Pandemic revs up drive-thru design innovations

With drive-thru traffic increasing in the double-digits over the last two quarters, QSRs like Arby's, McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell have developed prototypes that better streamline the channel.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 19, 2020

Designing with distance: How restaurants are evolving to meet pandemic needs

Forced air blasted between bar seats. Chef's kitchens encased in glass cubes. Garage-style, floor-to-ceiling windows. Experts predict what could become dominant design assets across the industry.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 18, 2020

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Back-of-house Technology

From AI-enhanced POS systems and analytics to robot-powered kitchen equipment, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

Why Chipotle CTO compares technologists to air traffic controllers

CTO Curt Garner says collaboration skills helped the company sustain its digital sales by layering technologies.

By Roberto Torres • Nov. 17, 2020

Dine Brands taps new CEO

​Though the company's overall performance is slowly recovering, Realogy Franchise Group CEO John Peyton will take the reins of the company at a very delicate point in time.  

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 17, 2020

How 5 mega chains are designing restaurants for a digital future

From McDonald's to Chipotle, limited-service brands are spending big on drive-thru, drive-in and pickup technology to grow revenue as the contactless experience becomes king. Here’s a breakdown of their designs.

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Nov. 17, 2020

Chick-fil-A goes modular with offsite restaurant rebuild

Frey-Moss Structures helped the chain create its first modular restaurant in Roswell, Georgia, in about half the time of a traditional scrape and build.

By Zachary Phillips • Nov. 16, 2020

Washington joins several states in weeks-long dining room bans as coronavirus cases surge

Oregon, New Mexico and Michigan have also temporarily closed indoor dining, which could put more restaurants that were starting to see signs of recovery at risk of permanent closures. 

By Julie Littman • Nov. 16, 2020

Full-service restaurants 'particularly risky' for COVID-19 spread, study finds

New research from Stanford University and Northwestern University also suggests that full lockdowns aren't necessary to control the virus, and that masks, social distancing measures and reduced capacity all work.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 11, 2020

Chipotle to open its first digital-only restaurant

The Digital Kitchen concept in Highland Falls, New York, will offer pickup and delivery only and could expand into more urban locations that wouldn't support a full-size restaurant.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 11, 2020

McDonald's new loyalty program will optimize digital, drive-thru opportunity

The chain will begin piloting the program, which offers personalized orders and deals across all digital touchpoints, at select Phoenix, Arizona, restaurants prior to a nationwide launch next year.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 9, 2020

Will ghost kitchens define the restaurant industry's future?

While investor interest booms and sales have the potential to outpace traditional models, questions linger about how much this emerging market could disrupt business in the long term. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 9, 2020

Wendy's taps operations chief as chain shifts focus to digital channels

To create more consistent experiences across its entire footprint, the chain named Deepak Ajmani as its new chief operating officer overseeing both company and franchise locations.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 6, 2020

Papa John's continued sales growth attracts lucrative franchisees

The chain reported a revenue increase of 17% year-over-year to $472.9 million for Q3, exceeding Wall Street expectations, and the fifth-consecutive quarter of comparable sales growth. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 5, 2020

The cooking robotics space expected to be a $322M business by 2028, study says

The fast food industry is expected to see a 17% per year growth rate through 2028, the highest of any sector, according to Research Nester.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 5, 2020

Wendy's breakfast, digital drive best same-store sales in 15 years

The QSR chain has plenty of room to grow its morning daypart since consumer awareness of the menu is about 50% and many of its existing customers haven't tried it yet.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 4, 2020

McDonald's taps new DEI leader

The evolution of McDonald's diversity, equity and inclusion practices has been in the spotlight throughout leadership changes, discrimination lawsuits and alleged labor violations. 

By Sheryl Estrada • Nov. 3, 2020

Aurify preps for expansion of Le Pain Quotidien brand in New York City

The company, which bought the cafe bakery chain for $3 million in June, will open at least 10 locations inside former Maison Kayser locations by early 2021.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 3, 2020

A DC ghost food hall gives a glimpse of a post-pandemic restaurant future

By the third weekend of dining room closures, restaurateur Aaron Gordon was pulling 100% of sales compared to 2019 through delivery and takeout alone. That spurred an idea, and in September Ghostline launched with six restaurants.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Nov. 2, 2020

Wendy's turns drive-thru into spooky Halloween experience

For people not near the Los Angeles "scare-thru," the chain is running a coupon effort on Twitter to ramp up usage of its app and loyalty program.

By Aaron Baar • Oct. 30, 2020

Restaurants weigh survival chances without full capacity or winterization efforts

As colder months approach, nearly half of operators think they would last less than a year if they continue to have restricted dining, according to a Rewards Network survey. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 30, 2020

Dunkin' closes over 680 underperforming stores

Closing these locations will allow franchisees to redeploy capital into a NextGen remodel, build new restaurants or relocate to higher-traffic areas where a drive-thru can be added.  

By Julie Littman • Oct. 29, 2020

White Castle will partially close all restaurants every presidential Election Day

Staff who are scheduled to work between 7 and 11 a.m. on Nov. 3 in its restaurants, manufacturing plants or office will be paid for the four-hour break so they can vote.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 28, 2020

Indoor dining to cease in Chicago Friday

After reaching 40% dine-in capacity on Oct. 1, restaurants in the Windy City must reclose their dining rooms due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 28, 2020

White Castle is bringing Flippy the robot to 10 more restaurants

The robot optimizes staffing during hard-to-fill, late-night shifts at the 24-hour restaurant, and integrates with delivery applications to sync order completion with driver pickup times.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Oct. 27, 2020

Rubio's among the largest fast casual chains to declare bankruptcy this year

The company joins a growing list of restaurants, including Ruby Tuesday, Sizzler USA, California Pizza Kitchen and CEC Entertainment, to file for Chapter 11 during the pandemic. 

By Julie Littman • Oct. 27, 2020