Operations: Page 5
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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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 11, 2024 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 Julie Littman • Dec. 3, 2024 -
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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 2, 2024 -
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 -
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 -
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 Julie Littman • Nov. 27, 2024 -
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 Julie Littman • Nov. 26, 2024 -
‘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 -
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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 26, 2024 -
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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 26, 2024 -
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 Julie Littman • Nov. 25, 2024 -
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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 22, 2024