Operations: Page 20

  • Paula Vissing and Ed Gleich, executives at Little Caesars
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    Courtesy of Little Caesars
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    Little Caesars promotes 2 execs to support global growth

    COO Paula Vissing takes on the role of president of global retail while Ed Gleich, chief innovation officer, will become president of global services. 

    By • Aug. 23, 2023
  • Michael Solomonov spreads olive oil on a piece of flatbread inside a restaurant kitchen
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    Permission granted by DoorDash/Photo by Jared Polin
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    DoorDash appoints Chef Michael Solomonov as its third chief restaurant advisor

    Solomonov, who owns and operates eight concepts in Philadelphia and New York City, will share insights on DoorDash’s unreleased products.

    By • Aug. 22, 2023
  • 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
  • A picture of two men in formal photographs. The man on the left is wearing a chef's outfit.
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen hires heads of culinary, marketing

    Chad Brauze’s and Michael Kotick’s experience will help the salad chain as it emphasizes heartier menu offerings and expands its loyalty program. 

    By • Aug. 21, 2023
  • A Checkers restaurant with metallic and red trim and a red truck waiting for an order.
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    The image by Phillip Pessar is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Checkers and Rally’s deploys Spanish-speaking drive-thru AI

    The restaurant chain has installed Hi Auto’s bilingual technology at 350 restaurants after a two-month beta test at five units. 

    By • Aug. 18, 2023
  • An image of outdoor dining with misters coming off of red umbrellas.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Friday Feedback: How has excessive heat impacted your restaurant?

    Restaurant Dive wants to know if you’ve shifted operations due to triple-digit temperatures this summer.

    By • Aug. 18, 2023
  • A photograph of a Denny's sign over some trees.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Denny’s terminates president

    John Dillon, who has served in this position since last year, will stay on in a non-executive position through the end of the year. CEO Kelli Valade will take on the president role.

    By • Aug. 18, 2023
  • A photo of people dining outside.
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    Byron Smith/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
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    NYC mayor signs permanent outdoor dining program into law

    Dining Out NYC addresses residents’ concerns about outdoor dining structures’ impact on sanitation and quality of life, and streamlines the process for restaurants to offer sidewalk and streetside service. 

    By • Aug. 16, 2023
  • An image of the inside of a Wendy's restaurant with mobile pick up windows and some seating.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s unveils high-capacity kitchen design

    The fast food chain is finalizing a back-of-house prototype that can increase capacity by 50%, which complements its rollout of Global Next Gen restaurants.

    By • Aug. 16, 2023
  • An image of a building that has Black Rock Coffee signage
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    Permission granted by Black Rock Coffee
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    Black Rock Coffee appoints new CEO

    Mark Davis, who previously worked at Tokyo Joe’s and Panera, will oversee the chain as it plans to double its store count by 2026. 

    By • Aug. 16, 2023
  • An image of a Cava logo
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Cava boasts 10% traffic growth, reaches quarterly profit

    The company, which went public in June, is building out its 2024 and 2025 pipelines with the expectation of reaching 15% annual restaurant growth. 

    By • Aug. 16, 2023
  • Fogo de Chão in Reston, Virgnia
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    Courtesy of Fogo de Chão
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    Fogo de Chão to be acquired by Bain Capital

    Rhône Capital is selling the full-service chain after it bought it in 2018 for $560 million. Under new ownership, Fogo de Chão plans to aggressively expand. 

    By • Updated Aug. 15, 2023
  • An exterior image of a green and white building with Captain D's signage.
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    Permission granted by Captain D's
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    Captain D’s appoints Cracker Barrel vet as CFO

    Jeff Wilson joins the seafood chain, which has over 530 units, as it aggressively franchises to reach its 1,000-store mark. 

    By • Aug. 14, 2023
  • An image of a brick building with Applebee's signage
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    3 ways Applebee’s is making development cheaper for franchisees

    From store conversions to a new prototype, the chain is incorporating ways to reduce buildout costs and increase profitability for operators. 

    By • Aug. 14, 2023
  • Woman standing behind counter and cash register serves ice cream cone.
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    Permission granted by Lynne Marek
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    Toast CEO: Lessons learned from fee flub

    Chris Comparato said on an earnings call the company will be more thoughtful about how it increases prices after facing backlash over a 99-cent customer-paid fee it later scrapped.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Aug. 10, 2023
  • An image of a blue sign with "IHOP" words.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    IHOP is adding 2 more virtual brands to its portfolio

    Delivery made up 13% of off-premise sales, while its loyalty program drove 6% of total sales during Q2, behavior that could support more virtual concepts. 

    By • Aug. 7, 2023
  • Two hands locked in a shake
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    SunnyVMD via Getty Images
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    PDQ promotes Kep Sweeney to CEO

    Sweeney takes the reins from co-founder Nick Reader as the chicken chain invests in off-premise improvements, including geofencing to trim service times for pickup orders. 

    By • Aug. 4, 2023
  • An image of a building with yellow and red stripes. Signage says "Pollo Campero."
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    Permission granted by Pollo Campero
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    How Pollo Campero plans to grow from 90 US units to 250 in 5 years

    Since expanding its customer base beyond its legacy Guatemalan and Salvadoran diners, the concept has gained traction throughout the U.S. 

    By • Aug. 4, 2023
  • An image of a woman ordering at a drive-thru speaker box.
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    MartinPrescott via Getty Images
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    Friday Feedback: How are you thinking about automation?

    Restaurant Dive wants to know if you are investing in technology like kitchen robotics or voice artificial intelligence at the drive-thru. 

    By • Aug. 4, 2023
  • Inside a Twisted by Wetzels with round white tables and yellow chairs.
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    Permission granted by Twisted by Wetzels
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    Wetzel’s Pretzels expands Twisted concept to Arizona

    The QSR chain is actively selling territories for franchised units of its spinoff concept, primarily targeting California and Arizona. 

    By • Aug. 3, 2023
  • An image of a man wearing a beige suit.
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    Courtesy of Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux
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    Walk-On’s hires Kendall Ware as COO

    Ware, whose experience includes Carvel, Cinnabon and Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, will help the brand drive expansion as it nears its 100-unit mark. 

    By • Aug. 3, 2023
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    Permission granted by MrBeast Burger/Virtual Dining Concepts
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    MrBeast sues Virtual Dining Concepts, aims to kill his virtual brand

    Beast Investments claims VDC’s rapid expansion of MrBeast Burger resulted in poor customer experiences and food quality, but VDC alleges the complaint is “riddled with false statements.”

    By • Aug. 2, 2023
  • White Castle
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle to roll out voice AI to over 100 drive-thrus

    The chain is automating its drive-thru order taking in partnership with SoundHound, which claims its tech can process orders within 60 seconds.

    By • Aug. 2, 2023
  • An image of Sweetgreen's rewards program on a smartphone.
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen will extend loyalty program to its dining rooms

    The value of offering in-store rewards will be “super accretive,” CEO Jonathan Neman said, because most of the chain’s customers are first acquired through its restaurants.

    By • Aug. 1, 2023
  • The logos of all six of Woworks' brands.
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    Courtesy of Woworks
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    Woworks to offer 13 brands from Cloud Kitchens unit in San Francisco

    The ghost kitchen concept, called Wow Kitchen, will include menu items from seven virtual brands and its six fast chains under Woworks’ umbrella.

    By • Aug. 1, 2023
  • Battered fish and fries on a white plate.
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    Permission granted by Red Robin
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    Red Robin bets staffing, menu upgrades will reinvigorate brand

    CEO GJ Hart says the chain’s turnaround plan won’t reinvent the restaurant, but bring its best features forward, including burgers, bottomless fries and a kid-friendly atmosphere.

    By • Aug. 1, 2023