Operations: Page 14

  • An image of Chuck E. Cheese menu items and kids playing at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant
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    Courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese
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    6 restaurants that plotted international growth during Q1

    Chains like Fazoli’s, Marco’s Pizza and Chuck E. Cheese secured deals to enter new countries as part of ongoing global expansion plans.

    By • April 19, 2024
  • An image of Red Loster sign on the outside of a restaurant
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Red Lobster could be headed toward bankruptcy

    The chain only paid a quarter of its bills on time in February and over half were 61 to 90 days late, according to data from Creditsafe.

    By • April 19, 2024
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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 image of TGI Fridays signage with red and white stripes
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    4 things to know about TGI Fridays’ acquisition by Hostmore

    The chain’s biggest franchisee has been reducing expenses since 2022, which should help the combined company start on stronger financial footing in the U.K.’s public market.

    By • April 18, 2024
  • An image of a beige building wiht both Fatburger and Round Table Pizza signage
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fat Brands expands hybrid Fatburger/Round Table Pizza model to NorCal

    Fat Brands franchisee California Burger will add the burger concept to 40 pizza restaurants over the next 10 years, with the first to be completed this year.

    By • April 17, 2024
  • Wendy's
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Why dynamic pricing sours restaurant dining experiences

    Nearly two-thirds of consumers had a negative reaction to dynamic pricing, a HungerRush survey found.

    By Kristen Doerer • April 17, 2024
  • Kiosks with biometric cameras at Steak n Shake
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    Permission granted by Steak n Shake
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    Steak ‘n Shake installs facial recognition at self-ordering kiosks

    The chain, which completed its move from full-service to self-service last year, first tested PopID’s technology in October and began deploying it in January.

    By • April 16, 2024
  • An empty, dark restaurant has chairs stacked on top of the tables.
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    Halfpoint via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Ask an expert: How can brands protect struggling franchisees from bankruptcy?

    A bad franchisee can do “irreparable harm” to its parent chain, but early intervention can help avoid sales shortfalls and covenant defaults, said Chris Desiderio of Nixon Peabody.

    By • April 15, 2024
  • An image of Domino's New York Style Pizza crust
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s adds New York Style Pizza to menu

    As the most popular style of pizza in the country, the new crust option could continue transaction and comp sales momentum noted during Q4. 

    By • April 15, 2024
  • The inside of a Noodles & Company restaurant with views of tables, chairs, booths and the front counter
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company bets menu innovation will help drive traffic

    As part of a five-point overhaul plan, the chain will use digital capabilities, expanded catering and improved operations to reverse sales declines.

    By • April 12, 2024
  • An image of a white building with red stripes and KFC branding.
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    Moses Robinson via Getty Images
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    KFC names new CFO amid push to boost sales

    The finance leadership change comes as KFC struggles with dwindling traffic in a dicey economic environment.

    By Alexei Alexis • April 11, 2024
  • An image of Buffalo Wild Wings with its to-go branded section
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    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
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    Buffalo Wild Wings opens 100th to-go concept, with 600 more planned

    This year, the chain expects to reach 150 Buffalo Wild Wings Go units as it sees ongoing interest from new and existing franchisees.

    By • April 11, 2024
  • An image of a woman ordering at a drive-thru speaker box.
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    MartinPrescott via Getty Images
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    4 ways restaurants can add AI to their operations

    The technology can help employees improve customer satisfaction, cook food to a brand’s standards and accurately refill inventory, executives say. 

    By Danielle McLean • April 11, 2024
  • A photos of Dave & Buster's Game Day Grub platter
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    Permission granted by Dave & Buster's
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    Dave & Buster’s updates menu with at least 20 items

    Management expects food and beverage check to rise in the mid single-digits with the new dishes, which include appetizers, bowls, desserts and sides.

    By • Updated April 12, 2024
  • A worker takes orders from customers in the drive-thru lane at a Chick-fil-A restaurant.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Fast food is getting faster, data shows

    Limited-service chains maintained an edge in traffic growth relative to casual dining, likely due to continued improvements in throughput, Placer.ai reported.

    By • April 10, 2024
  • An image of Krispy Krunchy Chicken display at NACS
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    Permission granted by Krispy Krunchy Chicken
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    Krispy Krunchy Chicken expands beyond c-stores, targets 700 openings in 2024

    The concept is entering new markets and enhancing its menu after growing by nearly 500 units last year, including 14 locations inside Walmart stores. 

    By • April 9, 2024
  • An image of Checkers & Rally's former CEO Frances Allen
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    Permission granted by Checkers & Rally's
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    Checkers & Rally’s CEO resigns

    Frances Allen, who has led the chain since 2020, oversaw the deployment of a modern image redesign and voice artificial intelligence at drive-thrus.

    By • April 5, 2024
  • Re-Up
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    Retrieved from Re-Up.
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    Florida c-store chain to test kitchen robots

    Re-Up convenience stores is planning to use AI-driven machines to help fry its food, brew its coffee and squeeze fresh juice.

    By Brett Dworski • April 5, 2024
  • A photo of four Subway lavash wraps
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway is rolling out a new line of wraps

    The addition of lavash flatbreads, just months after the debut of its Sidekick snacks, is the first time in three years the chain has launched a bread option.

    By • April 4, 2024
  • An image of Voicebox Karaoke, Sweet Tooth Hotel
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    Permission granted by Punch Bowl Social
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    Punch Bowl Social acquires 2 eatertainment concepts

    The company is buying Sweet Tooth Hotel and Voicebox Karaoke to diversify its portfolio of concepts and appeal to a wider range of consumers.

    By • April 1, 2024
  • A picture of a Chipotle with a pickup lane.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Fast casuals outperform QSRs as pricing erodes fast food’s low-income advantage

    Chains like Chipotle and Wingstop exceeded analyst expectations for sales and EBITDA last quarter, while QSR giants lagged, per a TD Cowen report.

    By • April 1, 2024
  • Dave's Hot Chicken food spread out on a table.
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    Dave’s Hot Chicken tests kiosks, bigger drinks in face of $20 CA wage

    The fast-growing chain is raising prices 9% and testing tech that it says boosts check but doesn’t cut labor costs.

    By • April 1, 2024
  • An image of a black building with windows and The Cheesecake Factory signage.
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
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    Restaurant sales rose 12% in 2023 compared to 2019: report

    Consumer spending was up 7% year over year among the top 50 restaurant chains compared to 5% within the overall industry, per Circana data. 

    By • March 29, 2024
  • Gas N Wash
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    Permission granted by Gas N Wash
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    Gas N Wash debuts new restaurant partnership

    The c-store retailer revealed the first of two adjacent Mickeys Greek-style restaurants last week as it builds on its history of working with local QSRs.

    By Brett Dworski • March 29, 2024
  • A selection of food items from Clean Juice
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    Permission granted by Clean Juice
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    Deep Dive

    Juice chains are winning new consumers with food offerings

    Brands are retooling their kitchens to accommodate new recipes, such as bowls and wraps, to attract broader demographics and expand occasions.

    By • March 28, 2024
  • Stickers with the visa and mastercard logos on the exterior window of a store.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Visa, Mastercard reach landmark credit card settlement

    The two biggest U.S. card networks agreed to cap interchange fees for five years, among other terms, to settle merchant litigation that has lasted nearly two decades.

    By Lynne Marek • March 28, 2024