Restaurant gift card sales expected to rise during holidays

Since diners typically spend $59 more than the value of their gift card, these offerings can boost sales and traffic during slow winter months.  

By Julie Littman • Dec. 10, 2018

The future of food is digital

Stephen Chau, head of product at Uber Eats, shares the ways he predicts restaurants will be transformed by technology.

By Stephen Chau • Dec. 10, 2018

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

It's not easy being green: Romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak rattles food, grocery industries

The FDA's decision to request that the popular green gets pulled from shelves sent "a strong message" to the produce sector, according to a former agency official, while costing supermarkets millions of dollars in losses.

By Christopher Doering • Dec. 10, 2018

NYC vegan chain by Chloe welcomes new CEO

Patrick Hellstrand joins the popular chain with locations in three U.S. cities and London to aid expansion after a $31 million funding round earlier this year.

By Kristine Sherred • Dec. 7, 2018

CBD sports water on sale at two Denver chains

In what is likely a first for the restaurant industry, Illegal Burger and El Senor Sol will carry CBD-infused sports water EVERx in Denver. 

By Kristine Sherred • Dec. 7, 2018

Year of the chicken? Poultry menu items, chicken chains surge in popularity

As more restaurants add chicken strips to their menus, sales of the products rose 16%, while Chick-fil-A closes in on $10 billion in annual sales.

By Julie Littman • Dec. 7, 2018

Strong Thanksgiving dining spend signals growth through New Year's

Spending was up 4.1% Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, with quick-service restaurants posting strong market share fueled by mobile offerings. 

By Julie Littman • Dec. 4, 2018

Beyond value menus, fast food prices inching closer to fast casual

What once was a 30% price difference between chains like Shake Shack and McDonald's has plunged to 8%, as fast food contends with higher wages and food costs amid sluggish traffic.

By Kristine Sherred • Dec. 4, 2018

A look back: How the midterm elections did — and didn't — impact restaurants

The dust has settled on the midterm elections, revealing support across the aisle for minimum wage increases, future opportunity in marijuana-infused food and drink and challenges from new animal welfare standards. 

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 3, 2018

Asian grocerant Be-Se-To coming to Maryland next year

The two-story retailer/restaurant hybrid includes a Korean restaurant, a Korean-style Japanese restaurant, a Korean-style Chinese restaurant, and a Korean dessert shop.

By Krishna Thakker • Dec. 3, 2018

DoorDash snags another big-name partner in TripAdvisor

Already working with Grubhub and OpenTable, the travel review leader jumps deeper into restaurants, one of its fastest-growing categories.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 29, 2018

Baskin-Robbins scoops up redesign to sweeten customer engagement

The ice cream chain's new concept store in California includes a frozen treat menu, more comfortable seating and unique location-specific artwork.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 29, 2018

Auntie Anne's hits the pavement with food trucks

The pretzel chain has built a fleet of two dozen trucks since 2013 and even more street-side carts and standalone shops in a quest to find customers where they are.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 28, 2018

93% of diners want to eat healthy, but survey finds most fail

Swamped by choices and busy lifestyles, almost all consumers are interested in healthy eating, but 46% regularly opt for fast food and pizza.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 28, 2018

Q&A: Panda Express carries the Chinese-American torch, 35 years later

Culinary director Jimmy Wang shares how the restaurant has evolved since its launch in 1983 and how iconic menu items like orange chicken acclimated U.S. consumers to Chinese food.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 26, 2018

Restaurants embrace LTOs, add-ons to spice up slim menus

Chains across categories have cut back long menus in favor of specialty sauces and extras like shrimp and grilled chicken add-ons, offering customers variety without overburdening the ingredient list.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 26, 2018

Food waste reduction is a high priority for U.S. diners, study shows

Seventy-two percent of American consumers care about how businesses handle food waste, and nearly half would pay more for restaurants with food recovery plans. 

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 26, 2018

Beyond Meat's future has ties to a successful tea maker

Seth Goldman founded organic tea maker Honest two decades ago. Today, he has an executive role at the maker of plant-based products and notes the many similarities between the two companies.

By Christopher Doering • Nov. 26, 2018

Chili's taps into online pop-up trend with limited Cyber Monday merch

The brand's team of designers shared sneak peeks of the gear on social media, including a T-shirt inspired by a popular episode of "The Office."

By Erica Sweeney • Nov. 21, 2018

Cafe cooking with cannabis oil to open in UK next month

The Canna Kitchen will serve seasonal vegetarian dishes topped or laced with the non-psychoactive compounds found in the marijuana plant.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 20, 2018

Jollibee expansion to bring more Filipino fried chicken to US, Canada

The company calls the move to open 250 locations between the two countries just its first steps in becoming a top five quick-service restaurant. 

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 19, 2018

Do grocers need a separate service for online prepared foods?

E-commerce provider Mercatus teamed up with DoorDash to help deliver fresh meals and catered foods.

By Jeff Wells • Nov. 19, 2018

Free mug-share program wants to replace paper coffee cups

Eco-friendly startup Vessel has partnered with four Colorado cafes, where customers can use an app to grab a reusable stainless steel mug that can be returned at other shops or kiosks near transit stations.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 16, 2018

Punch Bowl Social hires executive culinary director

The Denver-based eatertainment concept's focus on its food offerings, which drive 89% of company sales, could make it a competitive rival for both barcades and traditional eateries.

By Kristine Sherred • Nov. 15, 2018

KFC steps into streetwear with collection from famed Japanese designer Nigo

Gear for the "fashionable, finger lickin' hypebeasts of the world" will be available at a New York pop-up on Nov. 16.

By Erica Sweeney • Nov. 15, 2018