Operations: Page 13

  • Sacramento, California, outside the capitol building
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    DustyPixel/iStock via Getty Images
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    California changes junk fee disclosure for restaurants

    The state’s exemption says restaurants, bars, grocery stores and grocery delivery services don’t need to list mandatory fees as required by rules set to go into effect Monday.

    By • June 28, 2024
  • An image of a woman and a man standing next to a calkboard sign that says "we are open for brunch lunch dinner."
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    Rawpixel via Getty Images
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    Back to Basics: 5 ways restaurants can prepare for a successful grand opening

    Training, research, marketing, influencer buzz and loyalty programs can all ensure patrons walk into the restaurant on day one, and return during the weeks after, experts say. 

    By Danielle McLean • June 28, 2024
  • Three breakfast sandwiches from Panera stacked in a pyramid.
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera cooks up new breakfast menu

    Its April menu refresh consisting of sandwiches, salads and mac and cheese categories has received strong guest and staff member feedback. 

    By • June 27, 2024
  • A chef cooks a real hot dish.
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    vgajic via Getty Images
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    California adopts rule limiting indoor workplace heat exposure

    Employers will have to provide workers with cool down spaces and water if the indoor temperature or heat index cracks 87 degrees Fahrenheit. 

    By • June 27, 2024
  • An image of a Hashbrown Shepherd's Pie offered in a cast iron skillet. A hand with a fork has beef at the end.
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    Permission granted by Cracker Barrel
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    Cracker Barrel begins menu transformation with 14-store test

    The company is testing 20 menu items and an easier-to-navigate menu that it says reduces recipe complexity.

    By • June 26, 2024
  • A White Castle at night. The sky is dark. The store is not.
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle bolsters late-night staff to help drive and satisfy increased sales

    Orders placed between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. are an increased percentage of sales at the fast food chain, and it hopes to capitalize on growing demand. 

    By • June 26, 2024
  • Arby's drive-thru
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    Permission granted by Arby's
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    Arby’s franchisee files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

    Miracle Restaurant Group declared its second bankruptcy since 2010, citing financial pressures, rising costs, negative same-store sales and its inability to sell a number of low-performing stores.

    By • June 26, 2024
  • An image of a box with 10 burgers and sides next to a pitcher of pink liquid and a large salad. The box has "The Habit Burger" on it.
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    Permission granted by The Habit Burger
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    Habit Burger Grill launches catering with ezCater

    The fast casual chain joins chains like Bojangles and Perkins which have added catering through ezCater this year.

    By • June 25, 2024
  • A photograph of a building with brown exteriors and orange trim with a Hooters sign that has an owl on an O.
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    Courtesy of Hooters
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    Hooters closes locations across the country

    The casual chain joins TGI Fridays, Bloomin’, Rubio’s and Red Lobster in shuttering several locations this year following declining market conditions.

    By • June 25, 2024
  • A rendering of a green building with Perkins branding on it.
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    Permission granted by Perkins
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    Perkins rebrands, launches redesign

    Along with changing its name from Perkins Restaurant & Bakery to Perkins American Food Co., the casual brand will revamp its menu.

    By • June 24, 2024
  • An image of a front counter with bundt cakes in the display case
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    Permission granted by Nothing Bundt Cakes
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    Nothing Bundt Cakes plots path to 1K units by 2027

    The dessert shop opened its 600th unit this month and plans to open 120 this year as it works toward an annual growth rate of around 150 new units.

    By • June 20, 2024
  • An exterior image of a Pizza Hut with bricks and red signage
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    Courtesy of Yum Brands/Pizza Hut
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    Why Pizza Hut closed several locations in the Midwest

    Roughly a dozen locations in Indiana temporarily closed in June as operator EYM Group faces an ongoing legal battle with the chain over a contract dispute. 

    By • June 20, 2024
  • Guests play arcade games at Dave & Buster's.
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    Mark Davis via Getty Images
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    Dave & Buster’s sees customer satisfaction growth despite higher game prices

    Guest satisfaction scores are at historical highs, and CEO Chris Morris believes there is room to increase game prices without taking a hit.

    By Bryan Wassel • June 18, 2024
  • wawa
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    Retrieved from Wawa press release.
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    Wawa’s Hoagiefest continues a run of foodservice value deals

    With 62% of U.S. consumers eating less fast food due to inflation, c-stores and restaurants are leaning more into discounts and promotions.

    By Brett Dworski • June 18, 2024
  • An exterior image of a Shake Shack restaurant
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack hires Arby’s vet as COO

    Stephanie Sentell, who has over two decades of restaurant experience, will oversee operations at company-owned restaurants. 

    By • June 17, 2024
  • An image of a sign post with yellow print that says drive-thru
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s ends IBM drive-thru voice order test

    The fast food chain still sees a future for automated order taking at the drive-thru and expects to make a decision about the tech by year’s end.

    By • June 17, 2024
  • A sign is posted in front of a McDonald's restaurant on April 28, 2022 in San Leandro, California.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    Traffic at QSR chains in California declines following minimum wage increase

    Price increases meant to offset the cost of the sector’s $20 minimum wage in the state have significantly dented customer visits, data from Placer.ai shows. 

    By • June 13, 2024
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    Courtesy of CKE
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    CKE appoints Papa Johns vet as chief technology and growth officer

    Justin Falciola will oversee information technology, digital strategy and operations and help deploy new technologies as the company invests in digital channels. 

    By • June 12, 2024
  • Portillo’s CFO Michelle Hook header
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    Permission granted by Michelle Hook
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    Q&A

    Portillo’s CFO Michelle Hook shares secret sauce for restaurant growth

    Hook talks about her job switch from Domino’s after 17 years, what creates passion for the work and how Portillo’s is viewing growth.

    By David McCann • June 12, 2024
  • An image of a building with "Rubio's Coastal Grill" on the outside.
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    Permission granted by Rubio's Coastal Grill
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    What drove Rubio’s to declare bankruptcy again

    Despite completing a restructuring in 2020, the chain struggled to overcome macroeconomic headwinds that led to three years of negative EBITDA. 

    By • June 12, 2024
  • An image of a man in a blue striped shirt crossing his arms
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    Permission granted by Corner Bakery
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    Corner Bakery promotes COO to president

    Erin Hasselgren, who returned to the chain as COO in 2023, has become the company’s fifth president and first under new owner SSCP.

    By • June 12, 2024
  • Flavor Flav clock for Red Lobster
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    Courtesy of Red Lobster
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    Red Lobster says it’s ‘here to stay’ with Flavor Flav-led campaign

    To combat doomsaying around its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the seafood chain is going full steam ahead on its Crabfest promotion. 

    By Peter Adams • June 11, 2024
  • A Waffle House in Alabama.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Waffle House workers claim organizing prompted companywide wage bumps

    While CEO Joe Rogers III said wage increases were five years in the making, they also come months after organized workers went on strike at several stores calling for higher pay. 

    By • June 11, 2024
  • A menu with photos of shrimp, lobster tail with "The Utlimate Way to celebrate any day" underneath. The menu sits atop a dark table.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    What operators can learn from Red Lobster’s downfall

    While the full-service chain’s food options have remained relatively unchanged during the past few decades, restaurants like Angry Crab Shack have found success by constantly innovating.

    By • June 11, 2024
  • An image of Tijuana Flats
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    Permission granted by Tijuana Flats
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    Tijuana Flats appoints turnaround expert as CEO

    James Greco, who has helped revitalize brands like Sbarro and Bruegger’s, joins the fast casual brand two months after it declared bankruptcy.

    By • June 11, 2024