks. Is that possible?

    Niccol must contend with the coffee chain’s growing brand identity and consumer perception problems, and balance its “third place” value proposition with efficient digital fulfillment.

    By • Sept. 9, 2024
  • An image of Pinstripes
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    Courtesy of Pinstripes
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    Pinstripes warns of corporate layoffs as losses mount

    This workforce reduction is part of the chain’s plan to save $4 million in corporate costs, and follows a series of venue-level cost cutting measures.

    By • Sept. 5, 2024
  • An image of an orange building with a logo that says BJ's
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    BJ’s Restaurants CEO, president Gregory Levin steps down

    C. Bradford Richmond, current board director and former Darden CFO, will become interim CEO upon Levin’s departure.

    By • Updated Aug. 28, 2024
  • An image of the interior of Freddy's new training and innovation center.
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    Courtesy of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburger
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    Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers launches training facility to support growth

    The chain’s ambitious growth plans call for more franchisees and managers. Its training and innovation center will help develop brand leaders.

    By • Aug. 21, 2024
  • An image of a brick building with red Chick-fil-A signage
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Chick-fil-A names new president

    Susannah Frost will be responsible for providing strategic clarity and ensuring sustainable growth.

    By • Aug. 16, 2024
  • A Chipotle Mexican Grill employee.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    The restaurant industry’s Q2 winners and losers

    The last few months have produced radically different outcomes at publicly traded restaurant brands, ranging from sinking sales at McDonald’s to Wingstop’s 28.6% comparable sales jump.

    By • Aug. 14, 2024
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    (Photo by Scott Olson) via Getty Images
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    What Starbucks’ new CEO choice could mean for the company

    Analysts predicted new products and advertising would be immediate points of emphasis for incoming CEO Brian Niccol, with major changes looming on the horizon.

    By • Aug. 14, 2024
  • Tender Greens and Tocaya merged in 2021 to become One Table Restaurant Group.
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    Permission granted by One Table Restaurant Group
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    One Table Restaurant Brands files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections

    Fees on third-party orders and rising debt costs meant a partial recovery from 2020 was not enough to allow the parent company of Tender Greens and Tacaya to repay its creditors.

    By • July 18, 2024
  • An image of a man wearing a suit in front of a Chipotle menu and make line.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle CFO Jack Hartung to retire after two decades at chain

    Adam Rymer, the company’s current vice president of finance, will become CFO in January.

    By • July 10, 2024
  • 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 to re-enter Chicago market in 2025

    The brand, which last operated in the market four decades ago, will start with the development of eight company-operated stores.

    By • July 3, 2024
  • 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 to enter Georgia with 15-store deal

    The fast food chain’s move into the the Peach State is a major boost to its expansion strategy in the Southeast, which has also focused on Florida.

    By • June 12, 2024
  • Blaze Pizza
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    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
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    Blaze Pizza to move HQ to Atlanta

    Its East Coast headquarters will help the chain during the next phase of growth, CEO Beto Guajardo said.

    By • June 5, 2024
  • foxtrot
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    Retrieved from Foxtrot website.
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    Foxtrot files for bankruptcy

    The decision to file for Chapter 7 was made during a meeting with Outfox’s board of directors, who reviewed the financial condition of the company and each of its subsidiaries.

    By Brett Dworski • May 15, 2024
  • BurgerFi franchisee in Alpharetta, Georgia
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    Permission granted by BurgerFi
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    BurgerFi’s sales fell 10% in Q1

    The chain attributed some of its difficulties to a consumer pullback, but said weather accounted for its exceptionally poor performance.

    By • May 15, 2024
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    Permission granted by Presto Automation Inc.
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    Presto tests voice AI tech that doesn’t require human intervention

    The company is “in the process of conducting a live test” of an autonomous version of its voice AI product, months after revealing humans intervene 70% of the time it’s used. 

    By • May 7, 2024
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    John Hazard and Lisa Burdige
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    How McDonald’s and Burger King diverge on value-driven messaging

    Price-conscious consumers are forcing the QSR giants down different paths around how to advertise value and invest in their marketing.

    By Chris Kelly • May 1, 2024
  • Four different juices from Clean Juice
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    Permission granted by Clean Juice
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    Brix Holdings to buy Clean Juice

    The Christian juice chain, which lost dozens of franchise locations over changes to its business model, sold itself for undisclosed terms.

    By • April 29, 2024
  • The exterior of a Cava in Chicago
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    Permission granted by Cava
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    Cava’s Chicago store marks Midwestern debut

    The Wicker Park location is part of the chain’s push to add units after reaching profitability in 2023 and completing its Zoës Kitchen conversions.

    By • April 25, 2024