Operations

  • An image of a cream and beige building with a drive-thru lane. The building has a logo that says "Chipotle."
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle reaches 1K Chipotlane milestone

    The fast casual chain is also on track to open a record number of restaurants this year in the range of 285 to 315 units.

    By • Nov. 20, 2024
  • Individuals holding Peet's Coffee seasonal drinks
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    Courtesy of Peet's Coffee
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    Deep Dive

    How do coffee chains design, market and analyze their seasonal LTOs?

    While flexibility is important, many brands plan coffee LTOs more than a year in advance, meaning next year’s holiday drinks are already in the works at places like Peet’s and Dutch Bros.

    By • Nov. 19, 2024
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Back-of-house Technology

    From voice AI at the drive-thru to robot-powered makelines, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • An image of Quarter Pounder, fries and a drink from McDonald's
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s invests $100M to help franchisees recover from E. coli outbreak

    About $35 million will go toward marketing programs that will help drive traffic and rebuild consumer trust.

    By • Nov. 18, 2024
  • An evening shot of a building with white and red coloring and signage that says "Portillo's."
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Chains struggle to stand out amid ‘noise’ of value wars

    Papa Johns, Popeyes and Burger King’s value messages did not break through, while Portillo’s sought to sidestep deep discounting.

    By • Nov. 18, 2024
  • A man stands in front of two self-order kiosks at Bojangles.
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    Permission granted by Grubbrr/Bojangles
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    Bojangles to install ordering kiosks across its system

    The chicken chain said its pilot of the Grubbrr technology had high adoption rates and helped increase throughput.

    By • Nov. 15, 2024
  • A rendering of a Subway restaurant with tables and green walls.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway’s newest design focuses on improving the dining room experience

    During concept testing, guests said the Fresh Forward 2.0 image, which includes warmer wood tones and improved lighting, increased their chances of eating inside a Subway.

    By • Nov. 14, 2024
  • A white bowl with blue liner that contains a pasta dish with tomatoes, asapragus and lobster.
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    Courtesy of Red Lobster
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    Red Lobster brings back old favorites, new items in menu remake

    The casual chain added seven new dishes and revived classics like hush puppies and popcorn shrimp.

    By • Nov. 12, 2024
  • A rendering of Walk-On's small prototype.
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    Courtesy of Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux
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    Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux signs first franchise deal to build smaller restaurants

    Operator Port Royal Brands will develop 20 units in Georgia and Tennessee using a prototype that will be half the size of Walk-On’s traditional restaurants.   

    By • Nov. 12, 2024
  • An image of a burger and french fries from McDonald's
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    What restaurants, suppliers can learn from McDonald’s E.coli outbreak

    The fast food giant’s initial response to the outbreak was quick, but guest sentiment suffered from a lack of direct consumer messaging.

    By , Sarah Zimmerman • Nov. 12, 2024
  • A man in a gray suit stands in front of a wood panel background with the logo "Chipotle."
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle names Scott Boatwright permanent CEO

    Boatwright, who has been interim CEO since August, said on an earnings call that the chain will continue its current strategies and focus on operational efficiency.

    By • Nov. 11, 2024
  • A hand holds a smartphone with Sweetgreen's loyalty program on the screen
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen to launch points-based loyalty program

    The chain is shifting its approach after customers found its tiered program, which includes a free and paid subscription, was too complicated.

    By • Nov. 11, 2024
  • A red emergency pizza box from Domino's
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    How QSR pizza chains are competing on value

    Domino’s focus on promotions and discounts helped increase sales, while Papa Johns and Pizza Hut struggled with similar offerings.

    By • Nov. 7, 2024
  • A rendering of a bar and tables with televisions hanging from the center and on the brick walls.
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    Permission granted by Walk-On's
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    Walk-On’s to open first corporate stores since 2016

    The chain will open multiple corporate-owned locations next year that feature a new interior and exterior in addition to updated kitchen equipment.

    By • Nov. 7, 2024
  • Popeyes signage
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    Popeyes didn’t focus on value in Q3 and paid for it

    The chain lacked enough compelling promotions to attract price-sensitive customers during the summer, contributing to negative comparable sales.

    By • Nov. 6, 2024
  • An image of various food items from Burger King's Fiery menu
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King’s LTOs met with stiff competition in Q3

    The chain’s summer promotions, including its Fiery menu, had trouble cutting through QSR value messages, resulting in softer than expected sales in Q3.

    By • Nov. 5, 2024
  • An image of CKE Restaurants CEO Max Wetzel
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    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants
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    Tropical Smoothie Cafe appoints new CEO

    Max Wetzel, who previously served as CEO at CKE Restaurants for over a year, joins the smoothie chain months after it was acquired by Blackstone.

    By • Nov. 4, 2024
  • A smiling white man in a blue shirt and a gray jacket with notch lapels.
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    Courtesy of Red Lobster
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    Red Lobster hires Brinker exec as COO

    Larry Konecny joins the seafood chain, which recently emerged from Chapter 11, after a 17-year tenure at Maggiano’s Little Italy.

    By • Nov. 4, 2024
  • A rendering if a red and orange building with El Pollo Loco signage.
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    Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
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    El Pollo Loco ramps up remodel efforts with low-cost design

    A new prototype, which includes furniture upgrades and energy-efficient hoods and HVAC, will help reduce buildout costs from $2.2 million to $1.8 million.

    By • Nov. 4, 2024
  • A man takes orders at a Starbucks counter.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    How Starbucks plans to get back to being a coffeehouse

    The coffee giant thinks ceramic mugs, a coffee condiments bar and comfy chairs are a good start toward improving its in-store vibe.

    By • Nov. 1, 2024
  • An image of a white building with yellow signage that says McDonald's
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s E. coli outbreak now tied to 90 illnesses

    The CDC said Wednesday that it’s likely that slivered onions from Taylor Farms used on Quarter Pounders caused the outbreak.

    By • Oct. 31, 2024
  • An image of a red sign with white logo that says "Wendy's." Above the sign is an cartoon image of a girl with red hair and pigtails with blue bows.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s to close 140 poor-performing restaurants in Q4

    To boost the health of the overall system, the chain will close outdated restaurants that have operating margins below average and unit volumes of about $1.1 million.

    By • Oct. 31, 2024
  • An image of a a white building with Chipotle signage at night.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Fast casual chains steam ahead with expansion as other sectors pull back

    Shake Shack, Chipotle and Wingstop are on track to open over 700 units combined this year, while targeting strong sales growth.

    By , • Oct. 31, 2024
  • An image of a menu board from McDonald's showing quarter pounders crossed off and words that say "back soon."
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    With E. coli outbreak contained, McDonald’s focuses on next steps

    The chain’s traffic fell almost 10% nationwide and more than 30% in Colorado in the days following the public health crisis, according to visitation data.

    By • Oct. 30, 2024
  • A photograph of a brick building with a red sign and white letters that says Chipotle.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle remains focused on core strategy, efficiency improvements, interim CEO says

    Under Scott Boatwright, Chipotle aims to follow a steady course and carry out key initiatives like adding expediters and back-of-house equipment to boost throughput.

    By • Oct. 30, 2024
  • An image of a sign that says $5 Meal Deal on a window of a McDonald's
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s US comp sales turn positive in Q3

    The fast food giant gained traffic with the help of its $5 Meal Deal and expects to release a holistic value platform in early 2025.

    By • Oct. 29, 2024