Ghost Financial injects $100M into food truck manufacturer Cruising Kitchens

The funding supports CK Ghost Kitchens, a new Cruising Kitchens division focused on developing ghost kitchen and food truck licensing agreements with celebrities, influencers and athletes. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 11, 2022

Latent loyalty: How restaurants can improve customer retention and profits through a digital-first loyalty program

Restaurants need the right partners to help them identify customers offering them promotions that lead to increased loyalty.

July 11, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Restaurant Financing

With ongoing macroeconomic pressures facing restaurants, operators are entering into alternative financing, mergers and acquisitions and even bankruptcy to sustain their businesses. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

Toast buys Sling to enhance employee scheduling, communications

The purchase will enhance Toast’s Team Management offerings by helping operators pay workers faster and better manage labor costs, Toast said.

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 7, 2022

BurgerFi and Gopuff expand delivery nationwide

Following a 90-day trial in Florida, the companies are bringing BurgerFi’s products to more than 30 Gopuff food halls throughout the U.S.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 7, 2022

Panera terminates agreement with Danny Meyer's SPAC

Due to unfavorable capital market conditions, Panera Brands and USHG Acquisition Corp. ended their relationship Friday. Panera said it will continue to explore a public listing if conditions improve.

By Julie Littman • July 1, 2022

Food benefits platform Sharebite raises $39M

The technology, which enables restaurants to deliver food to corporate clients, will use the funding to grow and launch new products.

By Alicia Kelso • June 29, 2022

Reef pursues ownership stake in pizza concept

Reef's EVP for Kitchens and Brands, Kenneth Rourke, will join the board of 800 Degrees Go, a joint venture between 800 Degrees and robotics company Piestro.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 29, 2022

Gov. Pritzker signs budget deal with $50M for Illinois restaurants

Restaurants and taverns with 50 employees or fewer can snag grants of up to $50,000 if they haven't received RRF grants or other state or local financial aid.

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 26, 2022

Activist investor: JET's Grubhub purchase is a 'capital allocation mistake'

Cat Rock Capital Management, which owns 6.9% of shares in Just Eat Takeaway, urged investors to vote against JET's CFO and supervisory board.  

By Julie Littman • April 25, 2022

Most asked questions about sales tax

Sales tax can be a hassle. These are the questions we get asked the most about managing sales tax.

April 25, 2022

Chipotle launches $50M venture fund to access emerging tech

Cultivate Next, which will be funded solely by the chain, will focus on Series B stage companies that can help accelerate Chipotle's strategic priorities.

By Julie Littman • April 19, 2022

Dave & Buster's to buy Main Event for $835M

Following the close of the all-cash transaction, which is expected to occur later this year, Main Event CEO Chris Morris will become Dave & Buster's CEO.

By Julie Littman • April 6, 2022

Howard Schultz suspends Starbucks share repurchase program

The move will let the chain invest more profit into employees and stores "to create long-term value for all stakeholders," Schultz wrote on Monday. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 5, 2022

Surging inflation compelling small businesses to raise prices

Inflation is broad based — flaring in every sector — and will probably persist longer than initially expected, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said.

By Jim Tyson • April 1, 2022

Papa John’s refranchises 90 units in Texas with Sun Holdings

The move will give Sun Holdings, which will open 100 new Papa John's units in Texas by 2029, the scale to support new restaurant development.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 31, 2022

Study: Two-thirds of restaurants hurt by rising gas prices

Restaurant owners say steep prices at the pump have affected their delivery sales, according to Alignable research. 

By Alicia Kelso • March 30, 2022

Red Lobster taps Bloomin' Brands alum as CFO

David Schmidt succeeds Craig Pommels, who left Red Lobster to become CFO of Cracker Barrel in December.

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 14, 2022

Sweetgreen's digital sales made up 67% of Q4 2021 revenue

By capturing the majority of its online orders through proprietary platforms, the salad chain has been able to collect valuable consumer data that informs digital-exclusive offerings. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 7, 2022

Delivery bot firm Starship has raised $100M since January

The company's funding includes $57 million from the European Investment Bank and $42 million from a Series B funding round led by NordicNinja and Taavet+Sten.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 2, 2022

Toast CFO leans into tactical investments for market share

“As CFO it’s my role to make sure I take the strategy and paint the picture with numbers,” Elena Gomez said.  

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Feb. 28, 2022

Wendy’s creates development fund, new store formats to grow franchise diversity

The burger chain's "Own Your Opportunity" recruitment initiative is designed to increase restaurant ownership among women and people of color.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 28, 2022

DoorDash's 2021 revenue, losses buoyed by new verticals

The leading delivery aggregator's revenue rose 69% over year one of the pandemic, but its losses grew by $7 million.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 17, 2022

Grubhub expands convenience channel Grubhub Goods nationwide

The service will offer delivery from more than 3,000 locations across the country and follows a successful pilot with 7-Eleven. 

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 15, 2022

DoorDash will give cash advances to small businesses

DoorDash Capital allows restaurants to repay the cash advances based on a percentage of their DoorDash sales and without interest.

By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 9, 2022

Chipotle’s menu prices are about 10% higher than last year, and still climbing

The menu price hikes contributed to strong quarterly sales, with same-store sales rising 15% over Q4 2020 and total sales hitting $2 billion, exceeding analyst predictions.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 9, 2022