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Permission granted by Aleah Bacetti
Starbucks unionization effortsStarbucks Workers United launches multi-day strike
Beginning in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, the union will expand limited strikes until Christmas Eve, potentially impacting hundreds of stores.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 20, 2024 -
Courtesy of Momofuku
Deep DiveFrom restaurant to retail: How Michelin-starred brands are infiltrating the grocery store
The channel provides establishments such as Momofuku and Carbone with new revenue streams and an opportunity to connect more consumers.
By Chris Casey • Dec. 20, 2024 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
TrendlineBack-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 -
Joel Carillet via Getty Images
Restaurant gift card sales up 17% during Thanksgiving weekend: report
In addition to gift card sales growth, Patronix reported an uptick in in-store purchases versus digital compared to the same period last year.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 20, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
These restaurants closed hundreds of stores in 2024
Red Lobster closed over 100 stores prior to filing for bankruptcy, while other chains like Denny’s, which is closing 150 underperforming units, are using closures to improve system health.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 19, 2024 -
Neal McNeil via Getty Images
FTC excludes restaurants from junk fee rule
In another regulatory victory for restaurants, the Federal Trade Commission backtracked on including restaurant fees in its price transparency rule.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 19, 2024 -
Permission granted by Saucy by KFC
Inside KFC’s tech-centric concept
Opening Monday in Orlando, Florida, Saucy focuses on chicken tenders and will use order-ahead pickup technology to boost speed and efficiency.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 19, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Starbucks unionization effortsStarbucks Workers United members vote to authorize strike
While bargaining has progressed, the union said the company hasn’t presented a comprehensive economic framework.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 17, 2024 -
Courtesy of Cava
The restaurant industry’s top 3 winners and losers of 2024
Sales and traffic fell for many brands, like Starbucks and McDonald’s, but fast casuals like Chipotle and Cava had a good year.
By Julie Littman , Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 17, 2024 -
Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
Why activist investors will keep targeting restaurants in 2025
From a CEO-ouster at Starbucks to pressure on The Cheesecake Factory to spin off smaller brands, activist investors took dramatic measures to boost shareholder value in 2024.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 16, 2024 -
i_frontier via Getty Images
Nearly half of independent restaurants couldn’t pay rent in November: report
Rental delinquencies were up 11% last month compared to 2023 as operators struggled with rising operating costs, according to Alignable.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 16, 2024 -
Retrieved from Naf Naf.
How c-stores pushed the envelope on foodservice in 2024
From creating new restaurant concepts to expanding menus and bringing in QSRs, retailers keep seeking new ways to enhance this key category.
By Jessica Loder • Dec. 13, 2024 -
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Krispy Kreme online ordering disrupted by cyberattack
After an attack on part of its information technology systems, the chain said it is working to restore online ordering. Store operations were not impacted.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 11, 2024 -
Courtesy of Church's Chicken
Church’s Texas Chicken turns to drive-thru AI
SoundHound’s technology could help the chicken chain speed up order processing by shifting workers from order taking to food making.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 11, 2024 -
BirdImages via Getty Images
Taking flight: Why more restaurant chains are catering to travelers
While big chains appear in numerous airports and train stations, emerging competitors like Slim Chickens and Pollo Campero are also using these locations to build brand awareness.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 11, 2024 -
Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Dave & Buster’s CEO steps down as sales slide
Chris Morris’ resignation follows several quarters of falling same-store sales as consumers pulled back from restaurant spending.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 11, 2024 -
Permission granted by Yelp
Yelp enhances platform with more personalized home feeds
The review platform added over 20 features, such as AI-powered review insights and enhancements to its business product suite.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 10, 2024 -
Permission granted by Taco Bell/Diversified Restaurant Group
An inside look at Taco Bell’s beverage concept
Live Más Café offers drinks that appeal to Gen Z consumers like chillers, agua frescas and specialty coffee drinks.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 10, 2024 -
Courtesy of Smashburger
Smashburger’s CMO on righting the brand’s course with a new visual identity
New chief marketer Thomas Prather says the fast casual chain was “adrift” after adjustments made during the pandemic period.
By Chris Kelly • Dec. 9, 2024 -
Courtesy of Jollibee
Jollibee courts Gen Z with new premium drinks
The Signature Sips menu offers 16-ounce quenchers, freezes and iced tea starting at $3.99.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 6, 2024 -
Courtesy of Church's Chicken
Why Church’s launched a loyalty program for its value-seeking customers
Church’s Texas Chicken is one of a growing number of companies that have launched or revamped loyalty programs with a focus on driving more value for members.
By Michael Brady • Dec. 6, 2024 -
Tornado98 via Getty Images
Torchy’s Tacos deploys phone AI ordering
The chain is using SoundHound’s tool, which can handle customized orders and answer questions about the menu, at all of its 130 locations.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 5, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Chipotle raises menu prices by 2%
This is the chain’s first nationwide price increase since 2023 and will help offset low single-digit food cost inflation.
By Julie Littman • Updated Dec. 5, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
10 of the restaurant industry’s most impactful bankruptcies of 2024
While dozens of brands and operators filed for bankruptcy this year, a sample of major filings show a range of problems from rising labor costs to low traffic.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 5, 2024 -
Courtesy of Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut tests new US store design
The Yum Brands chain hopes self-service kiosks and other new features will drive more transactions and in-store traffic.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 4, 2024 -
Permission granted by Keke's Breakfast Cafe/Photo by Seth Parker with Parker Studios
Keke’s Breakfast Cafe on path to reach 200 locations
Two years after Denny’s acquired the breakfast chain, it has signed commitments for over 140 units and is in the early stages of remodeling more than 50 locations.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 4, 2024
