Operations: Page 19

  • McDonald's drive thru sign
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s will remove self-serve beverage stations by 2032

    Operators said they are struggling to balance the space needed for drinks stations with slumping dining room traffic and rising digital orders.

    By • Sept. 12, 2023
  • A Pilot foodservice employee.
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    Courtesy of Pilot Travel Centers
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    Diners are happy with c-store food — but retailers have work to do, report says

    Operators need to guard against complacency, as the number of customers “extremely satisfied” with c-store foodservice has fallen from 2022, Intouch Insight said.

    By Jessica Loder • Sept. 11, 2023
  • 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
  • A stock image of a consumer examining a receipt.
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    Patpitchaya via Getty Images
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    Restaurants should expect a modest negative impact on sales with student loan repayments

    Starbucks, Chipotle and Shake Shack could see same-store sales growth slow as high-income consumers may cut spending, said BTIG.

    By • Sept. 11, 2023
  • A Chick-fil-A restaurant is seen on July 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Chick-fil-A tests robot servers

    A few of the chain's restaurants are using bots to deliver food to tables while staff still refill beverages and clean tables.

    By • Sept. 8, 2023
  • Casey's
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    Retrieved from Casey's.
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    Casey’s expands automated ordering technology

    The system, which the retailer has been testing for the past year, answers incoming phone calls, processes new orders and connects to Casey’s loyalty platform.

    By Brett Dworski • Sept. 8, 2023
  • A photograph of a Potbelly sandwich shop sign.
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Potbelly CEO hopes digital kitchen will fuel franchise growth

    The sandwich chain is refranchising restaurants in underpenetrated markets where it wants to scale quickly, and an efficiency-focused, digitized backline is proving attractive, said Bob Wright.

    By • Sept. 8, 2023
  • A computer with a screen of Grubhub's restaurant portal
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    Permission granted by Grubhub
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    Grubhub enhances customer insights with order frequency data

    Operators can view how often certain customers order from them and take action like running promotions to bolster return visits. 

    By • Sept. 7, 2023
  • An image of Grubhub on-demand delivery platforms in a computer and mobile screens.
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    Permission granted by Grubhub
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    Grubhub pilots on-demand delivery for self-delivery restaurants

    Operators that use in-house delivery can request a Grubhub driver for $5 per order whenever needed. 

    By • Sept. 7, 2023
  • First Watch chief brand officer Matt Eisenacher wears a blue suit and leans against a beige column.
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    Courtesy of First Watch
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    First Watch appoints chief brand officer

    Matt Eisenacher’s elevated role could help increase brand awareness as the 490-unit chain works toward its goal of 2,200 domestic units. 

    By • Sept. 6, 2023
  • A picture of the Las Vegas Strip at night
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    d25higgins via Getty Images
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    Culinary Union launches organizing effort at Las Vegas hotel restaurants

    The union is hoping to organize 10,000 restaurant workers at hotels along the Strip, starting with Eataly Las Vegas, part of MGM Resorts.

    By Noelle Mateer • Sept. 6, 2023
  • An image of two cars waiting at Chick-fil-A's drive-thru
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    Retrieved from Chick-fil-A on September 06, 2023
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    Chick-fil-A to add mobile pickup lanes to over 300 restaurants

    After an initial pilot, the fast food chain found that 85% of customers would use the lane again, and that 90% said the process was smooth.

    By • Sept. 6, 2023
  • Toast Inc. point of sale device
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    Courtesy of Toast Inc.
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    Toast CEO resigns

    Chris Comparato, who has been CEO since 2015, told the restaurant payments company’s board on Friday that he’ll exit his leadership posts on Jan. 1.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Sept. 5, 2023
  • An image of a Veggie Grill restaurant with tables and umbrellas outside.
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    Permission granted by Veggie Grill
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    Q&A

    Veggie Grill closed nearly half its stores to protect its future, CEO says

    Shifting demographics in a post-pandemic world made some of the plant-chain’s restaurants unprofitable, CEO T.K. Pillan said.

    By • Sept. 5, 2023
  • Three wraps from Jimmy John's in front of a red background
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    Permission granted by Jimmy John's
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    Jimmy John’s adds wraps to permanent menu

    Wraps, which were offered for two years as summer LTOs, are part of the chain’s plan to expand flavors and menu items. 

    By • Sept. 5, 2023
  • An image of a refreshed Subway.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    What Roark deal means for Subway franchisees

    Under its new owner, the sandwich chain could see more rapid expansion, but operators may still be challenged by low store-level profitability.

    By • Aug. 31, 2023
  • An image of a Del Taco resturant in Florida
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    Retrieved from GlobeNewswire on November 02, 2022
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    Del Taco opens first off-premise-only unit

    The 1,200-square-foot restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, includes a drive-thru lane, walk-up window and pickup lockers for digital orders. 

    By • Aug. 30, 2023
  • An image of a next gen Dunkin' in Woodstock, Georgia.
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    BCTGM withdraws petition in Dunkin’ union drive

    A union drive at a Cincinnati Dunkin’ did not reach an election, as the union withdrew its NLRB petition following a captive-audience meeting.

    By • Updated Sept. 12, 2023
  • A picture of a Chipotle with a pickup lane.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle agrees to $300K settlement in DC over child labor law violations

    The Washington, D.C., attorney general’s office found hundreds of instances of minors working past the number of hours allowed at Chipotle.

    By • Aug. 28, 2023
  • An image of a white and red restaurant with Krystal on the signage
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    Krystal launches refranchising program as it targets 500-unit count

    The chain, which plans to open 200 units in the next three to four years, is seeking experienced multi-unit operators to purchase company-owned units. 

    By • Aug. 28, 2023
  • An image of a kitchen counter with DoorDash orders ready for pickup.
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    Permission granted by DoorDash
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    DoorDash adds automated phone ordering for restaurants

    The system will answer all phone calls, offer recommendations for customers to add to orders and process orders through the restaurants’ point of sales. 

    By • Aug. 28, 2023
  • A woman's hand is holding a breakfast biscuit in a black takeout container with hashbrowns from IHOP.
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    Permission granted by IHOP
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    IHOP rolls out biscuit menu in latest menu evolution

    The Biscuits Menu comes a few months after the chain’s biggest revamp in its history, which included Eggs Benedicts.

    By • Aug. 28, 2023
  • Bone-in wings from Walk-On's with waffle fries in a paper plate.
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    Courtesy of Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux
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    Walk-On’s adds bone-in wings for the first time

    The chain may add the wings, which come in three flavors — Buffalo, Sweet Chili and Lemon Pepper Dry Rub — to its permanent menu depending on performance as an LTO.

    By • Aug. 25, 2023
  • A fast food employee hands a brown bag to a waiting customer in a car.
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    kmatija via Getty Images
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    How 5 fast food chains are seeing late-night traffic grow

    Wendy’s, Jack in the Box, McDonald’s, Burger King and Taco Bell saw visits rise from Q1 to Q2, Placer.ai data finds.

    By , • Aug. 25, 2023
  • Diesel Cafe, in Davis Square in Somerville, Mass.
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    Permission granted by Shane Woolley
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    Deep Dive

    Coffee could become a union industry in Boston

    UNITE HERE has organized four Boston cafe chains. Now, it wants to use a standard contract to spur more unionization and drive up wages in the city’s coffee sector. 

    By • Aug. 24, 2023
  • Three sizes of plastic cups with the green Starbucks logo and plastic lids.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks and Turn Systems’ reusable cup pilot aims for waste reduction

    This is the coffee giant’s largest reusables test program so far, and findings could pave the way for a fully scaled, permanent program.

    By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 23, 2023