Shift Change: Shake Shack CFO adds president role, Black Bear Diner hires CFO

This week's Shift Change also includes leadership news from McDonald's, Inspire Brands, Juice It Up, Huddle House, Cracker Barrel and Noodles & Company.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 4, 2019

Wendy's role-playing game features a realm threatened by frozen beef

Debuting at New York Comic Con, "Beef's Keep" is a "Dungeons & Dragons"-like tabletop game.

By Barry Levine • Oct. 4, 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

Shake Shack CFO adds job title of president to role

Tara Comonte, who has served as CFO since 2017, will be one of the few CFO-presidents in the C-suite.

By Jane Thier • Oct. 3, 2019

McDonald's not a joint employer with franchisees under California law, 9th Cir. says

While the case dealt with state law, it's nonetheless good news for employers concerned about joint employer liability — an issue that remains in flux. 

By Jennifer Carsen • Oct. 2, 2019

DoorDash teams with McDonald's to deliver 1M penny Big Macs

The delivery platform will automatically enter customers into a sweepstakes for a chance to win $1 million.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 2, 2019

Football and franchising: What former NFL players can teach restaurateurs

Running a successful restaurant requires a playbook. Here are the strategies retired professional athletes are using to score big in the industry.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 1, 2019

Shift Change: Chili's promotes marketing exec to CMO

This week's Shift Change also highlights leadership departures at Jack in the Box and a new marketing executive at Gusto Farm to Street. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 27, 2019

Want a job at McDonald's? Ask Alexa.

McDonald's Apply Thru works with Alexa and Google Assistant and sends a text message to users with a link to continue the application online, but the process seems far from seamless. 

By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 26, 2019

McDonald's trials Beyond Meat burger in Canada

The plant-based burger will be available at 28 Ontario stores starting on Monday, and marks Beyond Meat's largest restaurant partner to date. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 26, 2019

Inspire Brands acquires Jimmy John's

The restaurant group will add its fourth company in its third transaction since its 2018 debut, making it one of the more active acquirers in the last few years. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 25, 2019

Pickles, mayo and data privacy: Jersey Mike's rethinks mobile authentication

While historically slow to adopt new technologies, restaurants have to rethink mobile systems in an era of heightened privacy concerns.

By Samantha Schwartz • Sept. 25, 2019

How Chicken Salad Chick will open 250 units in the next 5 years

CEO Scott Deviney details how the restaurant, which started as a niche sandwich shop in Atlanta, is going to add up to 50 units annually.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 23, 2019

Sweetgreen strikes exclusive deal with Uber Eats, plans to create its own delivery program

The tech-centric chain plans to use $150 million, which brings its valuation to $1.6 billion, to also put more designated delivery locations within office buildings. 

By Julie Littman • Updated Sept. 27, 2019

Will Dunkin's mobile ordering expansion challenge Starbucks?

The coffee chain made its On-The-Go mobile ordering feature accessible to all customers, not just DD Perks members, as part of its mobile app update.

By Lauren Manning • Sept. 20, 2019

McDonald's promotes Uber Eats delivery with loungewear giveaway

The burger chain celebrated "McDelivery Night In" on Thursday with branded swag for mobile orders in the U.S.

By Robert Williams • Sept. 20, 2019

Shift Change: Yum Brands bulks up tech leadership team

This week's Shift Change also highlights executives from Noodles and Company, Scooter's Coffee, Juice It Up, Del Taco and Carrols Restaurant Group. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 20, 2019

Tim Hortons pulls plug on Beyond Meat, for now

The coffee and donut chain removed its plant-based sandwiches and burgers from Ontario and British Columbia Tuesday, the final two Canadian markets where Tim Hortons sold the products.

By Lauren Manning • Updated Jan. 29, 2020

Yum Brands taps Walmart CIO for global digital, tech strategy

Clay Johnson will fill a newly created role at the company, which has been looking for a senior leader since February as part of its digital transformation.

By Samantha Schwartz • Sept. 18, 2019

What's cooking: An inside look at Cava's new innovation kitchen

The restaurant's redesigned downtown Washington, D.C. location features a digital menu board, new ingredients and dedicated pickup shelves.

By Emma Liem Beckett , Julie Littman • Sept. 17, 2019

Noodles & Company introduces financial wellness benefits to attract and retain talent

When organizations provide their workers financial assistance, they not only help their staff, but they also help their bottom lines, multiple reports have shown.

By Riia O'Donnell • Sept. 16, 2019

Huddle House buys Perkins for $51.5M

This latest acquisition tops off a particularly active M&A environment for casual brands in 2019, driven by slow-to-grow sales trends. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 13, 2019

Shift Change: Bojangles' hires first chief development officer; Starbucks adds 3 board members

This week's Shift Change also highlights execs at Which Wich, Salata Salad Kitchen, Fiesta Restaurant Group, Garden Fresh Restaurants and Wingstop. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 13, 2019

Just Salad cuts steak in favor of Beyond Meat

The fast casual chain will now serve Beyond Beef Meatballs instead of grilled steak as part of its sustainability push. 

By Lauren Manning • Sept. 13, 2019

Throwing pies at potholes

Domino's cooked up a way to fix cities' infrastructure, and it has been wildly successful.

By Chris Teale • Sept. 13, 2019

Additional labor complaints filed against Chipotle in NYC

Two weeks after New York sued the fast casual chain over Fair Workweek violations, employees from five more locations are filing complaints that the chain failed to provide 14 days notice of schedules. 

By Alicia Kelso • Updated Sept. 24, 2019