Operations: Page 18

  • An image of TGI Fridays signage with red and white stripes
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    TGI Fridays to close 36 underperforming restaurants

    The casual chain also sold eight units in the Northeast to former CEO Ray Blanchette following a year of C-suite upheaval.

    By • Jan. 4, 2024
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    Thinkstock via Getty Images
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    California bistro pocketed thousands in worker tips to pay expenses, suit alleges

    The Department of Labor is suing Entre Nous for $500,000 in back wages and damages, and said it misclassified workers as independent contractors.

    By • Jan. 4, 2024
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendlineâž”
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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
  • A grand opening celebration at a store.
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    Courtesy of Uncle Sharkii
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    Walmart expanding in-store poke restaurants

    Uncle Sharkii Poke Bar recently announced plans to open more locations inside the retailer’s stores.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Jan. 3, 2024
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    Courtesy of Pinstripes
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    Pinstripes bowls into public markets

    After completing its combination with Banyan Acquisition Corp. last week, the eatertainment chain began trading on the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday.

    By • Jan. 2, 2024
  • A picture of a beige building with Tropical Smoothie Cafe branding
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    Permission granted by Tropical Smoothie Cafe
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    Tropical Smoothie Cafe reportedly seeking $2B sale

    This marks the second possible restaurant acquisition in progress this month, with Reuters reporting that Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company is seeking a $1 billion sale.

    By • Dec. 21, 2023
  • A photo of the new chicken sandwich from GPM Investments.
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    Permission granted by Arko Corp.
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    Arko collaborates with Tyson on discounted chicken sandwich

    As part of the company’s efforts to reach price sensitive customers, the new sandwich costs $2.99 for fas Rewards members and is available at more than 300 locations.

    By Jessica Loder • Dec. 21, 2023
  • An image of Pinstripes
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    Courtesy of Pinstripes
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    Q&A

    Pinstripes could reach 150 units as a public company

    Going public was in the plan for about five years and will raise fresh capital to support the 14-unit brand’s growth, CEO and founder Dale Schwartz said. 

    By • Dec. 21, 2023
  • Sen. Bernie Sanders address Howard Schultz at a hearing of the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    How the politics of restaurant labor changed in 2023

    This year ushered in new regulations about fast food worker pay in California, the end of the subminimum wage in Chicago and a joint-employer rule that puts pressure on franchisors.

    By • Dec. 20, 2023
  • 7-Eleven
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    Retrieved from 7-Eleven.
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    How c-stores are using food, merch and more to boost holiday traffic

    Whether it’s festive coffees, ugly sweaters or even a seasonally themed pic from Wally’s photo booth, c-stores are taking a variety of approaches to engaging customers.

    By Christine Blank • Dec. 19, 2023
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    chameleonseye via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s to survey franchisees on child labor practices

    McDonald’s operators in five states were fined by the U.S. Department of Labor for making minors work longer hours in more dangerous roles than permitted.

    By • Dec. 18, 2023
  • An exterior image of a restaurant with glass windows and a sign that says sweetgreen.
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    Retrieved from Sweetgreen/BusinessWire on August 10, 2022
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    Sweetgreen chief development officer will step down

    Jim McPhail will leave the company on Dec. 31 after working as CDO for four years, and Timothy Noonan has been promoted to SVP of development and will assume McPhail’s development responsibilities.

    By • Dec. 18, 2023
  • McDonald's drive thru sign
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, Wendy’s franchisees face ‘convict leasing’ suit in Alabama

    Incarcerated workers are suing Alabama and employers, including franchisees of major restaurant chains, over an alleged system of coerced labor.

    By • Dec. 14, 2023
  • An image of Ray Risley, U.S. president and COO at TGI Fridays and Nik Rupp, CFO of TGI Fridays
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    Permission granted by TGI Fridays
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    TGI Fridays hires COO, CFO

    Ray Risley becomes U.S. president and COO while Nik Rupp joins the chain as CFO and president of international markets, less than two months after Weldon Spangler was hired as CEO.

    By • Dec. 13, 2023
  • A man in a dark car at a Wendy's drive-thru that uses artificial intelligence to take orders
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    Retrieved from Wendy's on December 11, 2023
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    Wendy’s franchisees can pilot drive-thru AI in 2024

    Wendy’s FreshAI, a partnership with Google Cloud, used drive-thru chatbots to shave 22 seconds off service times at a Columbus, Ohio, test site compared to the local market average.

    By • Dec. 11, 2023
  • A photograph of Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti jumping in the air in front of a Shake Shack
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    Courtesy of Shake Shack
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    Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti to retire in 2024

    Garutti, who became the chain’s CEO in 2011, will depart the company as it prepares to open 80 units next year and expand its drive-thru footprint. 

    By • Dec. 11, 2023
  • Large group of excited fans celebrating success of their sports team while watching a game in a bar.
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    skynesher via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS

    How to create entertainment that keeps your guests eating, drinking and having fun

    Ensure your restaurant is set up to keep your guests coming back week after week, season after season.

    Dec. 11, 2023
  • An image of six people at a table in a restaurant wearing Santa hats
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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    NRA: 63% of adults plan to eat out during holidays

    Millennials are the top demographic to visit restaurants during the holidays as a way to avoid crowded grocery stores, per a National Restaurant Association survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults. 

    By • Dec. 8, 2023
  • An image of Habit Burger restaurant with outdoor seating
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    Retrieved from The Habit Burger Grill on December 08, 2023
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    Habit Burger to open its first mobile pickup lane

    Mobile pickup lanes could dramatically decrease the burger chain’s wait times, which can reach six to eight minutes as employees prepare meals to order.

    By • Updated Dec. 8, 2023
  • An image of Craig LeMieux, CEO of Rock N Roll Sushi and Terri Jessen, VP of operations
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    Permission granted by Rock N Roll Sushi
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    Rock N Roll Sushi hires experienced franchise exec as CEO

    Craig LeMieux, who has decades of franchising experience, will lead the chain as its top executive. Terri Jessen was appointed VP of operations. 

    By • Dec. 7, 2023
  • 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 appoints chief people officer

    Meghan Spuler joins the casual chain in the midst of its ongoing North Star Plan transformation, which includes a new staffing model.

    By • Dec. 7, 2023
  • Red Robin menu items, including shrimp, fries and rigs atop white plates.
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    Permission granted by Red Robin
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    How 6 casual chains revamped their menus in 2023

    IHOP, Denny’s, Red Robin and TGI Fridays emphasized menu updates this year in a bid to boost traffic and sales.

    By • Dec. 6, 2023
  • An exterior photo of CaliExpress by Flippy restaurant in California
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    Retrieved from CaliExpress by Flippy on December 05, 2023
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    Miso Robotics to open autonomous restaurant in California

    CaliExpress by Flippy was created in partnership with Cali Group and PopID and uses robotic arms to cook burgers and fries, requiring minimal human labor.

    By • Dec. 6, 2023
  • Two hands holding up gift cards from Cheesecake Factory
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    Courtesy of The Cheesecake Factory
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    Restaurant gift card sales rose during Thanksgiving holiday weekend

    Guests spent 7.3% more on restaurant gift cards during the Thanksgiving weekend compared to the same period in 2022, per Paytronix data. 

    By • Dec. 4, 2023
  • Top down shot of food item on table
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    Permission granted by Idaho Potato Commission, David Malosh
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    Sponsored by Idaho Potato Commission

    How this ingredient can drive profitability and innovation while simplifying your operations

    Today’s restaurant chefs and operators are continually looking for ways to enhance profitability, simplify operations and captivate their customers.

    Dec. 4, 2023
  • Justin Murakami was promoted to COO of Sprinkles in Nov. 2023.
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    Courtesy of Sprinkles
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    Sprinkles promotes new COO

    Justin Murakami will lead operations as the company prepares to expand its network of production and pantry bakeries, as well as its cupcake “ATMs.”

    By • Dec. 1, 2023