Operations: Page 24

  • 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
  • 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 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
  • Bojangles restaurant
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    Courtesy of Bojangles
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    TravelCenters of America bringing Bojangles restaurants to 10 locations

    The agreement adds the QSR to TA’s wide variety of dining options, including fast food, full-service and proprietary restaurants. 

    By Jessica Loder • Aug. 1, 2023
  • An image of a woman in a suite in front of a gray background.
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    Permission granted by Blooming’ Brands
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    Bloomin’ Brands names Sheilina Henry as Fleming’s president

    Henry, who has been with Bloomin’ Brands for over a decade, will focus on growing the fine dining brand in her new position. 

    By • July 31, 2023
  • wawa
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    Retrieved from Wawa press release.
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    Wawa enters the pizza game

    The retailer brought the option to select stores in June, and as of mid-July debuted it in more than 900 locations.

    By Brett Dworski • July 31, 2023
  • A picture of a chef in a kitchen looking down at a calculator.
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    Vladimir Vladimirov via Getty Images
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    Readers Respond: Virtual brand sales are too low to justify complexity

    Across the board, Restaurant Dive readers didn’t expect virtual brands to grow this year, and some are considering cutting them to improve operations.

    By • July 31, 2023
  • An exterior image of a white building with several tables and chairs. Signage says "DoorDash Kitchens."
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    Permission granted by Toni Zernik Photography for DoorDash
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    DoorDash opens virtual food hall in San Jose

    The company’s newest DoorDash Kitchens location will provide food from 10 local, regional and national restaurants for dine-in, delivery and takeout.

    By • July 31, 2023
  • A zoomed in image of a building with gold signage. The sign says "P.F. Chang's."
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    P.F. Chang’s CEO steps down

    Damola Adamolekun, who has been CEO since 2019, navigated the chain through the COVID-19 pandemic and returned it to growth with a brand refresh.

    By • Updated July 31, 2023
  • McDonald's Q1 Earnings Up On Higher Menu Prices, Overseas Growth
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    What we know about McDonald’s new small-format brand, CosMc

    The concept’s nod to a vintage mascot could help it stand out in a segment crowded with small-footprint prototypes, but McDonald’s past attempts to be a multi-chain operator haven’t worked out. 

    By • July 28, 2023