Operations: Page 10

  • A rendering of a green building with Perkins branding on it.
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    Permission granted by Perkins
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    Perkins rebrands, launches redesign

    Along with changing its name from Perkins Restaurant & Bakery to Perkins American Food Co., the casual brand will revamp its menu.

    By • June 24, 2024
  • An image of a front counter with bundt cakes in the display case
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    Permission granted by Nothing Bundt Cakes
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    Nothing Bundt Cakes plots path to 1K units by 2027

    The dessert shop opened its 600th unit this month and plans to open 120 this year as it works toward an annual growth rate of around 150 new units.

    By • June 20, 2024
  • 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 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
  • An exterior image of a Pizza Hut with bricks and red signage
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    Courtesy of Yum Brands/Pizza Hut
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    Why Pizza Hut closed several locations in the Midwest

    Roughly a dozen locations in Indiana temporarily closed in June as operator EYM Group faces an ongoing legal battle with the chain over a contract dispute. 

    By • June 20, 2024
  • Guests play arcade games at Dave & Buster's.
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    Mark Davis via Getty Images
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    Dave & Buster’s sees customer satisfaction growth despite higher game prices

    Guest satisfaction scores are at historical highs, and CEO Chris Morris believes there is room to increase game prices without taking a hit.

    By Bryan Wassel • June 18, 2024
  • wawa
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    Retrieved from Wawa press release.
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    Wawa’s Hoagiefest continues a run of foodservice value deals

    With 62% of U.S. consumers eating less fast food due to inflation, c-stores and restaurants are leaning more into discounts and promotions.

    By Brett Dworski • June 18, 2024
  • An exterior image of a Shake Shack restaurant
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack hires Arby’s vet as COO

    Stephanie Sentell, who has over two decades of restaurant experience, will oversee operations at company-owned restaurants. 

    By • June 17, 2024
  • An image of a sign post with yellow print that says drive-thru
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s ends IBM drive-thru voice order test

    The fast food chain still sees a future for automated order taking at the drive-thru and expects to make a decision about the tech by year’s end.

    By • June 17, 2024
  • A sign is posted in front of a McDonald's restaurant on April 28, 2022 in San Leandro, California.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    Traffic at QSR chains in California declines following minimum wage increase

    Price increases meant to offset the cost of the sector’s $20 minimum wage in the state have significantly dented customer visits, data from Placer.ai shows. 

    By • June 13, 2024
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    Courtesy of CKE
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    CKE appoints Papa Johns vet as chief technology and growth officer

    Justin Falciola will oversee information technology, digital strategy and operations and help deploy new technologies as the company invests in digital channels. 

    By • June 12, 2024
  • Portillo’s CFO Michelle Hook header
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    Permission granted by Michelle Hook
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    Q&A

    Portillo’s CFO Michelle Hook shares secret sauce for restaurant growth

    Hook talks about her job switch from Domino’s after 17 years, what creates passion for the work and how Portillo’s is viewing growth.

    By David McCann • June 12, 2024
  • An image of a building with "Rubio's Coastal Grill" on the outside.
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    Permission granted by Rubio's Coastal Grill
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    What drove Rubio’s to declare bankruptcy again

    Despite completing a restructuring in 2020, the chain struggled to overcome macroeconomic headwinds that led to three years of negative EBITDA. 

    By • June 12, 2024
  • An image of a man in a blue striped shirt crossing his arms
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    Permission granted by Corner Bakery
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    Corner Bakery promotes COO to president

    Erin Hasselgren, who returned to the chain as COO in 2023, has become the company’s fifth president and first under new owner SSCP.

    By • June 12, 2024
  • Flavor Flav clock for Red Lobster
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    Courtesy of Red Lobster
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    Red Lobster says it’s ‘here to stay’ with Flavor Flav-led campaign

    To combat doomsaying around its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the seafood chain is going full steam ahead on its Crabfest promotion. 

    By Peter Adams • June 11, 2024
  • A Waffle House in Alabama.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Waffle House workers claim organizing prompted companywide wage bumps

    While CEO Joe Rogers III said wage increases were five years in the making, they also come months after organized workers went on strike at several stores calling for higher pay. 

    By • June 11, 2024
  • A menu with photos of shrimp, lobster tail with "The Utlimate Way to celebrate any day" underneath. The menu sits atop a dark table.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    What operators can learn from Red Lobster’s downfall

    While the full-service chain’s food options have remained relatively unchanged during the past few decades, restaurants like Angry Crab Shack have found success by constantly innovating.

    By • June 11, 2024
  • An image of Tijuana Flats
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    Permission granted by Tijuana Flats
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    Tijuana Flats appoints turnaround expert as CEO

    James Greco, who has helped revitalize brands like Sbarro and Bruegger’s, joins the fast casual brand two months after it declared bankruptcy.

    By • June 11, 2024
  • A phogrpah of fried chicken, biscuits and variuous sides on a white countertop with a yellow bag that says Bojangles in the background.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles launches catering through ezCater partnership

    The channel is expected to provide a sales boost, especially with average catering orders about 10 times larger on average than digital transactions.

    By • June 10, 2024
  • An image of a white and red building with Red Lobster signage on the front.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    How a bad real estate deal sunk Red Lobster

    Trouble began in 2014 when the chain’s owner sold its real estate in a sale-leaseback, putting the seafood brand on the hook for millions in rent.

    By • June 10, 2024
  • Landscape view of the Las Vegas strip.
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     Matthias Mullie via Unsplash

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    Sponsored by Pulley

    ICSC highlights: Permitting challenges serving up trouble

    At ICSC, retailers underscored the current economic climate and the trouble with permitting.

    June 10, 2024
  • Foxtrot
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
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    Foxtrot is returning — but with plenty of questions about its future

    Founder Mike LaVitola plans to reopen several locations this summer, yet it’s unclear how he’s been involved with the retailer amid its bankruptcy process.

    By Brett Dworski • June 6, 2024
  • Kellanova's Cheez-It makes its way to Taco Bell food items.
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    Retrieved from Taco Bell.
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    Taco Bell brings Kellanova’s Cheez-It to the menu

    The Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme and Big Cheez-It Tostada feature a cheesy cracker that is 16 times larger than its typical snacking size.

    By Christopher Doering • June 6, 2024
  • A photos of &pizza CEO Mike Burns
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    Permission granted by &pizza
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    Q&A // Meet the exec

    How &pizza’s CEO brought the cool back into the brand

    Mike Burns, now seven months into his tenure at the pizza chain, turned the music up in stores and told employees to be who they are as part of reviving the brand’s culture.

    By • June 6, 2024
  • An image of a bar with red chairs and TGI Fridays signage in the background
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    Courtesy of TGI Fridays
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    Why TGI Fridays expects hotels to be a growth channel

    The full-service chain, which opened a unit inside Hilton Garden Inn in Hollywood, California, says converting generic restaurants inside hotels decreases time and cost to develop.

    By • June 6, 2024
  • An image of a building with "Rubio's Coastal Grill" on the outside.
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    Permission granted by Rubio's Coastal Grill
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    Rubio’s files for bankruptcy protection

    The company, which has been under financial pressures due to diminishing traffic and rising costs, said a Chapter 11 filing is part of facilitating a sale. 

    By • Updated June 5, 2024
  • An evening shot of a Portillo's restaurant
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s enters late-night daypart

    As part of the company’s strategy to add more convenience and flexibility for guests, its 86 restaurants now open at 10 a.m. with 15 operating past 10 p.m. 

    By • June 5, 2024