Operations

  • An image of a white building with blue logo that says Zaxbys
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    Retrieved from Zaxbys on March 24, 2025
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    Zaxbys adds AI cameras to drive-thru

    The technology from Berry AI measures speed of service and line abandonment, which could help boost drive-thru times by identifying bottlenecks.

    By • March 24, 2025
  • An image of a black building with windows and The Cheesecake Factory signage.
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
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    The Cheesecake Factory overhauls menu

    The chain, which typically updates its menu every year, rolled out an extensive list of starters, entrees and beverages and removed 13 items.

    By • March 24, 2025
  • An evening photo of a beige brick building with brown letters that say "Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen."
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    Courtesy of Darden
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    Darden pilots Uber Eats delivery at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen

    The channel is in pilot at 10 restaurants with plans to deploy it across the 182-restaurant system in the near future.

    By • March 20, 2025
  • Sandwiches sit on a counter as workers as ingredients.
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    Anna Moneymaker / Staff via Getty Images
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    Restaurants focus on tech, retention as labor market cools

    Speeding up hiring with applicant tracking systems, mobile applications and automated interview scheduling could save time and money, the National Restaurant Association said.

    By • March 20, 2025
  • An exterior image of a white restaurant with a yellow decoration and signs that say Church's Chicken
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    Courtesy of Church's Chicken
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    Q&A

    Church’s Texas Chicken CEO: Chain’s future is defined by franchising, unit growth

    Roland Gonzalez, who took the top exec role in February, said Church’s will sustain its momentum by deploying more technology to boost operations and attract more operator commitments.

    By • March 18, 2025
  • A photograph of the inside of a Corner Bakery with chairs and booths in the foreground and ordering counter in the background.
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    Courtesy of Corner Bakery
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    Corner Bakery invests over $6M in cafe remodels, other brand improvements

    Two years after emerging from bankruptcy, the chain has completed seven remodels and plans to invest another $500,000 in additional renovations.

    By • March 18, 2025
  • An image of a man leaving a Chipotle. He is holding a brown bag.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Tracking the same-store sales of 21 major restaurant chains

    Sales at pizza and casual dining brands have struggled, while QSR giants like McDonald’s and Starbucks saw anemic changes and fast casuals Cava and Chipotle made big gains. 

    By , , • Updated March 20, 2025
  • The exterior of a Cava in Chicago
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    Permission granted by Cava
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    Cava opens first Indiana unit

    The growing Mediterranean brand is looking at cities like Indianapolis, Detroit and Pittsburgh as fresh markets for development in 2025.

    By • March 17, 2025
  • Little General
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    Permission granted by Little General Stores
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    Little General debuts small-format Buffalo Wild Wings in West Virginia

    The c-store retailer plans to bring at least five more Buffalo Wild Wings “Go” locations to West Virginia, with the next one set to open within 30 days.

    By Brett Dworski • March 17, 2025
  • A Qdoba store around dusk.
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    Permission granted by Qdoba
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    Qdoba’s development pipeline surpasses 500 units

    The chain is well on its way to reaching its 1,500-unit goal with commitments for 33 new restaurants.

    By • March 13, 2025
  • An image of a brown building with red logo that says Tony Roma's
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    Permission granted by Tony Roma's
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    Tony Roma’s future will be embedded with AI, robotics

    CEO Mohaimina Haque said these technologies can help inform operator decisions such as real estate selection and back-of-house workflows.

    By • March 13, 2025
  • A rendering of the interior of a convenience store. There are tables and chairs, a fireplace, benches and TV screens on oen wall showing a variety of sports.
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    Permission granted by Rutter's
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    Rutter’s announces new stores with bar and lounge

    This design is the latest in a series of updates the Pennsylvania-based retailer has rolled out over the past few years.

    By Jessica Loder • March 12, 2025
  • A sign with a lobster on it that says "This location is closed."
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    The 6 biggest casual chain bankruptcies since the COVID-19 pandemic

    CEC Entertainment and CPK have long since recovered from Chapter 11, while others like Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy last year after failing to grow sales.

    By • March 12, 2025
  • A Domino's Pizza in Eugene Or.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s promotes long-time exec to COO, US president

    Joseph Jordan, who has been with the chain since 2011, was elevated to the role as part of a larger change in the pizza chain’s organizational structure.

    By • March 11, 2025
  • An image of six different cocktails from Walk-On's
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    Permission granted by Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux
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    Walk-On’s redesigns menu, adds new cocktails

    The changes are designed to better attract the brand’s core audience of “sports enthusiasts” and “team moms.”

    By • March 10, 2025
  • A person walks into a women's bathroom.
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    goldhafen via Getty Images
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    Gross bathroom? It can cost your customer experience

    Dirty restrooms, out-of-stock paper towels and stalls with gaps can flush away an otherwise positive customer experience and send sales down the toilet.

    By Kristen Doerer • March 10, 2025
  • An image of three noodle dishes from Noodles & Company
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    Permission granted by Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company to roll out 9 new dishes next week

    Its initial menu update in October helped drive positive same-store sales during the fourth quarter.

    By • March 7, 2025
  • An image of a man wearing a suit in front of a beige brick wall with a giant smiling star in the background.
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    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants
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    Carl’s Jr parent appoints Joe Guith as CEO

    Guith spent the past two years at Church’s Texas Chicken, where he repositioned the brand and improved unit-level profitability.

    By • Updated March 6, 2025
  • An image of a restaurant with a logo that says "on the border mexican grill & cantina."
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    The image by Dwight Burdette is licensed under CC BY 3.0
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    On the Border is the latest casual chain to file for Chapter 11

    The company, which has 60 units remaining, closed 40 underperforming locations in February after several months of declining liquidity.

    By • March 6, 2025
  • A rendering of a restaurant that is both an Applebee's and an IHOP
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    Applebee’s hopes renovations, dual-branding will prevent more closures

    Dine Brands will remodel 30 restaurants it acquired from franchisees last year to help revive the ailing casual dining chain.

    By • March 5, 2025
  • A picture of an A&W located at a gas station.
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    Permission granted by A&W
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    A&W promotes COO to CEO post

    Betsy Schmandt, who has been with the company for 18 months, will work on enhancing the brand’s position, focus on value and continue the chain’s growth trajectory.

    By • March 4, 2025
  • A picture of a restaurant interior. Empty tables, white tile, green walls.
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    Courtesy of Perkins
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    Perkins to open Orlando flagship with cocktails, new menu

    By modernizing store decor and menu items, Perkins hopes to keep its brand fresh and draw new diners. 

    By • March 4, 2025
  • An nighttime image of a restaurant with the signage "Tom's Watch Bar"
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    Permission granted by Tom's Watch Bar
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    How Tom’s Watch Bar offers guests ‘the best seat in the house’

    Building off of double-digit revenue and sales growth, the 13-unit chain will more than double its store count over the next two years.

    By • March 3, 2025
  • A rendering of a Subway restaurant with tables and green walls.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    NRA: Restaurants are prioritizing on-premise in 2025

    About 80% of diners say they would eat at full-service spots if they had the cash, per the National Restaurant Association, incentivizing brands to create welcoming dining rooms.

    By • Feb. 28, 2025
  • The exterior of a Del Taco during the evening
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Del Taco closes 18 Colorado stores

    Franchisee Newport Ventures, which declared bankruptcy in October, shuttered all of its locations after a lender refused further funding.

    By • Feb. 28, 2025