Dickey's to debut a brick-and-mortar store for its virtual wings brand

Wing Boss will open a restaurant in the Dallas market following strong results just four months after its launch as a delivery-only brand.

By Alicia Kelso • July 14, 2021

McDonald's franchisees boosting pay, rolling out child and elder care benefits

Operators surveyed more than 5,000 employees to determine what new offerings, such as tuition coverage and child care, would be most attractive.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated July 13, 2021

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

Panera tailors swimwear collection to those who eat soup in hot weather

The Swim Soup line's focus on e-commerce aligns with how Dunkin' and McDonald's are attempting to grow loyalty and build out a lifestyle positioning with devoted followers.

By Peter Adams • July 12, 2021

Bonchon says 72% of stores planned for 2021 will be fast casual

The chain experienced 15.3% same-store sales growth as of the end of June, and the company said the fast casual format has been well received by franchisees. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 12, 2021

Burger King promotes COO Tom Curtis to president of US and Canada

Curtis enters his new role as the company attempts to reinvent itself in the QSR space, launching a digitally focused rebrand and loyalty program.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated Aug. 24, 2021

Subway to launch massive menu revamp

On July 13, the sandwich chain will roll out 20-plus menu updates, including 11 new ingredients and six all-new or returning sandwiches as part of its Eat Fresh Refresh campaign. 

By Julie Littman • July 6, 2021

J. Alexander's Holdings sold to SPB Hospitality for $220M

The deal between the upscale dining chain and the parent company of Logan's Roadhouse and Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant is expected to close in Q4 2021.

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 2, 2021

McDonald's plans to cut franchisees' tech fees by 62% following uproar

According to an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg, the change was made to "reset" the relationship between corporate and franchisees.

By Alicia Kelso • July 1, 2021

Jack in the Box franchisee to buy Taco Cabana for $85M

Fiesta Restaurant Group sold the brand to YTC Enterprises, an affiliate of Yadav Enterprises. The sale leaves Fiesta with just Pollo Tropical in its portfolio. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 1, 2021

Red Lobster taps head of Black Box as CEO

Effective Aug. 2, Kelli Valade will succeed Kim Lopdrup, who is retiring. She inherits the company after it refinanced the remainder of a $380 million loan in January.

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 1, 2021

Krispy Kreme prices IPO at $17, far below original plans

The doughnut chain had planned for a range of $21 to $24 per share, but the depressed price could hint at lukewarm investor interest.

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 1, 2021

Au Bon Pain sold to Yum Brands franchisee

The café chain's parent company had planned to sunset the brand, Ampex Brands' CEO said, but Ampex is now looking to expand it beyond the 171 locations it acquires in this deal.

By Emma Liem Beckett • June 30, 2021

P.F. Chang's aims to have 50 To Go stores by 2022

The chain currently has 10 of its smaller footprint, off-premise-focused stores open, with 20 additional units underway. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 29, 2021

Wendy's CMO on Twitter snark, 'Rick and Morty' and building a $1B breakfast business

Carl Loredo, the chain's marketing chief since 2019, said his overall vision is unchanged by the pandemic, while tactics are evolving to meet tech needs.

By Peter Adams • June 29, 2021

Domino's lets customers bet on speediness of carside delivery with DraftKings tie-up

The challenge lets DraftKings users predict whether orders will actually show up in under two minutes for a chance to win a share of a $200,000 pot.

By Peter Adams • June 28, 2021

Grubhub partners with Las Vegas hotel to replace in-room dining

The deal with Resorts World Las Vegas lets guests order from the resort's 40 food and beverage concepts using the aggregator's app or via QR codes located on the property.

By Alicia Kelso • June 24, 2021

Dunkin' taps Coke marketing vet as US CMO following two-year search

Rafael Acevedo will shepherd a wide range of marketing functions, including digital initiatives, as the chain navigates the pandemic reopening.

By Peter Adams • Updated June 22, 2021

How Yum Brands generates sales, cultural impact with a three-pronged marketing framework

Former CEO Greg Creed and CMO Ken Muench went deep on an R.E.D. strategy — also the subject of their new book — that has turned brands like Taco Bell into category trendsetters.

By Peter Adams • June 17, 2021

McDonald's CEO: '$7.25 in this day and age is not what you should be paying'

Chris Kempczinski said at the CNBC Global Evolve Summit Wednesday that hourly wages will rise to $15 across the industry regardless of legislative mandates due to the strength of the economy.

By Emma Liem Beckett • June 17, 2021

Dutch Bros IPO prices above forecast for $3.8B valuation

The coffee chain will go public on the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday and raised the price of its shares to $23 each, an increase from its previously announced pricing of $18 to $20 per share.

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Sept. 15, 2021

&pizza offers $500 bonus to fully vaccinated employees

The incentive, provided to new hires and current employees, builds on the chain's previous offerings of paid-time off and subsidized transportation to get COVID-19 shots. 

By Julie Littman • June 15, 2021

Chipotle airs first national TV ad starring athlete as hype around Olympics builds

A spot featuring soccer player Julie Ertz promotes the brand's largest celebrity-curated menu to date, which is only available on digital and mobile channels.

By Peter Adams • June 14, 2021

Shake Shack taps Goldman Sachs analyst as new CFO

Katherine Fogertey will take the reins at the publicly listed fast casual chain on June 14.

By Jane Thier , Julie Littman • June 10, 2021

Starbucks resurrects reusable cup program after pandemic hiatus

The chain will restart the program on June 22 with a new contactless process that reduces touchpoints between employees and diners. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 9, 2021

Burger King trolls Chick-fil-A with LGBTQ donations during Pride

The latest escalation of the chicken sandwich wars is a not-so-subtle dig at a company with a history of donating to anti-LGBTQ charities.

By Chris Kelly • June 9, 2021