Chipotle CFO: $15 minimum wage would be 'very manageable' with menu price hikes

A 10% increase to the burrito chain's pay would hike menu prices 2% to 3%, CFO Jack Hartung said on an investor call Wednesday.

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 22, 2021

Chipotle's digital sales surpass 50% as chain doubles down on mobile pickup

Just over half of the restaurant's digital sales were from order-ahead transactions as the company continues to add Chipotlane models to its footprint.

By Alicia Kelso , Emma Liem Beckett • April 22, 2021

Teamsters funds sue McDonald's board over handling of Easterbrook exit

The suit accuses leadership of choosing to pay former CEO Steve Easterbrook after his sexual misconduct to resolve the conflict quickly rather than "face the consequences for the leniency they long exhibited."

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 22, 2021

New Blaze Pizza CFO: 'We all have to assume the world will get back to normal'

Brad Reynolds left the ghost kitchen industry for the fast casual segment, and believes Blaze will emerge from COVID-19 bigger than ever.

By Jane Thier • April 20, 2021

Squarespace files to go public through a direct listing

The website-building platform, which has over 3 million subscribers including restaurants, makes the move weeks after completing its acquisition of reservation system Tock. 

By Julie Littman • April 19, 2021

WOWorks teams with Combo Kitchen to grow via ghost restaurants

The partnership aims to grow Saladworks and Frutta Bowls at a rate of five to seven locations monthly through 2021.

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 19, 2021

Walmart expands grocerants with la Madeleine, Nathan's Famous

The retailer's tie-up with the hot dog chain is a part of its ghost kitchen trials, and it has partnered with the French bakery and cafe chain on a fast-casual format for 10 Dallas-Fort Worth area stores.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • April 19, 2021

Starbucks to open innovation lab on Arizona State University's campus

During its first year in operation, the center plans to build out and open source the coffee chain's "Greener Store" program and explore alternative menu items.

By Alicia Kelso • April 16, 2021

KFC's US marketing chief, who helped modernize brand with off-the-wall creative, departs

The news marks the second CMO exit from a Yum Brands chain after George Felix left Pizza Hut for Tinder earlier this month.

By Peter Adams • April 16, 2021

Jack in the Box CIO to depart in May

The fast food chain will be "separating" from SVP and CIO Andrew Martin on May 7, according to an SEC filing. 

By Katie Malone • April 15, 2021

McDonald's will require anti-harassment training at all restaurants in 2022

The training will impact 2 million employees at the chain's 39,000 restaurants worldwide regardless of whether they work at corporate-owned or franchisee-operated locations, CEO Chris Kempczinski announced Wednesday.

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 14, 2021

Taco Bell's newest Cantina rolls out with kiosk-only ordering

The Times Square location, which opens Wednesday, also offers 15 order-ahead mobile pickup cubbies, which could be particularly effective for stores without space for drive-thrus.

By Julie Littman • April 13, 2021

WOWorks pursues acquisitions, ghost kitchens to drive growth

Kelly Roddy, the holding company's CEO, says it plans to buy two to three more brands by the end of the year, as well as increase units via delivery-only locations and franchising.

By Julie Littman • April 12, 2021

Whataburger seeks to hire 50K employees with focus on managers

The burger chain has also increased responsibilities and pay for its general managers, with six-figure salaries and bonus potential of up to 150% their target incentive, as chains strive to retain talent in a tight labor market. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 9, 2021

McDonald's to close hundreds of Walmart locations

The burger chain is pulling out more of its restaurants as the pandemic hurts in-store traffic, The Wall Street Journal reported. 

By Jeff Wells • April 9, 2021

Taco Bell expands PTO benefits for managers, eyes filling 5K positions

At 1,200 company-owned locations, general managers will receive up to four weeks of accrued vacation time annually and additional parental leave. 

By Julie Littman • April 6, 2021

Pizza Hut CMO exits amid larger overhaul to marketing operations

The second retooling of marketing leadership in barely over a year speaks to potential COVID-19 pressures, but also comes as Yum Brands is ramping up digital transformation.

By Peter Adams • Updated April 13, 2021

Brand marketer Fernando Machado departs Burger King parent for Activision

Machado last year was promoted to global CMO at RBI after having the same role at Burger King, where he developed notable campaigns such as the Whopper Detour and Moldy Whopper. 

By Robert Williams • April 5, 2021

Report: 10% of all restaurants have closed during pandemic

Chain restaurants with less than 501 locations have closed at a higher rate than independent restaurants, with the largest permanent closure rate — 16.2% — among chains with 51 to 100 units.

By Alicia Kelso • March 31, 2021

DoorDash, Olo settle dispute

The two companies hashed out a new multi-year agreement after DoorDash sued Olo in October for $7 million, claiming breach of contract, fraud and concealment.

By Julie Littman • Updated April 23, 2021

Shake Shack CFO to become CEO of life science company

Tara Comonte's responsibilities will be transitioned to other leadership team members until a new CFO is found. 

By Jane Thier • March 31, 2021

Chipotle gives away $100K in bitcoin for National Burrito Day

By asking people to register for a chance to win burritos or bitcoin, the restaurant can continue to build out its first-party data about consumers for future campaigns.

By Robert Williams • March 30, 2021

Delight Restaurant Group adds 54 Wendy’s from NPC International sale

With the acquisition, the franchisee will operate 111 Wendy's and Taco Bell locations across four states.

By Alicia Kelso • March 29, 2021

Noodles & Company's new CFO talks how ghost kitchens, drive-thrus will shape the chain's future

Carl Lukach, who started at the chain in November, says 70% to 80% of the stores built this year will have a drive-thru pickup window.

By Julie Littman • March 29, 2021

Domino's franchisee to deliver $3M to settle drivers' wage and hour claims

The plaintiffs claimed they were not reimbursed for their own delivery expenses such as vehicle maintenance and insurance.

By Lisa Burden • March 25, 2021