Operations: Page 28

  • Noodles & Company CFO Carl Lukach
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company CFO departs

    After over two years at the fast casual chain, CFO Carl Lukach will resign June 9 to take a similar position at a retail company.

    By • May 19, 2023
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    "The image" by Mike Mozart is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Texas Roadhouse appoints Southwest Airlines vet as CFO

    Chris Monroe will lead Texas Roadhouse’s financial operations after a 30-year career at Southwest Airlines.

    By • May 18, 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 photograph of Shipley Do-Nuts
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    Permission granted by Shipley Do-Nuts
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    Shipley Do-Nuts hires Bonchon CEO as top exec

    Flynn Dekker, who has over 30 years of retail and restaurant experience, will oversee the chain’s rapid growth, including a pipeline of 200-plus units.

    By • May 17, 2023
  • A rendering of a Wendy's restaurant with Pipedream's underground delivery system
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s tests underground robots for mobile order pickup

    The QSR chain said it is the first to partner with hyperlogistics company Pipedream to create the system, which uses robot couriers to deliver orders from the kitchen to designated parking spots. 

    By • Updated May 18, 2023
  • A photo of a Wetzel's Pretzels inside a convenience store
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    Permission granted by Wetzel's Pretzels
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    Wetzel’s Pretzels CEO steps down, COO will lead chain

    Vincent Montanelli takes the helm of the company several months after it was acquired by MTY Food Group.

    By • May 17, 2023
  • A photograph of Nathan Louer, chief brand officer at Jamba.
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    Permission granted by Focus Brands
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    Focus Brands hires Jimmy John’s vet as Jamba chief brand officer

    Nathan Louer, who has held marketing positions at the chain for nearly 17 years, brings knowledge of brand strategy, digital, marketing, product development and operations to his new position. 

    By • May 17, 2023
  • wawa
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    Permission granted by ezCater
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    Wawa expanding its corporate catering business

    The foodservice-focused retailer now offers breakfast, coffee and lunch items to business clients across its 1,000-store footprint via the ezCater marketplace.

    By Brett Dworski • May 16, 2023
  • An image of Topgolf's CEO
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    Dine Brands appoints Topgolf CEO to board of directors

    The addition of Arthur Starrs to Dine Brands’ board of directors follows other executive changes this year, including a new Applebee’s U.S. president. 

    By • May 16, 2023
  • An image of Square's Franchise Platform, which rolled out May 2023.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Square adds franchise platform

    Square for Franchise, which was created following the company’s acquisition of GoParrot, lets franchisors monitor multiple units on one dashboard. 

    By • May 16, 2023
  • An image of Yelp's reservation management platform.
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    Permission granted by Yelp
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    Yelp expands front-of-house tools with Toast, Google

    A Toast integration will allow restaurants to gain insights from the point-of-sale system, while Reserve with Google will allow diners to reserve a table or join a waitlist from Google Maps and Search. 

    By • May 15, 2023
  • A photograph of two drive-thru menu boards at Captain D's.
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    Permission granted by Captain D's
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    Captain D’s leans into flexible prototypes, pushes toward 1K units

    The 540-unit seafood QSR offers four store models, one of which includes a double drive-thru and another that offers drive-thru and pickup only.

    By • May 12, 2023
  • 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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    Cheesecake Factory rolls out rewards program

    Following two successful pilots in Houston and Chicago last year, the company is offering a “surprise and delight” loyalty platform that gives guests access to benefits like reservations.

    By • Updated June 1, 2023
  • BurgerFi franchisee in Alpharetta, Georgia
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    Permission granted by BurgerFi
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    BurgerFi CEO to retire

    Ian Baines will step down in June and consult for the company for a year, and COO John Iannucci will oversee the company on an interim basis.

    By • May 9, 2023
  • Wendy's drive-thru only restaurant UK
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    Permission granted by Wendy's
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    Wendy’s to test Google’s drive-thru chatbot in Ohio

    The tool, called Wendy’s FreshAI, can understand customization requests, respond to common customer questions and offer upsell suggestions. 

    By • Updated May 10, 2023
  • An image of sweetgreen's automated kitchen in Naperville, Illinois
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen will unveil first automated kitchen this week

    The chain’s Infinite Kitchen, part of ongoing efforts to improve profitability, opened its first location in Naperville, Illinois, on Wednesday.

    By • Updated May 10, 2023
  • A photograph of Denny's SVP and COO Alex Williams
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    Courtesy of Denny's
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    Denny’s appoints COO

    Alex Williams, who has decades of experience at brands like Starbucks, McDonald’s and Outback Steakhouse, joins the brand as it works to improve back-of-house efficiency and management turnover. 

    By • May 8, 2023
  • The exterior of a Rock N' Roll Sushi
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    Permission granted by Rock N' Roll Sushi
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    How Rock N’ Roll Sushi plans to grow from 62 to 250 units in 5 years

    The Asian concept, which originated in the Southeast, is pursuing growth in states like Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.

    By • May 8, 2023
  • An image of a Chick-fil-A customer scanning her rewards program at the drive-thru
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    Retrieved from Chick-fil-A on March 17, 2023
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    Chick-fil-A’s geofencing pilot reduced wait times

    The chain found that 100 restaurants trimmed average wait times by one to two minutes using this technology. 

    By • May 3, 2023
  • An artist rendering of a Quiznos and Taco Del Mar counter inside a Sunshine Gasoline Distributor's c-store.
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    Permission granted by REGO Restaurant Group
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    Sunshine Gasoline Distributors adds combined Quiznos, Taco Del Mar restaurants

    A dual-branded restaurant recently opened at a company store in Florida — the first of at least 13 planned locations for Sunshine.

    By Jessica Loder • May 1, 2023
  • An image of the top of a silver car that contains a rectangular logo with a red square and blue square.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Domino’s delivery drags on strong pricing and carryout

    With carryout growing, Domino’s plans to revamp its loyalty program to strengthen takeout options while creating value across channels.

    By • April 28, 2023
  • Papa Johns Cool Ranch Papadia sandwiches in various packaging and contexts.
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Q&A

    Papa Johns menu strategy chief talks balancing innovation with value

    The pizza chain is targeting younger diners with snackable menu items like handheld desserts and its new Doritos Cool Ranch Papadia, VP of National Calendar and Menu Strategy Kimberly Bean said.

    By • April 28, 2023
  • An image of a white and red restaurant with Krystal on the signage
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    SPB Hospitality completes merger with Krystal Restaurants

    The QSR, which will continue to operate independently, will join SPB’s portfolio that includes J. Alexander’s and Logan’s Road House. 

    By • April 27, 2023
  • A Chipotle restaurant branded with the name Freepotle
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    Courtesy of Chipotle Mexican Grill
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    Chipotle’s same-store sales rise 10.9% as traffic turns positive

    In-restaurant sales jumped nearly 23% year over year following efforts to boost operational efficiency, rewards and menu innovation. 

    By • April 26, 2023
  • Caribou Coffee
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    Permission granted by Caribou Coffee
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    Caribou Coffee is adding 300 domestic franchised units

    Six multi-unit franchisees will open stores in Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida as part of the company’s domestic growth efforts.

    By • April 25, 2023
  • Branded DeliverZero containers with food in them on a table.
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    Permission granted by DeliverZero
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    Uber Eats partners with DeliverZero for its first reusable takeout packaging pilot in US

    New Yorkers can add reusable containers to their food orders at select locations for $1, as delivery firms pilot resuable packaging partnerships.

    By Katie Pyzyk • April 25, 2023