Operations: Page 5


  • An exterior image of a white restaurant with a yellow decoration and signs that say Church's Chicken
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    Courtesy of Church's Chicken
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    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 Dec. 11, 2024
  • An image of an airport sign that says Terminal B with a restaurant sign highlighted in the foreground.
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    BirdImages via Getty Images
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    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 Dec. 11, 2024
  • 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 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 Dec. 11, 2024
  • An image of three smartphone screens with various words and insights from Yelp reviews.
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    Permission granted by Yelp
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    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 Dec. 10, 2024
  • An image of several specialty drinks from Taco Bell's Live Mas Cafe lined up on a white counter top.
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell/Diversified Restaurant Group
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    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 Dec. 10, 2024
  • A person eats Smashburger food
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    Courtesy of Smashburger
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    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
  • A photo of various drinks from Jollibee
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    Courtesy of Jollibee
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    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 Dec. 6, 2024
  • Church's Chicken restaurant exterior
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    Courtesy of Church's Chicken
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    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
  • A Torchy's Tacos sign shot from a low angle.
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    Tornado98 via Getty Images
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    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 Dec. 5, 2024
  • A customer in a green shirt and jeans watches workers complete a food order in a Chipotle restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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 Updated Dec. 5, 2024
  • An image of Red Loster sign on the outside of a restaurant
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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 Dec. 5, 2024
  • A store interior with white tile, red accents and pickup cabinets.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    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 Dec. 4, 2024
  • An image of a white building with Keke's logo
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    Permission granted by Keke's Breakfast Cafe/Photo by Seth Parker with Parker Studios
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    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 Dec. 4, 2024
  • Applegreen
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    Permission granted by Applegreen
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    Applegreen to open larger travel centers in the US as part of $1B investment

    The Dublin-based company plans to also expand its foodservice and EV charging infrastructure across the U.S., Ireland and the U.K.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 3, 2024
  • A man wears a gray suit and stands in front of a glass window.
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s names Jack in the Box exec as COO

    Tony Darden joins Portillo’s as the chain focuses on improving operations and building restaurants with high AUVs.

    By Dec. 3, 2024
  • An image of a restaurant with beige paint and a stone facade with "Red Lobster" signage
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Red Lobster adds happy hour as turnaround continues

    The seafood chain is looking to reverse its sales troubles of recent years, and discounts on drinks and apps could help it draw consumers.

    By Dec. 2, 2024
  • Circle K
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive, data courtesy of Brett Dworski
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    Couche-Tard has a new opponent in sight: QSRs

    The retailer is banking on its new value meals to boost same-store merchandise revenue, which has dropped the past four quarters.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 2, 2024
  • A wood frame of a McDonald's under construction.
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    Tim Boyle via Getty Images
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    Back to Basics: How to find the right site for a new store

    Each type of real estate comes with new opportunities and potential pitfalls. Picking the right site requires a deep analysis of the location, its area and the challenges that come with it, experts say. 

    By Danielle McLean • Dec. 2, 2024
  • 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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    Jack in the Box eliminates COO position

    Tony Darden will leave his position as SVP and COO and Ryan Ostrom, current EVP and chief marketing and digital officer, will assume responsibility for Jack in the Box’s operations.

    By Nov. 27, 2024
  • A family holds up glasses in cheer while eating at a Thanskgiving meal.
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    ozgurcankaya via Getty Images
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    Over a third of consumers plan to order takeout, delivery for Thanksgiving

    Of the consumers planning to order out, a majority said it was easier and a third said it’s cheaper or equal to the cost of buying groceries and cooking, according to Popmenu.

    By Nov. 26, 2024
  • A promotional image for Chipotle's smoked brisket menu item. Text on the image reads, "Limited time only Smoked Brisket Chipotle"The image shows a burrito bowl with rice, beans, meat and peppers on the left. On the right is sliced beef with a cup of dipping sauce and sliced peppers.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    ‘Not just the beef’: How Chipotle’s supply chain helped bring back smoked brisket

    The return of the popular menu item required what CEO Scott Boatwright called “a huge cross-muscle effort.”

    By Philip Neuffer • Nov. 26, 2024
  • An image of a Starbucks sign
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks scheduling tools crippled by Blue Yonder outage

    A ransomware attack against the software vendor has pushed the coffee chain to temporarily rely on manual scheduling to ensure workers are paid for hours.

    By Nov. 26, 2024
  • The exterior of a Cava in Chicago
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    Permission granted by Cava
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    The restaurant industry’s Q3 winners and losers

    2024 has hammered many chains with closures, declining sales and problems of brand perception. But some, like Cava and Chili’s, have managed to rise above the fray.

    By Nov. 26, 2024
  • A woman holds up her smart phone to a tablet that is asking what percentage of a tip should be added.
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    lechatnoir via Getty Images
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    Are customers tipping more? Here’s what the data says.

    While customers feel more pressure to tip across industries, they still tip a relatively stable 18% at restaurants.

    By Nov. 25, 2024
  • Union members hold up a sign reading 'Wage Theft' with similar graphic design to a Waffle House sign behind them.
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    Courtesy of Union of Southern Service Workers
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    Waffle House claims NLRB process is unconstitutional

    The casual chain has faced union organizing activity for over a year, and now wants the court to weaken the agency tasked with regulating labor law.

    By Nov. 22, 2024