Operations

  • Adam, a robot made by Richtech Robotics, makes an espresso drink at the National Restaurant Association Show in May 2025.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Reporter’s notebook: 3 unanswered questions from the NRA Show

    Can a robot really replace a worker? Will tariffs trigger a recession? Can you charge $14 for a mocktail?

    By • May 28, 2025
  • Robot arms make a pizza.
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    Courtesy of Donatos Pizza
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    Donatos Pizza to open automated restaurant in airport

    The pizza chain, which has worked toward operating robotic pizzerias since 2023, said an airport environment is ideal for the concept.

    By • May 28, 2025
  • A hand drops sauce from a spoon onto plates of food.
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    Gins Wang via Getty Images
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    Full-service restaurant uncertainty: Why diners are trading up and down

    Customers are pulling back on spending in full-service dining — except when they aren’t. Both fine dining establishments and massive casual brands must adapt to mixed signals.

    By • May 28, 2025
  • A corporate headquarters in a flat landscape dotted with lakes.
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    TW Farlow via Getty Images
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    Darden closes one-third of Bahama Breeze restaurants

    The company closed 15 Bahama Breeze locations across eight states in May, as part of a push for its smaller brands to focus on high-performing units. 

    By • May 27, 2025
  • Three fast food beverages stand in line.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s will wind down CosMc’s, test drinks

     The Golden Arches will start shuttering its beverage innovation spinoff’s units in late June, just 18 months after its first location opened. 

    By • May 27, 2025
  • Waitress attending customers and using mobile phone in a restaurant
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    FG Trade via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Bottle Rocket

    How restaurants can serve up personalized experiences through technology

    The ability to speak directly to consumers elevates successful restaurants and brands.

    May 27, 2025
  • Contactless payment made a restaurant dinner table.
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    Southworks

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    Why dashboard dining and weekend restaurant visits are on the rise

    Consumer trends are contradictory, according to a Technomic presentation at the National Restaurant Association Show. Both on-premise group dining and solo car dining are growing.

    By • May 22, 2025
  • A photo of a parking lot with a number of EV chargers set up alongside the parking spaces.
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    Courtesy of BP Pulse
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    BP Pulse is bringing EV chargers to Waffle House

    Chosen sites in the Southeast and the Sunbelt will get six electric vehicle charging bays, with the first locations coming online next year.

    By Jessica Loder • May 22, 2025
  • Chili's Big Smasher cheeseburger accompanied by sides of chips, fries and cola on a wooden dining table
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    Permission granted by Chili's Grill & Bar
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    The restaurant industry’s Q1 2025 winners and losers

    Consumer price sensitivity led to declines at Chipotle, McDonald’s and other QSRs, while Chili’s and Cava were among a handful of companies to see traffic and sales gains.

    By • May 22, 2025
  • An image of a person wearing a black polo shirt smiling in front of a wood paneled background.
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    Permission granted by Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King appoints CFO as president

    In his expanded role, Gavin Felder will oversee day-to-day management and retain his financial responsibilities at the fast-growing smoothie chain.

    By • May 22, 2025
  • A photograph of various burgers, chicken sandwich, chicken nuggets and fries in cardboard packaging.
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    Ant DM via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack bets on 10 casino locations with PENN Entertainment

    The fast casual chain, which already operates in three casinos, will open its first restaurants with the entertainment company in 2026.

    By • May 21, 2025
  • A person wearing black hat and black clothes stands in front of a big sink and is washing a large pan.
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    Juanmonino via Getty Images
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    Independent restaurants urge Congress to exempt service charges from taxes, not just tips

    The “No Tax on Tips” provision in a proposed budget reconciliation package only benefits customer-facing staff, not dishwashers or other back-of-house workers, the IRC said.

    By • May 20, 2025
  • An image of three Krispy Kreme doughnuts and six in a box.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's/Krispy Kreme
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    Krispy Kreme sued by investors over McDonald’s rollout pause

    The lawsuit claims the chain failed to disclose profitability issues it was having with the QSR partnership, which subsequently led to a steep decline in stock prices after Q1 2025 earnings.

    By • May 20, 2025
  • Burger King’s Maple Bourbon BBQ Whopper
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    LTOs and value are key to solving restaurant traffic downturn: Technomic

    With consumers bracing for tariff impacts, limited-time offerings will likely grow in importance alongside budget-focused menu items.

    By • May 20, 2025
  • A white sign that says Cava in front of a glassed facade building.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava has big plans for its loyalty program

    Loyalty is bringing consumers into the restaurant’s ecosystem, while its emphasis on hospitality builds relationships, according to CEO Brett Schulman.

    By Bryan Wassel • May 19, 2025
  • The interior of SeoulSpice's first restaurant in Chicago.
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    Permission granted by SeoulSpice
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    SeoulSpice heads to Chicago, plots national expansion

    With trouble brewing in its home market, the Korean fast casual chain plants its first flag outside of Washington, D.C.

    By • May 19, 2025
  • Am image of a sign on a window that says "Meal Deal" and shows a chicken sandwich and burger with nuggest, fries and a Coca-Cola.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Analysts at NRA Show: Tariffs could make H2 gloomier for restaurants

    As costs rise, fast food chains are losing pricing advantages relative to fast casual and even full-service chains.

    By • May 19, 2025
  • 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 deploys kiosks at 1,500 restaurants

    The chain, which posted negative same-store sales for the quarter, boasted a 18% digital sales mix, just shy of its 20% goal.

    By • May 16, 2025
  • An image of a customer entering a Cava restaurant.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    How Cava beat traffic gravity in Q1

    The brand’s 10.8% comparable sales growth outperformed rival fast casuals, with Chipotle and Sweetgreen posting flat-to-negative sales.

    By • May 16, 2025
  • Three images of a smart phone showing ways to reserve through the application.
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    Permission granted by Uber Eats
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    Uber Eats, OpenTable reservation integration will launch this fall

    Users will be able to book a reservation from the Uber Eats app through a “Dine Out” tab, which will feature various local dine-in restaurants.

    By • May 15, 2025
  • A Starbucks worker in a green apron and a black shirt.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks union workers strike over dress code changes

    Baristas at more than 50 cafes have walked off the job over new clothing policies, which they say deviate from agreements made at the bargaining table.

    By • May 14, 2025
  • A stock image of a consumer examining a receipt.
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    Patpitchaya via Getty Images
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    Tariffs, immigration policy put US restaurants at ‘significant risk’: Fitch

    High consumer price sensitivity leaves brands with little room to offset the costs of tariffs and labor market disruptions.

    By • May 14, 2025
  • A photograph of a smiling person wearing a black suit jacket and blue shirt.
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    Courtesy of Brinker International
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    Brinker promotes Aaron White to COO

    White will maintain her role as chief people officer in addition to overseeing operational improvements that bolster the employee and guest experience.

    By • May 13, 2025
  • An image of a giant logo that says Applbee's.
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Applebee’s perks up its loyalty program with an emphasis on exclusivity

    Dine Brands wants to use memorable loyalty opportunities and speedy service to help Applebee’s and IHOP grow.

    By Bryan Wassel • May 13, 2025
  • A beige storefront with a bank of windows in the front. The top of the buildings sayd "Mountain Mike's
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    Permission granted by Mountain Mike's
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    Why Mountain Mike’s doesn’t want to be like every other pizza chain

    Unlike rival brands that are shrinking footprints to focus on off-premise service, the California-based chain leans on its dining rooms, salad bar and arcade games to stay competitive.

    By • May 13, 2025