Operations

  • A smiling person in a blue suit jacket.
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    Permission granted by Shake Shack
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    Shake Shack hires Raising Cane’s vet as chief people officer

    Jamie Griffin joins the chain as its top HR executive and will focus on areas like talent acquisition, the team member experience and leadership development.

    By • July 18, 2025
  • A photo of the exterior of a gas station and convenience store. Signs on the building say Carl's Jr. and Love's.
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    Courtesy of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
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    Love’s brings order-ahead capabilities to Carl’s Jr. sites

    The travel center company already added the technology to its Arby’s locations, and expects Hardee’s locations to get this update next.

    By Jessica Loder • July 17, 2025
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Back-of-house Technology

    From AI-enhanced POS systems and analytics to robot-powered kitchen equipment, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • The exterior of a Del Taco during the evening
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Southern Del Taco franchisee goes bankrupt

    Matadoor Restaurant Group, which owns 22 units in Georgia and Alabama, struggled with sales declines and rising operating costs.

    By • July 17, 2025
  • A photograph of a digital menu board at McDonald's with various meal options.
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s Snack Wrap launch leads to double-digit traffic jump

    Placer.ai data revealed a 22.3% uptick in visit rates compared to the year-to-date average on July 11, the day after the Snack Wrap’s return.

    By • July 16, 2025
  • A photo of a neon sign outside at night. The sign says 7-Eleven.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven facing shrinking foot traffic

    Store visits have been declining for several quarters, but Seven & i is banking on more QSRs on-site to help turn things around.

    By Jessica Loder • July 16, 2025
  • A collage of fake instagram posts and Starbucks drinks.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks makes secret menu hacks official

    The chain will offer a rotating selection of customized beverages, including ones designed by consumers, as it looks to deepen mobile engagement. 

    By • July 15, 2025
  • An exterior shot of a Red Robin restaurant, which is lit from inside, at night
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    The image by Cbraccialini is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Red Robin could refranchise 15% of stores

    A new strategic initiative builds on the North Star program, but features an emphasis on refranchising that the company hopes will help it refinance debt.

    By • July 15, 2025
  • A pedestrian strolls by a KFC ad that shows Colonel Sanders scowling.
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    Permission granted by Kentucky Fried Chicken
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    KFC’s new take on Colonel Sanders is serious about its ‘Comeback Era’

    The usually grinning founder-turned-mascot has taken on a scowl to ensure the Yum Brands chain gets serious about winning back market share. 

    By Peter Adams • July 15, 2025
  • A photograph of white EV charging stations in a parking lot in front of a Bojangles restaurant.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles to install EV charging stations

    The QSR chain will begin installation during Q4 2025, and will have stations accessible at many of its locations next year.

    By • July 14, 2025
  • Exterior of a Potbelly restaurant
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    Permission granted by Potbelly
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    Potbelly updates website, app as part of digital transformation

    These digital channels will include a reorder function and “Quick Add” option for a faster checkout experience. 

    By • July 14, 2025
  • A waiter serves a table at a nice restaurant
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    Rawpixel via Getty Images
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    Casual, not careless: The art of relaxed dining design

    If casual brands don’t invest in the contemporary, experiential offerings diners crave, they could eventually risk ceding traffic to fast casual competitors.

    By Amanda Schuster • July 14, 2025
  • Two chefs standing in front of their restaurant.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    Secrets to scaling quickly: Lessons from a legendary soul food restaurant

    Charles Pan-Fried Chicken grew by being consistent, using the right tech, and knowing when to leap.

    July 14, 2025
  • A photograph of five fruit drinks within plastic cups.
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    Courtesy of Taco Cabana
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    Taco Cabana joins the refreshers trend with new drink lineup

    Cabana Refreshers will launch on July 23 starting as a limited-time offer, but could become a permanent beverage if proven popular.

    By • July 11, 2025
  • A photo of ice cream from Stewart's Shops in two cups on a table with some fall leaves.
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    Permission granted by Stewart's Shops
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    What restaurants can learn from c-store’s sweet treat offerings

    Owning their own baked goods or ice cream program gives retailers a world of innovation to play with, but comes with significant challenges, experts say.

    By Christine Blank • July 11, 2025
  • An iamge of a building with black facade and white logo that says "Wagamama."
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    Catherine Ivill via Getty Images
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    Wagamama hires Bloomin’ vet to oversee US development

    Suk Singh will serve as chief development officer for the U.K.-based chain’s U.S. division, with plans to grow Wagamama beyond its seven-unit toehold.

    By • July 9, 2025
  • Jack in the Box restaurant location
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Jack in the Box’s poison pill was the right move

    The chain wants to protect itself from a hostile takeover, and the limited-duration act is unlikely to impact shareholders, lawyer Keith Gottfried said.

    By • July 9, 2025
  • Two adults with two kids eats pizza at a restaurant.
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    monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
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    Little bites, big ideas: Rethinking kids’ menus for today’s tiny diners

    Winning menus go beyond chicken fingers and hot dogs, chefs say, to offer customizable, healthy and globally inspired fare. 

    By Amanda Schuster • July 9, 2025
  • A photograph of a Wienerschnitzel building
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    Courtesy of Wienerschnitzel
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    Wienerschnitzel targets East Coast with Virginia franchising deal

    Combined with a Walmart expansion agreement, the entry into these territories positions the 340-store hot dog chain for significant growth.

    By • July 9, 2025
  • An arm reaches out of a gray car to collect a bag of food while an employee with blue gloves hands off the bag.
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    NewSaetiew via Getty Images
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    Packaging suppliers respond to QSR diners hungry for a better experience

    Manufacturers are working with their restaurant customers to improve takeout, as well as sustainability opportunities for food service ware.

    By Shefali Kapadia • July 9, 2025
  • A building with white and brown siding with two black cars at a drive-thru. Signage says Bojangles
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Opinion

    Two lanes for AI-powered order taking in drive-thrus: Humanization vs. transparency

    While mimicking a human voice can lead to more emotionally engaging guest interactions, the stakes are higher for brands, with robotic-sounding voices offering greater transparency, says Hi Auto’s Eyal Shapira.

    By Eyal Shapira • July 8, 2025
  • The outside of a Starbucks store
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Starbucks incentivizes cost-cutting goal with exec bonuses

    The coffee giant will give top executives up to $6 million in stock grants if the brand meets cost-reduction goals by the end of fiscal 2027.

    By • Updated July 8, 2025
  • An image ofa brick colored building with a logl of a red-headed girl with pigtails.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s CEO departs for Hershey

    Kirk Tanner, who has led the company for about a year and a half, will resign from the chain to become president and CEO at the candy giant.

    By • Updated July 8, 2025
  • An image of various doughnuts from Krispy Kreme behind a bakery counter.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Krispy Kreme appoints CFO, chief brand officer

    The new executives replace outgoing leaders who announced their departures shortly after Krispy Kreme ended its McDonald’s partnership.

    By • July 7, 2025
  • A photograph of a burger, drink and fries from Fatburger.
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fatburger signs 40-store Florida expansion deal

    This agreement will make the state a major market for the burger QSR, which has been growing through international deals and co-branding.

    By • July 2, 2025
  • A photograph of a gray sign with a red box inside with white letters that says "Jack" under the box it says "in the box."
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box prescribes poison pill to sicken activist investor

    The action is meant to keep Biglari Capital, which owns a 9.9% stake in the chain, from acquiring additional shares and to give Jack more time to turn around its business.

    By • July 2, 2025