The Latest
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Getty Images
Tracking the same-store sales of 21 major restaurant chains
Major publicly traded restaurant chains had a strange Q2 for comps growth, from Chili’s 23% jump to Sweetgreen’s 7.6% shortfall.
Updated Aug. 18, 2025 -
Sun Holdings buys Bar Louie
The multi-brand company acquired the distressed chain out of bankruptcy less than a year after it bought Uncle Julio’s in a foreclosure auction.
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Permission granted by Potbelly
Potbelly adds wraps to core menu
The chain will offer two signature wraps and allow guests to make any sandwich into a wrap in its latest menu innovation.
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Courtesy of Square
Square debuts voice ordering, boosts AI assistant
As tech firms compete to build up an all-in-one restaurant management platform, features like back-office AI and phone ordering could become important points of competition.
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Courtesy of Domino's
Inside Domino’s first refresh in a decade — including its ‘cravemark’
With younger consumers in mind, the pizza chain has a new look and sound, including an audio-visual expression voiced by singer Shaboozey.
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Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Cracker Barrel traffic nosedived after logo backlash
Visits dropped by 10% in the weeks following the chain’s logo reversal, only improving to a 7% dip in the last week of September, according to Placer.ai.
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Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
Dunkin’ hits 10K stores in the US
The coffee chain is the latest brand to pass this milestone, joining Starbucks, McDonald’s and Subway in an elite — but sometimes troubled — cohort.
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Courtesy of Swig
Swig plots aggressive growth with new president, franchise chief
The dirty soda brand promoted Todd Smith from chief commercial officer to president and hired Shannon Swenson as chief of franchise partnerships.
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Courtesy of Starbucks
Why mobile-order and pickup-only restaurants fail, according to experts
Starbucks learned the hard way that customers care more about experience than efficiency.
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Courtesy of Dunkin'
Dunkin’ changes its rewards redemptions, again
A Restaurant Dive analysis of new discount rates shows the coffee chain has largely made it more expensive to redeem items.
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Courtesy of Starbucks
Starbucks ties in-store experiences, rewards to new Taylor Swift album
The chain has outfitted a Nashville store with a pop-up vinyl shop, photo booth and more, and claims it is throwing “the largest global listening party.”
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Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Cracker Barrel sacks brand consultancy, shuffles leadership
The chain fired the firm that advised it on its recent logo and restaurant refresh after significant consumer pushback led to a strategy reversal.
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Permission granted by Razzoo's Cajun Cafe
Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe goes bankrupt citing competitive pressures
Aggressive marketing and value-oriented promotions from Applebee’s and Chili’s contributed to the decline in sales, according to court filings.
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Courtesy of Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box launches AI-powered in-app game to deliver value
DealQuest: Revenge of the Munchies offers bigger rewards the deeper players get into the game, potentially attracting cash-crunched consumers.
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Courtesy of DoorDash
DoorDash’s 3 biggest consumer updates
Diners can view videos from merchants, find restaurants on Yelp to order from and receive AI-powered, personalized recommendations.
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Retrieved from Qdoba on October 02, 2025
Q&AQdoba’s new CMO on turning the fast casual chain into a national brand
As it rapidly expands, the chain looks to raise awareness with its first national marketing campaign, newly appointed CMO Jon Burke explains.
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Permission granted by Taco Bell Corp.
Chick-fil-A wins on order accuracy, experience at the drive-thru
QSR speed of service improved slightly, but mobile orders, app payments and customizations have created more complex transactions, Intouch Insight’s yearly drive-thru report revealed.
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Permission granted by DoorDash
Why DoorDash built its own delivery robot
Dot, a robot that can traverse bike lanes, parking lots and sidewalks, opens up an untapped logistics model alongside a new autonomous delivery platform.
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Permission granted by Krystal
Krystal launches first loyalty program
Consumers will earn 10 points for every dollar spent, as the QSR brand looks to drive frequency and increase check.
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Courtesy of The Wendy's Company
Wendy’s chicken tenders are here
The brand teased the addition of chicken tenders on its August earnings call, following the lead of McDonald’s and Taco Bell, which both added chicken strips this year.
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Permission granted by DoorDash
DoorDash launches dine-in rewards, reservations
With its new “Going Out” tab, guests can book reservations, earn in-store rewards and access exclusive offers from partner restaurants.
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Courtesy of Serve Robotics
Serve Robotics deploys robots with Uber Eats in Chicago
The robotics company said it will deploy dozens of robots across at least 14 neighborhoods to complete orders from upwards of 100 restaurants.
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Permission granted by Krystal
SPB Hospitality appoints GJ Hart as CEO
Hart, former Red Robin CEO, succeeds Josh Kern and will oversee a slimmer multi-brand platform that recently offloaded non-core brands.
Updated Sept. 29, 2025 -
Courtesy of Starbucks
Deep DiveWhy picking the right CEO makes or breaks a restaurant turnaround
From Starbucks’ Brian Niccol to BJ’s Lyle Tick and Potbelly’s Bob Wright, boards have made headway with executives that implemented strategic improvements to help sales and traffic.
Updated Sept. 29, 2025 -
Courtesy of Jimmy John's
Jimmy John’s moves to points-based rewards
Switching from a surprise-and-delight program to JJ Rewards could help drive frequency and incentivize the chain’s most loyal guests.
