Chili’s prioritizes 200 stores for redesign

Following a record-breaking quarter, the brand will soon focus on updating its system, as many stores haven’t been redesigned in decades.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 30, 2025

Brian Niccol wants to double Starbucks’ US footprint

A host of changes to stores and operations could help Starbucks escape its sales trouble, and executives are already planning the company’s next move.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 30, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Back-of-house Technology

From voice AI at the drive-thru to robot-powered makelines, restaurants are investing in technology solutions to optimize kitchen operations and reduce employee turnover. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

How Chili’s boosted comparable sales by 31%

Value-oriented ads and marketing for its Triple Dipper menu boosted the chain’s traffic by nearly 20%, driving a record-breaking quarterly performance.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 30, 2025

What’s driving Twin Peaks’ growth and $5M AUVs

The sports bar chain, which is now publicly traded, leans on its menu diversity, service model and alcohol mix to target $1 billion in sales. 

By Julie Littman • Jan. 30, 2025

Miso Robotics develops smaller, faster Flippy

Its newest robotic fry station, which White Castle is testing, is more expensive than, but half the size of, previous iterations.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 29, 2025

Cooper’s Hawk appoints 3 C-suite execs, preps for fast growth

The chain hired a new CFO, chief customer officer and chief technology officer to help it expand and improve brand positioning and guest experience.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 29, 2025

Sun Holdings acquires Uncle Julio’s

The multi-brand franchisee is building up its Mexican cuisine portfolio and already owns Taco Bueno and Freebirds World Burritos.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 28, 2025

Love’s will open its first Whataburger in 2025

The Texas burger chain will bring its patties and fries to a Love’s travel center in San Antonio in late summer or early fall.

By Brett Dworski • Jan. 27, 2025

Krispy Krunchy Chicken outlines 2025 growth plans

The fried chicken brand opened just over 600 locations in 2024 and expects to beat that number this year while also improving e-commerce efficiency.

By Jeff Wells • Jan. 27, 2025

2025 could be fast casual’s year, again

Long-term trends in consumer preference have put fast casual chains in a position to leverage price sensitivity, digital touchpoints and an appetite for human connection.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 27, 2025

2025 trends: What hospitality businesses should be preparing for

From nuclear verdicts to gas appliances, here are hospitality trends shaping 2025 from Society Insurance.

Jan. 27, 2025

Tijuana Flats exits bankruptcy with menu innovation plans

After Chapter 11 helped the chain reduce its debt and improve efficiency, it will add street tacos and refresh its stores to compete with fast casual rivals.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 24, 2025

How Yogurtland’s shift to digital powered 3 years of growth

After adding online ordering and remaking its loyalty program and app, the chain has had double-digit same-store sales growth and strong new unit expansion.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 23, 2025

Hy-Vee will transition all in-store Wahlburgers to Market Grille

This transition includes introducing new menus as well as shuttering its partnership with Wahlburgers.

By Peyton Bigora • Jan. 22, 2025

Restaurant spending to increase slightly in 2025: Fitch

Investment in tech like artificial intelligence will also define the year, supporting restaurant operations as inflation and labor market challenges persist.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 21, 2025

Why quality may trump price in 2025’s restaurant value battle

The mixed success of recently launched value menus highlights the importance of focusing on more than just affordability, experts said.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 17, 2025

P.F. Chang’s drops lawsuit claiming UKG lost, destroyed employee data

The restaurant chain sued in 2022 claiming that the HR vendor had provided “false hope” that it could recover some of the chain’s deleted information.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 17, 2025

Twin Hospitality Group expects to go public on Jan. 30

Fat Brands’ spinoff of its highest-performing brands will help it deleverage its balance sheet, which includes $1.2 billion in debt.

By Julie Littman • Updated Jan. 17, 2025

Shake Shack’s CFO talks 1,500-unit goal, drive-thru and restaurant optimization

Katie Fogerty is confident that the burger chain, once only in New York City, can reach its next big target through labor model updates, drive-thru optimization and profitability improvements.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 17, 2025

Fat Brands will grow a new tri-branded snack concept

The company combined Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery and Pretzelmaker at a unit in Texas, with plans to open more.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 16, 2025

QSR traffic turns positive in Q4, report shows

A push toward more restaurant value offerings appears to be paying off, with spikes in traffic seen in October and November, according to Revenue Management Solutions data.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 16, 2025

Chipotle invests in firm that makes plant-based meat from duckweed

The restaurant chain’s venture fund is also backing efforts reduce cow-based methane emissions.  

By Sarah Zimmerman • Jan. 15, 2025

Starbucks reverses open-door policy as it pursues coffeehouse environment

Under the new policy, customers will have to make a purchase if they want to hang out in Starbucks coffee shops or use its bathrooms.

By Kristen Doerer • Jan. 14, 2025

Portillo’s tests computer vision to boost drive-thru times

Managers will see a screen flashing red if a car has sat for four minutes, allowing them to redeploy labor and move guests faster through the drive-thru.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 14, 2025

3 Big Numbers: C-stores zero in on coffee consumers

Wawa, Casey’s and 7-Eleven all are either updating their coffee programs or employing promotions to draw in more caffeine aficionados.

By Jessica Loder • Jan. 14, 2025