The Latest

  • An empty Starbucks redesigned for on-premise occasions with couches and nice chairs.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Inside Starbucks’ atmospheric and experiential renovations

    At a remodeled Chicago cafe, the proportion of on-premise traffic has doubled as consumers enjoy couches, comfy seating, outlets and warm lighting. 

  • a sandwhich with tomato, bacon and herbs inside
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    Permission granted by Good Foods Group
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    Sponsored by Good Foods Group

    What’s driving the shift toward cleaner, simpler menus?

    When Americans are deciding where their next meal will come from, nutrition is just part of the equation.

  • Four Cold Brews, three with flavored cold foam toppings.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell tests cold brew coffee

    The chain will use its Live Más Cafés to pilot the beverages, which could see a wider national rollout.

  • The Wendy's logo displayed near a Wendy's restaurant on June 18, 2024 in Austin, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell / Staff via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s appoints Bob Wright as CEO

    Wright joins the fast food chain as it continues to face declining sales, store closures and pressure from an activist investor.

    Updated May 20, 2026
  • An image of a Twin Peaks restaurant in the daytime.
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Fat Brands to be sold to multiple buyers for nearly $1B

    Elevation Burger and Hot Dog on the Stick will go to different owners in cash transactions, while Twin Peaks and the remaining Fat restaurant concepts will be sold in debt sales to two entities. 

  • Minnesota restaurant reportedly closed amid ICE enforcement operations
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Restaurants frame immigration as a fight for consumer affordability

    As inflation concerns escalate, restaurant groups have found lawmakers more receptive to immigration conversations — even in deep red Texas.

  • A photo of a Cava location in a brick endcap retail space.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava wins Q1 with 9.7% same-store sales jump

    The fast casual chain posted the strongest comparable sales results of the segment, while Sweetgreen and Wingstop faced steep declines.

  • An evening photo of Topfgolf with backlit lights and a white sign that says Topgolf.
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    Courtesy of Topgolf
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    Topgolf appoints over half a dozen execs following Callaway spinoff

    The company named new leadership spanning departments, including operations and finance, a few months after David McKillips became CEO.

  • A photograph of a hand holding up a cheeseburger above a white plate. The plate is on a wooden table and there is a blue card on the left that says Wyndham Rewards. On the right there is a paper bag that says Applebee's To-Go.
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    Courtesy of Applebee's
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    Applebee’s offers free delivery to Wyndham Rewards members

    The partnership could expand Applebee’s off-premise channel, which grew by 3.5% to make up nearly 24% of sales during the first quarter.

  • A close up image of a person holding up a slice of Mexican Pizza from Taco Bell
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Restaurant LTOs are booming thanks to health, novelty and value

    GLP-1s, international crises and consumer demand for novelty have made limited-time items an ever more important part of restaurant menu playbooks.

  • A hand drops sauce from a spoon onto plates of food.
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    Getty Images
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    Can AI help independent restaurants close the gap with big chains?

    While large language models can identify gaps in brand messaging, AI is not a perfect solution for small players — and may not cater to their strengths.

  • Three toasted sandwiches and a small cup of Papa Johns garlic sauce on a white table in front of a green background.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    How 5 restaurant chains are growing beyond their core menus

    From sandwiches at pizza brands to flatbreads at smoothie concepts, restaurants are reacting to consumer competition with food innovation.

  • Pedestrians walk by a KFC and a Taco Bell restaurant on July 2, 2014 in San Rafael, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Yum Brands’ tech chief on building its ‘AI backbone’

    The company underwent modernization efforts for its decades-old brands to use one common data model across 35,000 restaurants.

  • A rendering of an A-frame building with orange and white stripes and wood tones.
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    Permission granted by Whataburger
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    Whataburger unveils 2 new prototypes

    As the burger chain expanded outside of Texas, it didn’t always bring its iconic A-frame design with it, but its newest restaurants are about to fix that.

  • A photograph of a brown sign with white lettering that says Starbucks Center.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks to cut 300 jobs, close 4 support centers

    Despite improved sales and the impending opening of a secondary headquarters in Nashville, the coffee chain is undertaking its third round of layoffs under CEO Brian Niccol.

  • An image of a beige building with a green sign that says "Krispy Kreme" in red and then "doughnuts" in white typeface.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    How Krispy Kreme is making its US operations more profitable

    With its shift to third-party logistics complete, the company is focusing on improving operations, growing digital sales and making better doughnuts.

  • A photograph of a co-branded Wetzel's Pretzels and Cold Stone Creamery inside a mall.
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    Permission granted by Wetzel's Pretzels/Cold Stone Creamery
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    Wetzel’s Pretzels, Cold Stone to open 17 co-branded units

    The dual-concept units will provide daypart expansion, additional revenue streams and efficient store models for franchisees.

  • An exterior image of a Pizza Hut with bricks and red signage
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    Courtesy of Yum Brands/Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut franchisee says AI caused $100M in damages

    Chaac Pizza Northeast, which depends on DoorDash to deliver its orders, said the chain’s Dragontail AI system hurt delivery times and damaged operations.

  • An photograph of a building sign that says Chicken Salad Chick drive-thru with red and green balloons underneath.
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    Courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Chicken Salad Chick signs 25-store deal in New York

    The development agreement is the chain’s first in the state, and its largest in terms of unit count, marking a major step in its national expansion plan.

  • A Jack in the Box sign looms ominously from behind a hedge.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Lance Tucker out as Jack in the Box CEO

    Tucker held the CEO post for just over 13 months, coinciding with continued sales declines and a tough fight with activist investors. Mark King will succeed him on an interim basis.

    Updated May 13, 2026
  • A Dunkin' location
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ is coming back to Canada after 8 years away

    Foodtastic, a major Canadian foodservice operator, will help Inspire Brands’ doughnutmaker invade Tim Hortons’ home market.

  • A Swig Dirty Soda location with a drive-thru.
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    Courtesy of Swig
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    Swig is bringing dirty sodas to Colorado

    The chain, known for its indulgent soft drink concoctions, is pushing for national growth as QSRs join the beverage trend and stoke consumer demand. 

  • A Wing drone over a Papa Johns.
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    Courtesy of Wing
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    Papa Johns to deliver sandwiches by air in North Carolina

    This partnership, which will operate in parts of Charlotte, is the first between the Alphabet-backed Wing and a national QSR brand.

  • Corner Bakery storefront
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    How refranchising is helping Corner Bakery rise from ‘scorched earth’

    After years of focus on hospitality, menu reconstruction and unit economics, the fast casual brand is looking to recruit its next generation of operators.

  • Messages opposing harsh immigration measures on a restaurant's door.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    What independent restaurants want out of politics in 2026

    Immigration enforcement, high swipe fees, delivery commissions and a lack of market power threaten restaurant margins, said the Independent Restaurant Coalition’s executive director.

  • Fiserv Clover point of sale CardFree mobile ordering payments
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Dunkin’ owner Inspire Brands files for an IPO

    The company’s sprawling brand portfolio, ranging from sports bars to breakfast QSRs, could help insulate it from downturns within restaurant subsectors.