Papa Johns CFO resigns

Ann Gugino, who has been at the pizza chain since 2020, is leaving effective May 31. Papa Johns has begun a search for a permanent CFO. 

By Julie Littman • March 22, 2023

Pretzelmaker opens first drive-thru

The Mason City, Iowa unit will include the chain’s Fresh Twist brand menu, which launched in 2018 to meet demand for breakfast and late-night options. 

By Julie Littman • March 21, 2023

Explore the 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

Survey: 66% of franchisees feel optimistic about business

Changing consumer preferences may push franchisees to invest in store remodels and digital ordering and delivery systems, TD Bank found in a survey.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 21, 2023

Rise and shine: Why breakfast chains are booming

Early bird foot traffic from remote and hybrid workers is boosting same-store sales growth at A.M. eateries, fueling sizable expansion pipelines.

By Julie Littman • March 21, 2023

Chick-fil-A to roll out updates to rewards program in April

Chick-fil-A One, which has over 50 million members, will offer new items and increased points for redemption on some items starting April 4.

By Julie Littman • March 17, 2023

CKE names former Papa Johns COO as CEO

Max Wetzel joins the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s after working at Papa Johns for over three years in various executive positions. 

By Julie Littman • March 17, 2023

Steele Brands’ 250-unit pipeline will take it nationwide

After consumer interest in health food boomed following the COVID-19 pandemic, the holding company accelerated franchising of its Crisp & Green concept, which will soon operate in 25 states.

By Julie Littman • March 17, 2023

Subway brings back Footlong Pass subscription

The chain, which sold out 10,000 subscriptions in August in under six hours, is now offering 250,000 passes to rewards members for April redemption. 

By Julie Littman • March 17, 2023

Krispy Kreme exiting CPG snack business, cutting 102 jobs

The sweets maker said the segment underperformed on the market. Instead, the company is focusing on delivering fresh-baked doughnuts to stores.

By Megan Poinski • March 17, 2023

Nextbite, IHOP launch TenderFix virtual brand

Nextbite’s chicken-centric brand, which was developed with the help of actor Noah Schnapp, marks the third partnership between the host kitchen and IHOP.

By Julie Littman • March 16, 2023

Sweetgreen teams with Zipline for drone delivery

Zipline’s new home delivery platform would use 97% less energy than deliveries fulfilled by car, the company claims. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 16, 2023

Denny’s serves up AR experience with new menu overhaul

Guests can take a virtual tour of Denny’s new menu and get exclusive deals, as part of a brand update that includes new kitchen equipment and food offerings. 

By Julie Littman • March 15, 2023

Hawaiian Bros signs first multi-unit franchise deal for 75 units

The roughly 30-unit fast casual chain will more than double its unit count in a deal with Stine Enterprises to open restaurants in Arizona and North Texas.

By Julie Littman • Updated March 15, 2023

Chipotle’s chief development officer departs

Tabassum Zalotrawala, who has been at the fast casual chain for over four years and helped develop the Chipotlane, has resigned from her position. 

By Julie Littman • Updated March 14, 2023

Grubhub CEO Adam DeWitt resigns

DeWitt leaves Grubhub May 1 after 11 years at the company and nearly two years as CEO. Howard Migdal, current CEO at sister company SkipTheDishes, will succeed him.

By Julie Littman • March 13, 2023

Church’s Texas Chicken hires Burger King vet as US COO

Roland Gonzalez, who has over a decade of restaurant experience, joins the QSR amid a C-suite hiring spree, including CFO, CMO and CEO hires within the past year. 

By Julie Littman • March 13, 2023

Sweetfin, Stellar Pizza detail cost-saving robotics strategies

Sweetfin uses Coco Delivery bots to deliver food within two miles in 15 minutes, while Stellar Pizza’s robotic truck can bake pizzas with just one human employee.

By Emma Liem Beckett • March 13, 2023

Potbelly secures first refranchising agreement

The deal with United One Group, which includes eight refranchised units, will add another 13 new restaurants to New York City by 2031.

By Julie Littman • March 13, 2023

DOL: Florida restaurants withheld $190K from workers to cover operating costs

Investigators in the agency’s Wage and Hour Division recovered more than $27 million for 22,531 foodservice workers during fiscal year 2022.

By Ginger Christ • March 10, 2023

Shift4 needles rival Toast

Toast and Shift4 are battling to win larger customers in the intensely competitive restaurant payments arena. 

By Caitlin Mullen • March 10, 2023

Noodles & Company to test dynamic pricing

Digital menu boards will offer not only flexibility in promotions and featured items at the fast casual chain, but could also allow for pricing tweaks.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 10, 2023

NYC cuts proposed delivery worker wage floor by almost $4

Grubhub, Uber Eats and DoorDash persuaded the city to reduce its 2025 target base pay by $3.86 an hour, arguing workers would be compensated by “multi-apping.”

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 8, 2023

Church’s Texas Chicken adds global CMO amid new leadership push

Natalia Franco, who started her role on Monday, joins a slew of recent corporate hires including CFO, CEO and procurement VP. 

By Julie Littman • March 7, 2023

How Applebee’s new president plans to revive franchisee development

With high costs hurting potential ROI on new builds, Tony Moralejo wants to save with a new kitchen prototype and franchisee incentives.

By Julie Littman • March 7, 2023

Sweetgreen launches catering as workers return to offices

The fast casual chain slowly grew the channel through a pilot program last year as it expanded into new markets. 

By Julie Littman • March 7, 2023