Starbucks boosts employee pay as US wages rise

The coffee giant will hike wages at least 10% for baristas, shift supervisors and cafe attendants hired on or before Sept. 14. Starting pay will also be raised 5%.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 19, 2020

Pandemic revs up drive-thru design innovations

With drive-thru traffic increasing in the double-digits over the last two quarters, QSRs like Arby's, McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell have developed prototypes that better streamline the channel.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 19, 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

Wendy's files objections to NPC asset sale to Flynn Restaurant Group

The burger chain said in a court filing that it disapproves of costly break-up fees and Flynn's ownership of two competitors, Panera and Arby's, which would violate Wendy's franchisee agreement. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 17, 2020

Dine Brands taps new CEO

​Though the company's overall performance is slowly recovering, Realogy Franchise Group CEO John Peyton will take the reins of the company at a very delicate point in time.  

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 17, 2020

McDonald's USA hires new chief people officer

Tiffanie Boyd's hiring is the latest in a string of executive shuffling in the chain's HR department, a trend sparked by former CEO Steve Easterbrook's ouster in November 2019.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 16, 2020

Chick-fil-A goes modular with offsite restaurant rebuild

Frey-Moss Structures helped the chain create its first modular restaurant in Roswell, Georgia, in about half the time of a traditional scrape and build.

By Zachary Phillips • Nov. 16, 2020

Lettuce Entertain You warns of over 1K layoffs

The largest hospitality company in Chicago filed notice of potential job losses at 25 restaurants in mid-October, two weeks before Illinois suspended indoor dining in the city. 

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 16, 2020

Chick-fil-A adds online ordering through its website

Previously, customers could only place orders via the restaurant's website for catering. But after testing the feature in two markets over the summer, the chicken chain is allowing online ordering across its entire system.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 13, 2020

DoorDash launches IPO

The food delivery company's initial public offering stock price is expected to range between $75 and $85 per share. 

By Julie Littman • Updated Nov. 30, 2020

McDonald's plants its flag in the alternative meat space

The QSR giant will start testing its McPlant product line in 2021, but controversy has already arisen over which company is supplying the products.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 11, 2020

Chipotle to open its first digital-only restaurant

The Digital Kitchen concept in Highland Falls, New York, will offer pickup and delivery only and could expand into more urban locations that wouldn't support a full-size restaurant.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 11, 2020

Arby's flips viral TikTok videos into special menu item

Inspiration for the campaign stems from a video of a user saying his new flat-screen TV only displayed a message from Arby's.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 9, 2020

NPC International cancels asset auctions

The move could make it easier for Flynn Restaurant Group to complete its $816 million bid for the company's assets, according to The Wall Street Journal.

By Julie Littman • Updated Dec. 1, 2020

Wendy's taps operations chief as chain shifts focus to digital channels

To create more consistent experiences across its entire footprint, the chain named Deepak Ajmani as its new chief operating officer overseeing both company and franchise locations.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 6, 2020

Uber Eats could reach profitability by next year, CEO says

As Uber Eats diversifies its business with the addition of grocery and pharmacy delivery, gross bookings were up 135% and revenue grew 125%.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 6, 2020

Papa John's continued sales growth attracts lucrative franchisees

The chain reported a revenue increase of 17% year-over-year to $472.9 million for Q3, exceeding Wall Street expectations, and the fifth-consecutive quarter of comparable sales growth. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 5, 2020

Wendy's breakfast, digital drive best same-store sales in 15 years

The QSR chain has plenty of room to grow its morning daypart since consumer awareness of the menu is about 50% and many of its existing customers haven't tried it yet.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 4, 2020

Ghost kitchen provider Reef raises $700M

Reef will use the funding to grow from around 4,800 locations to 10,000, and CEO Ari Ojalvo said ghost kitchens "will be a significant part of non-parking revenue" for the company. 

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Nov. 4, 2020

McDonald's franchisees face more COVID-19 OSHA complaints

Two McDonald's employees in Chicago filed separate OSHA complaints claiming they were pressured to work while sick and that proper coronavirus protections were not followed. 

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 3, 2020

McDonald's taps new DEI leader

The evolution of McDonald's diversity, equity and inclusion practices has been in the spotlight throughout leadership changes, discrimination lawsuits and alleged labor violations. 

By Sheryl Estrada • Nov. 3, 2020

Aurify preps for expansion of Le Pain Quotidien brand in New York City

The company, which bought the cafe bakery chain for $3 million in June, will open at least 10 locations inside former Maison Kayser locations by early 2021.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 3, 2020

Friendly's declares bankruptcy, agrees to $2M sale

While the casual chain saw improvements after focusing on off-premise, closing unprofitable locations and reducing costs, the pandemic stifled its progress.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 2, 2020

Wendy's turns drive-thru into spooky Halloween experience

For people not near the Los Angeles "scare-thru," the chain is running a coupon effort on Twitter to ramp up usage of its app and loyalty program.

By Aaron Baar • Oct. 30, 2020

Roark Capital sells Corner Bakery

The cafe chain was seeing declining sales even before the pandemic, but Boston Market owner Rohan Group sees potential alliances between the two brands.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 30, 2020

McDonald's settles racial discrimination lawsuit with Black franchisees

The company bought the four restaurants operated by plaintiffs James and Darrell Byrd for $6.5 million, and the Byrds will exit the chain's system.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated June 10, 2021