Shift Change: Yum Brands appoints new CFO, Famous Dave's hires director of marketing

This week's Shift Change highlights new executives at Yum Brands, Famous Dave's, Umami Burger and more. 

By Julie Littman • June 28, 2019

Waitr lays off over 20 employees at headquarters

Following its Bite Squad acquisition, the delivery company has made cuts to its office staff to create more efficiencies, says CEO Chris Meaux. 

By Julie Littman • June 28, 2019

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

Dunkin' sues franchisees for employment verification violations

The company's move follows terminations of several agreements with franchisees, which collectively operate more than two-dozen units, indicating an increase in oversight related to potential federal labor violations.

By Alicia Kelso • June 27, 2019

McDonald's switch to fresh beef boosted Quarter Pounder sales

Phasing out frozen patties helped drive the chain's first market share gain in five years, and led to a 30% rise in sales of the burger. 

By Lauren Manning • June 25, 2019

Red Robin looks to pizza to drive off-premise sales

The casual chain is testing the addition of Donatos Pizza to its delivery and in-store menu, a move that could brighten its delivery portfolio.

By Alicia Kelso • June 24, 2019

Del Frisco's sold to private equity firm for $650M

Following a strategic review, the restaurant group agreed to an acquisition by L Catterton, which plans to operate Del Frisco's Grille and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse separately from bartaco and Barcelona Wine Bar. 

By Julie Littman • June 24, 2019

KFC's new flagship to serve as technology learning lab

The store includes self-serve digital kiosks, an area dedicated to mobile order and delivery pickup, and digital menu boards in-store and at the drive-thru. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 21, 2019

McDonald's testing 'Green Concept' stores in Canada

The locations will serve as incubators for new packaging options and recycling initiatives, such as recyclable lids made from wood fiber, paper straws and wooden cutlery.

By Emma Liem Beckett • June 21, 2019

Jury awards $15M to Jack in the Box employee dubbed 'grandma'

A court found the supervisor was subjected to wrongful discharge, retaliation, harassment and age and disability discrimination.

By Lisa Burden • June 21, 2019

Shift Change: Texas Roadhouse president retires, Wendy's hires new CMO

This week's Shift Change highlights leadership changes at Texas Roadhouse, Wendy's and Checkers & Rally's. 

By Julie Littman • June 21, 2019

Dunkin' debuts 'human charger' pop-up for summer solstice

On the longest day of the year, coffee drinkers can visit the activation to snag a free drink, a reusable straw and a tongue-in-cheek user guide.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) , Barry Levine • June 21, 2019

McDonald's pilots robot fryer in kitchen

The fast food chain is also testing voice-activated drive-thrus and automated beverage systems to decrease wait times and improve customer service and employee satisfaction. 

By Julie Littman • June 21, 2019

Taco Bell snubs plant-based meat as Del Taco's Beyond Taco sales soar

Del Taco sold 2 million plant-based tacos in under two months, but Taco Bell is focusing on increasing its vegetarian offerings without adding fake meat.

By Lauren Manning • June 20, 2019

Off-premise, not delivery, is a growing focus for Olive Garden

The casual dining chain has grown its sales in takeout and catering by 9% in the most recent quarter without the help of third-party delivery. 

By Julie Littman • June 20, 2019

Chick-fil-A opens Des Moines kiosk

The move comes as Dunkin' and Nathan's Famous experiment with mobile restaurant concepts in New York, and three years after the chain opened a kiosk in the city to gauge local interest.

By Lauren Manning • June 19, 2019

Dunkin' leverages Grubhub's geofencing to optimize NYC delivery

The test is the first phase of a nationwide delivery rollout through the platform, which will integrate directly into the coffee chain's point-of-sale system to monitor traffic and delivery times. 

By Alicia Kelso • June 18, 2019

Postmates delivers free lunches inspired by Amazon's 'Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'

The delivery tie-in aims to showcase Postmates' delivery services in a competitive market by highlighting cuisine from the hit show.

By Robert Williams • June 18, 2019

Kroger tests 30-minute delivery as restaurant competition grows

As the threat of services like Grubhub and Uber Eats looms, the grocer is offering delivery of fresh produce, beverages and heat-and-eat meals through its Kroger Rush program.

By Jeff Wells • June 18, 2019

Domino's begins driverless delivery test with Nuro in Houston

The pilot will allow the pizza chain to learn how diners interact with the robot and how these deliveries affect store operations. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated April 12, 2021

Activist investor wants to remove five Red Robin directors

Vintage Capital wants the casual dining chain to call a special investors meeting where the shareholder would propose to remove five directors from the board. 

By Alicia Kelso • Updated June 19, 2019

Shift Change: Inspire Brands adds 2 to C-suite, McAlister's Deli hires CMO

This week's Shift Change highlights executive changes at Inspire Brands, sweetgreen, McAlister's Deli, Wahlburgers and more. 

By Julie Littman • June 14, 2019

Welcome to Good Burger: Nickelodeon pops up restaurant to promote 'All That' return

To promote the revival of the millennial favorite, the kids network teamed with the makers of the popular "Saved by the Bell" pop-up.

By Chris Kelly , Barry Levine • June 14, 2019

Church's Chicken reportedly on the market for $350M

The chicken chain joins the likes of Perkins & Marie Callender's, Del Frisco's and Whataburger, all of which are reportedly exploring or finalizing a sale. 

By Lauren Manning • June 14, 2019

Amazon Restaurants is dead, but the e-tailer is still hungry for food delivery

Now that the company has yielded its slice of the market to DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub, analysts expect Amazon to buy its way back into the game.

By Julie Littman • June 14, 2019

Dems urge McDonald's to enforce franchise sexual harassment policies

Lawmakers called the chain's working conditions "unsafe and intolerable" and said its alleged pervasive pattern of harassment must end.

By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • June 13, 2019