What's the impact of the Senate's failure to pass RRF? The restaurant industry reacts.

From independent operators to hospitality groups, most are disappointed and some are angry that there remains no federal aid to support struggling restaurants.

By Thai Phi Le • May 24, 2022

By the numbers: The cost of 1 year without RRF

We took a look at several market performance indicators over the past year to get a sense of how the absence of Restaurant Revitalization Fund impacted U.S. restaurants, and what operators are forecasting for the future. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 24, 2022

'A huge slap in the face': Milwaukee chef on losing his RRF grant

Since he was a kid in Venezuela, Amilinda owner Greg Leon was surrounded by cooking. But the pandemic nearly took that away, as his restaurant was stripped of promised funds and his staffing took a hit. 

By Thai Phi Le • May 24, 2022

RRF refill bill fails to pass Senate in major blow to restaurant industry

While the vote wasn't a surprise, the inability to approve S. 4008 leaves the Restaurant Revitalization Fund empty and the nearly 200,000 applicants that didn't receive grants in the dark. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 19, 2022

Starbucks to cover travel for employees seeking abortion, gender-affirming care

The policy applies to workers, as well as their dependents, who need to travel more than 100 miles to access these medical procedures. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • May 17, 2022

McDonald's offloads Russian restaurants to licensee for undisclosed price

Alexander Govor, who operated 25 units in Siberia, will run the locations under a new brand and retain McDonald's employees for at least two years.  

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated May 19, 2022

McDonald's franchisees reportedly worried new grading system will hurt retention

Operations PACE would mandate a further six to 10 visits by assessors and company representatives to every location, the chain's operators told CNBC.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne , Emma Liem Beckett • May 13, 2022

Chili's parent extends education benefits to employees' family members

Brinker International's perk will allow one eligible family member of each worker who is management level or above to access tuition-free programs. 

By Alicia Kelso • May 13, 2022

Study: Independent restaurants show signs of recovery despite inflation

The NPD Group found the number of independent restaurant units grew 1% by the end of 2021, compared to a 5% decline in 2020. 

By Alicia Kelso • May 12, 2022

Why the NLRB's Starbucks complaint may only be symbolic union win

Starbucks denies the complaint's hundreds of union-busting allegations. If the chain is found to have violated labor law, it could be years before the board can enforce consequences.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • May 12, 2022

Reef cuts 5% of workforce amid expansion

The ghost kitchen firm says the layoffs are needed to adapt to disruptions in unspecified sectors, according to an internal memo.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • May 9, 2022

Starbucks' denial of new benefits to union workers is a legal gray area, labor experts say

Starbucks claims it can't legally extend new benefits and wage increases to organizing stores, and experts say this exclusion could discourage baristas from voting pro-union.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • May 5, 2022

Noodles & Company's new employee benefits include immigration reimbursement

The noodle chain is offering six new work perks as part of a larger new brand positioning called “Uncommon Goodness." 

By Alicia Kelso • May 4, 2022

Jack in the Box will test Miso beverage and fry cook robots

Flippy 2 can increase throughput by 30%, or around 60 baskets per hour, and Sippy can fill 200 drinks per hour, reducing labor pressure.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 26, 2022

How to optimize same-day restaurant labor costs with real-time data

Learn how to use real-time data from your integrated POS system to make informed business decisions.

April 18, 2022

Gen Z is attracted to flexible restaurant jobs. But what makes them stay?

Positive corporate culture and authentic, charitable missions may be better means to retain these young workers than increased hourly rates amid the Great Resignation, writes Tim Weiderhoft, CEO of Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade.

By Tim Weiderhoft • April 14, 2022

DOL: 7 Little Caesars franchises fined $161K for allowing teens to perform unsafe work

Tennessee franchises allowed 15-year-olds to prepare food for baking, remove it from ovens and operate a vertical stand-up mixing machine, investigators found.

By Laurel Kalser • April 13, 2022

Starbucks taps new chief strategy officer amid growing union tension

Frank Britt will report directly to interim CEO Howard Schultz, who wrote a blog post Monday suggesting the union's goal is at odds with the company's values.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 11, 2022

New York legalizes to-go cocktails through 2025

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the state's budget deal, which also establishes a reform commission designed to modernize New York's alcohol regulations, on Saturday.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated April 12, 2022

Chick-fil-A awards $24M in college scholarships to nearly 12,700 employees

More than 2,200 of this year's scholarships were funded from sales of its bottled sauces, introduced in 2020 and sold at select retailers.

By Alicia Kelso • April 7, 2022

House passes bill that would inject $42B into Restaurant Revitalization Fund

If H.R. 3807 passes the Senate, the 177,000 restaurants that were approved for but didn't receive RRF grants will be in a queue to receive funding, legislators said on a call hosted by the Independent Restaurant Coalition.

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 7, 2022

Long John Silver's pays $200K to settle teen's sexual harassment, retaliation claim

After a 17-year-old worker complained of a manager sending her explicit videos and propositioning her, the company refused to investigate and ultimately fired her, EEOC alleged.

By Laurel Kalser • April 7, 2022

House, Senate introduce bills adding $40B to RRF

The House is expected to vote on a $42 billion refill bill this week, while Sen. Benjamin Cardin introduced a similar bill to add $40 billion to the RRF Tuesday.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated April 6, 2022

Howard Schultz suspends Starbucks share repurchase program

The move will let the chain invest more profit into employees and stores "to create long-term value for all stakeholders," Schultz wrote on Monday. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 5, 2022

Foodservice added 250K jobs in first 3 months of 2022

Employment in the sector still lags behind February 2020 levels by about 820,000 jobs, but this is the smallest gap to date between pre-pandemic and current job levels.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 4, 2022