The Latest
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9 restaurant industry trade shows to attend in 2025
The coming year is brimming with restaurant conferences and trade shows covering key issues for the business sector, from franchising strategy to economic forecasts.
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Sponsored by MARS Foodservices
How restaurants can thrive in the experience economy
Consumers are focusing on experiences rather than material goods, and restaurants are in the sweet spot to take advantage of this “experiential economy.”
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Serve Robotics debuts faster, larger robots for Uber Eats deal
The company is on track to deploy about 250 robots in Los Angeles in Q1 2025, and its next gen model can run for longer and carry more.
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Togo’s appoints CFO to CEO position
Matt Dowling, who has been CFO for three years, will continue in that role while also taking on the top executive position.
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Kraft Heinz ‘betting big’ on reaching consumers away from home
The ketchup and Mac & Cheese maker said its foodservice unit is “an integral strategic building block” to growing its business and raising brand awareness.
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Chipotle makes minority investment in Mediterranean fast casual concept
As part of its Cultivate Next venture fund, Chipotle invested in six-unit Brassica as well as artificial intelligence supply chain platform Lumachain.
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Chicken Salad Chick signs 5 franchise agreements across the Midwest
The flurry of franchise deals will strengthen the chain’s presence in Chicago and bring it to new markets like Cleveland and Kansas City, Missouri.
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KFC is battle-ready in satirical campaign for chicken tenders debut
The fried-chicken chain playfully nods to competitors like Popeyes in a campaign depicting a chicken tenders war.
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Darden wraps up Chuy’s acquisition
The Tex-Mex chain brings strong unit volumes — about $4.5 million — to Darden, but its same-store sales fell last quarter, like many casual dining brands.
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Looking to replace pumpkin spice? Stop looking.
One day there may be another innovative product that hits the cultural zeitgeist, but even then experts say the fall favorite is here to stay.
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Zaxbys is coming to Maryland
The chicken brand has signed a three-unit franchising deal covering the state’s Eastern Shore.
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McDonald’s tie-up with Krispy Kreme expands to Chicago
The Golden Arches’ home market starts serving Krispy Kreme doughnuts next week as part of a drive to add the treats to 1,000 of its restaurants this year.
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7-Eleven shuttering 444 North American stores amid strategic pivot
The retailer also aims to generate $520 million through sale-leasebacks of an undisclosed number of stores as its parent company slashes its profit forecast and spins off non-core segments.
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Fazoli’s returns to Utah with 5-store deal
Fat Brands, which acquired Fazoli's in 2021, is focused on bringing the Italian QSR back to markets it once left.
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Taco Bell to test chicken al pastor
The Al Pastor Street Chalupa is the first flavor variant of Taco Bell’s Cantina Chicken Menu. The chain will test more al pastor items in the future.
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Q&A // Meet the exec
How Rusty Taco’s president is plotting sustainable growth
Daniel Smith, who joined the chain earlier this year, is restructuring corporate to assist operators, boost franchise communication and optimize its business.
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‘Experiential’ brand Pepper Lunch signs West Coast expansion deal
The deal is a significant expansion of Pepper Lunch’s presence in the U.S. and covers parts of Southern California and Nevada.
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Applebee’s franchisee files for bankruptcy after creditor lawsuit
Louisiana Apple’s major creditor, City National Bank of Florida, claimed the operator and the brand transferred control of its restaurants in a breach of credit agreements.
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Noodles & Company brings new flavors to menu with 3 dishes
The fast casual chain’s transformation will touch two-thirds of the menu and will fill in flavor gaps with items like Chipotle Chicken Cavatappi.
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Toast adds branded apps and text marketing
The company said its new features can help restaurants drive traffic and frequency, and that apps are more effective than websites.
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Perkins debuts fast casual unit
The smaller unit balances Perkins’ traditional fare with breakfast sandwiches and a lighter menu section.
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Did McDonald’s $5 Value Meal bring customers back? Here’s what the data shows.
Traffic rose in the days following the promotion launch, but customers still view pricing negatively at McDonald’s.
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EG America reveals 3 new foodservice concepts
A Cumberland Farms store in Massachusetts is now home to the retailer’s first Alanza Pizza, Burger Baby and Wing Trip locations.
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Study: Chick-fil-A leads in drive-thru satisfaction, Taco Bell in speed
Intouch Insight’s drive-thru study found across-the-board improvements in chains’ speed. The firm added Raising Cane’s to its ranking for the first time.
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Starbucks buys more innovation farms to create climate-proof coffee
Farmers in Costa Rica and Guatemala will test drones, hybrid crop varieties and more as the company aims to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the region.
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Uber Eats to deliver with Avride robots in Austin
The deal is the latest in a string of partnerships between the delivery giant and robotics developers, and includes sidewalk robots and robotaxis.