KFC wants to add plant-based poultry to its menu

Chick-fil-A is also exploring vegan options, but with neither Beyond Meat nor Impossible Foods offering alternative poultry products yet, it could be a while before chicken chains go plant-based. 

By Lauren Manning • May 31, 2019

A dedicated catering team is critical to off-premise sales growth

From finding drivers to hiring well-trained sales professionals, restaurants are struggling to invest in staff that will keep this revenue stream flowing.

By Julie Littman • May 28, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Menu development

Restaurants big and small are experimenting with their menus to align with the preferences of on-the-go diners and mitigate the impact of rising food costs, supply chain disruption and shrinking consumer discretionary funds. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

Eatertainment preferred over casual dining for group occasions, Technomic says

Consumer interest in concepts like Punch Bowl Social, Topgolf and Dave & Buster's for social events is growing, driving the development of new and smaller units to keep up with demand.

By Julie Littman • May 22, 2019

Convenience stores transforming into 'restaurants-to-go'

What's the future of dining? At the NRA Show, many people — from analysts to Wawa's CEO — saw c-stores as a clear player in the segment, siphoning dollars from traditional eateries.

By Thai Phi Le • May 22, 2019

78% of restaurants say off-premise is a strategic priority

While the growing segment brings in sales and new customers, it introduces challenges to both the front and back of house, from unpredictable production to confusing traffic flow, according to Technomic. 

By Julie Littman • May 21, 2019

Plant-based meat sizzles at NRA Show as brands eye retail

As Impossible Foods and Before the Butcher gear up for their grocery debuts and develop new products, such as Impossible Sausage for Little Caesar's, Beyond Meat's first-mover advantage in supermarkets may be threatened.

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 21, 2019

Customized delivery menus optimize success with third parties, says Uber Eats

Bowie Cheung, the company's director of regional operations, said highlighting high-margin dishes with photos and nixing loss leaders from digital menus can drive incremental sales. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 20, 2019

Sonic plans to test AI-powered menu

The restaurant will pilot technology from Mastercard and kiosk vendor ZIVELO that features a voice assistant and personalized menu, following McDonald's in a push for smart menus.

By Alicia Kelso • May 17, 2019

Foodservice accounts for 23% of convenience store sales, report finds

Over half of Americans order a meal at least once a month at gas station stores, revealing that diners often choose ready-to-eat items over QSRs.

By Lauren Manning • May 16, 2019

McDonald's meets Happy Meal nutrition benchmark ahead of deadline

The QSR boosted the number of its iconic meals served with water, milk or juice by 15% between 2013 and 2018, and the majority of its 20 major markets have hit all five of its health commitments two years early.

By Julie Littman • May 15, 2019

59% of consumers support a $15 minimum wage, survey says

It's unclear how operators could support hefty pay increases with razor-thin margins, or if diners will shell out extra cash to make wage hikes possible. 

By Lauren Manning • May 14, 2019

Impossible shortage burning restaurants that put it on the map

Independents are accusing the company of overpromising production capacity and hanging them out to dry following major corporate partnerships. Will $300 million in new funding be enough to restore both supply and its reputation?

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 13, 2019

Chick-fil-A is researching plant-based chicken substitutes

While there are several meatless burger options, the company could be the first major fast food chain to offer a plant-based chicken item in the U.S.

By Lauren Manning • May 13, 2019

Noodles & Company launches personalized nutrition calculator

The tool is available on the restaurant's website and mobile app, and allows diners to create dishes that are in line with keto, paleo, vegetarian and other lifestyle diets.

By Alicia Kelso • May 9, 2019

Chick-fil-A has the strongest QSR brand personality, study says

A Zion & Zion report ranked major fast food chains on five personality dimensions, placing Sonic and Dairy Queen close behind the chicken chain while Papa John's and Burger King earned low marks.

By Lauren Manning • May 9, 2019

Business catering averages $275 per check, says ezCater

Top industries ordering catering include healthcare, IT/technology and finance, but each of these segments have unique off-premise demands.

By Julie Littman • May 1, 2019

Food trucks are the new restaurant billboards

Auntie Anne's, Shake Shack and others are going mobile to grow off-premise business while reaping the benefits of a new marketing avenue.

By Julie Littman • April 29, 2019

McDonald's Germany adds 1st vegan burger

While the fast food chain has been rolling out vegan options in international markets, it has yet to do so in the U.S., despite plant-based initiatives by rivals Burger King, Carl's Jr. and White Castle.

By Lauren Manning • April 26, 2019

Sweetgreen reverses cashless-only approach

Following a wave of bans against cashless stores, the salad chain will start accepting cash in Philadelphia in July and chainwide by the end of the year.

By Alicia Kelso • April 26, 2019

59% of restaurant operators fear disruption by mobile-savvy rivals

An Oracle study found a vast majority of operators believe that guest-facing mobile apps can reduce labor costs and improve speed of service.

By Alicia Kelso • April 23, 2019

'Welcome to Walmart. May I take your order?'

With popular local and fast casual chains siphoning off mealtime dollars, some grocers have brought the likes of Wahlburgers and Rapid Fired Pizza into stores.

By Lauren Manning • April 23, 2019

McDonald's reportedly adding international favorites to US menus

A leaked memo obtained by Business Insider revealed the chain's next menu items will include the McExtreme Bacon Burger from Spain and the Stroopwafel McFlurry from the Netherlands.

By Julie Littman • April 23, 2019

Yelp to rate restaurants' environmental footprints

Diners can now provide feedback on whether a restaurant uses single-use plastic items and compostable containers.

By Lauren Manning • April 23, 2019

Millennials to be the biggest food and beverage spenders in 10 years

Baby boomers and Gen Xers spend the most on restaurants and groceries currently, but as millennials' financials improve as they get older, CBRE predicts this demographic will take a lion's share of the spend. 

By Julie Littman • April 22, 2019

45% of diners have tried a restaurant because of social media

A new study from marketing agency MGH revealed that 74% of U.S. consumers are more likely to visit or order from an establishment that engages with its social media fans. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 22, 2019