Operations

  • A photograph of a brick building with signage that says "Krystal"
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    Krystal to open first travel center location

    The QSR is focusing on non-traditional locations like travel centers, c-stores and airports as part of a strategy to add high-traffic locations to its portfolio.

    By • April 16, 2025
  • A person holds out a hand to take a brown bag from a person holding it out.
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    Antonio_Diaz via Getty Images
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    NRA: Consumers want more takeout, but lack the cash

    Millennials and Gen Z consumers largely view takeout as a vital part of their lifestyles, per a National Restaurant Association report.

    By • April 16, 2025
  • A picture of Burger King signs.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    57-unit Burger King operator goes bankrupt

    Despite high performance metrics, Consolidated Burger Holdings has faced traffic declines and revenue losses since the COVID-19 pandemic.

    By • April 16, 2025
  • A nighttime image of a beige building with a logo that says Donatos
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    Courtesy of Donatos Pizza
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    Donatos Pizza drops DoorDash’s AI ordering system for Revmo AI

    The chain is using automation to take rote tasks off employees’ plates so they can better focus on the guest experience.

    By • April 14, 2025
  • A man holds smiles with an open mouth at the camera as he holds up a sign reading "reciprocal tariffs" and listing multiple countries and percentage amounts.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Will restaurants be hit hard by tariffs? 6 experts weigh in

    America’s baseline tariffs and the potential for renewed, country-specific taxes could pose significant problems for the restaurant industry. But analysts and trade groups are split on just how much risk looms.

    By Restaurant Dive Staff • April 14, 2025
  • The prize center inside a Dave & Buster's restaurant
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    Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic via Getty Images
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    Dave & Buster’s overhauls its remodel strategy as sales continue to fall

    The restaurant chain still wants to offer unique experiences — but leaders are aiming for higher returns on investment.

    By Bryan Wassel • April 14, 2025
  • Noble Markets
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    Permission granted by Noble Markets
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    Noble Gas bringing Capriotti’s sandwiches to East Coast c-stores

    The retailer will open the sub shop inside its newest gas station in Enfield, Connecticut, later this month, with several more sites to come.

    By Brett Dworski • April 14, 2025
  • People stand in front of kiosks by a McDonald's
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    Tillster: 61% of users want more restaurant kiosks

    Diners are becoming more comfortable with kiosks since they can review their orders for accuracy, per a report.

    By • April 14, 2025
  • A photograph of a restaurant with the words Huddle House on the side.
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    Permission granted by Huddle House
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    Ascent Hospitality promotes Blain Shortreed to COO

    Shortreed, who joined the company in 2023 as Huddle House president, will focus on strategic growth, operations and franchise relations in his new role.  

    By • April 10, 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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    9 of the biggest restaurant CEO hires of Q1

    The first three months of the year brought new leaders to Jack in the Box, CKE Restaurants, Church’s Texas Chicken, Panera Brands and more. 

    By • April 9, 2025
  • An image of a sign with a red apple and the word Applebee's
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    How Applebee’s designed its customer insights program

    The restaurant chain incorporated feedback from a range of stakeholders to ensure its customer insights are actionable and readily available.

    By Bryan Wassel • April 8, 2025
  • An image of several food items on a table from First Watch's LTO menu with two people partially in view in the background
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    Permission granted by First Watch
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    Why First Watch takes 18 months to develop seasonal menus

    The breakfast chain goes on “flavor tours” to inspire its LTOs, which it rotates every 10 weeks in order to keep up with evolving diner demands.

    By • April 7, 2025
  • Farming tracker in a corn field
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    Permission granted by Lamb Weston
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    Sponsored by Lamb Weston

    Cultivating a greener future – The ongoing journey of sustainability in restaurants

    Sustainability is more than a buzzword. It is a core value that is becoming indispensable to guests.

    April 7, 2025
  • A woman with brown curly hair looks down at a Caeser Salad on her table. She is holding a fork and knife. She is in a restaurant.
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    milorad kravic via Getty Images
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    Solo dining is on the rise, report finds

    Younger diners like to eat alone, with 49% of millennials and 46% of Gen Z consumers preferring to do so, according to a TouchBistro report.

    By • April 3, 2025
  • President Donald Trump waves to a crowd at the White House on April 2, 2025.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump installs 10% baseline tariff, country-specific duties

    The president said he will levy import taxes on a wide range of countries, based on White House calculations. The National Restaurant Association said tariffs will only exacerbate pricing problems for the industry.

    By Philip Neuffer • April 3, 2025
  • An image of a giant logo that says Applbee's.
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Why urban areas are a challenge for casual chains

    High rents, difficult buildouts and space limitations are among many reasons why casual full-service chains often avoid spaces in cities. But opportunities are out there, experts say.

    By Danielle McLean • April 3, 2025
  • An evening image of a buildign with white letters that says Texas Chicken
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    Retrieved from Texas Chicken on March 18, 2025
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    Church’s Texas Chicken to open 900 more international units

    Through its international brand Texas Chicken, the chain will enter Germany, Hungary and Georgia for the first time, expanding its presence in Europe.

    By • April 3, 2025
  • A portrait of a person dressed in a suit in front of a gray background.
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    Courtesy of P.F. Chang's
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    P.F. Chang’s promotes COO Brad Hill to CEO

    Hill, who has been at the company for nearly eight years, steps into the role following Eduardo Luz’s departure.

    By • Updated April 2, 2025
  • A photograph of a hand holding up a smartphone with it open to Domino's page on DoorDash.
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    Courtesy of Domino's/DoorDash
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    Domino’s teams with DoorDash, ditches Uber Eats exclusivity

    The pizza chain, which has partnered with Uber Eats since 2023, believes third-party aggregator partnerships are a $1 billion sales opportunity.

    By • April 2, 2025
  • An image of purple cups that say PJ's coffee house
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    Retrieved from PJ's Coffee of New Orleans on April 01, 2025
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    PJ’s Coffee parent company CEO to retire

    Peter Boylan, who has headed up Ballard Brands since 2016, will remain on as an advisor while David Mesa takes over as president of franchise development.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • An image of a light blue building with a sign that says "The original Hooters"
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    Courtesy of Hooters Inc.
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    Hooters of America sells itself, files Chapter 11

    The chain will sell over 100 company-owned locations to two major franchisees, which will also take over franchise support and corporate functions.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • An image of a smiling woman in front of a white background.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles appoints former KFC exec as chief legal officer

    Kate Ward, who worked at KFC for nine years, becomes Bojangles’ top legal executive as the chain pushes for 1,000 units.

    By • March 31, 2025
  • An image of a Twin Peaks restaurant in the daytime.
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Twin Peaks CEO resigns

    Joe Hummel will leave the company on April 10 along with Chief Legal Officer Clay Mingus, both of whom have been at the brand for over seven years.

    By • March 31, 2025
  • A zoomed in image of Dutch Bros building signage
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    Courtesy of Dutch Bros
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    Dutch Bros plans to build 1K shops within 5 years

    The coffee chain expects annual revenue growth of roughly 20% and is targeting a store count of 2,029 by 2029.

    By • March 28, 2025
  • A photo of Bar Louie's new unit layout.
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    Courtesy of Bar Louie
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    Bar Louie files for bankruptcy protections, again

    The gastropub chain’s footprint shrank from 71 units in 2021 to 48 as of March, while sales at some franchised units remain flat compared to 2015.

    By • March 28, 2025