Operations: Page 29

  • Photo of 3 peanut butter brownies
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Mars Foodservices
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Mars Foodservices

    Spring into profits with trending treats

    Refresh your spring menu and attract customers with four data-backed tips and trends.

    Feb. 13, 2023
  • A photo of a Jeremiah's Italian Ice restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Jeremiah's Italian Ice
    Image attribution tooltip

    Jeremiah’s Italian Ice plans to triple its units through franchising

    After hitting 100 units in 2022, the company will open 45 stores this year as it aims to reach 300 locations.

    By • Feb. 10, 2023
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    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 Chick-fil-A's cauliflower sandwich
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Chick-fil-A
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chick-fil-A pilots first chicken-free sandwich

    The cauliflower sandwich, which is marinated, breaded and pressure cooked simiarly to its chicken sandwich, will be available in Denver; Charleston, South Carolina; and in the Greensboro-Triad region in North Carolina.

    By • Feb. 9, 2023
  • View of micro-fulfillment facility
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Takeoff Technologies
    Image attribution tooltip

    Could grocers and fast food restaurants join forces for online ordering?

    Micro-fulfillment vendor Takeoff Technologies is working with an unnamed retailer to allow shoppers to order groceries and McDonald’s food at once, a senior company official said.

    By Sam Silverstein • Feb. 9, 2023
  • Uber Eats app functionality in stadiums
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Uber Eats
    Image attribution tooltip

    Uber Eats to back community development loans for Black-owned restaurants

    The delivery aggregator will partner with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation to provide financing to Black restaurant owners in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

    By • Feb. 8, 2023
  • An image of a a white building with Chipotle signage at night.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle will enhance digital service with automated makelines, gamified rewards

    Despite growing to $3 billion in revenue, the chain’s digital business saw sales as a percentage of total revenue level off at around 37% in Q4 2022. 

    By • Feb. 8, 2023
  • An image of a menu board inside Fat Brand's first tri-branded location
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fat Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fat Brands opened a record number of stores in 2022

    Last year’s 142-unit expansion could be surpassed by the 175 units slated to open in 2023 as Fat works toward launching 1,000 units in its pipeline.

    By • Feb. 7, 2023
  • A photograph of the outside of a Shuckin' Shack
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Shuckin' Shack
    Image attribution tooltip

    Franchise spotlight: How Shuckin’ Shack grew from a dive bar to a budding chain

    By focusing on secondary markets, the full-service oyster bar has built a loyal customer base and strong same-store sales growth.

    By • Feb. 2, 2023
  • Online business payments
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sitthiphong via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How Chowly’s Koala buy will broaden online ordering access for SMBs

    With Koala’s enterprise-level digital ordering capabilities, Chowly will be able to offer a user-facing tool for its small and mid-size restaurant clients. 

    By • Feb. 2, 2023
  • Eggs on shelves at a grocery store.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Catherine Douglas Moran/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Egg prices to remain high for as long as bird flu continues, experts say

    After prices more than doubled over the past year, producers are grappling with the impact of the virus while politicians and activists call for investigations into potential price gouging.

    By Chris Casey • Feb. 2, 2023
  • Subway restaurant connected to a Pilot convenience store in Pennsylvania
    Image attribution tooltip
    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Subway’s North American same-store sales rise nearly 8%

    Subway’s efforts to improve its brand positioning and franchising system may be paying off, but it’s unclear what role inflation played in sales growth.

    By • Feb. 2, 2023
  • An image of Crisp & Green
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Crisp & Green
    Image attribution tooltip

    Crisp & Green signs its largest franchise deal yet for 40 units

    The Minnesota-based fast casual chain expects to open 50 locations in 15 states by the end of the year. 

    By • Feb. 1, 2023
  • A promotional image for Dunkin's old loyalty program, DD Perks, illustrating that program's coffee-centric offerings.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dunkin'
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dunkin’ doubles down on loyalty with exclusive latte

    Months after retooling its rewards program, the chain has added the Brownie Batter Signature Latte, its first beverage available only to loyalty members.

    By • Feb. 1, 2023
  • Wendy's ghost kitchen
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Wendy's
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    Ghost kitchens need to go omnichannel if they want to survive, experts say

    After a year of dashed expansion plans, closures and high-profile regulatory infractions, segment players may need brand awareness and expanded access points to thrive.

    By • Jan. 31, 2023
  • An image of a woman at open sign.
    Image attribution tooltip
    monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    While chains seek multi-unit franchisees, small operators have room to grow in 2023

    Franchisees will continue to push franchisors to boost store-level profitability as many brace for high development and operating costs.

    By • Jan. 30, 2023
  • A woman sits at a coffee table looking at a tablet.
    Image attribution tooltip
    andresr via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A

    Earnings instability has led to fewer restaurant lenders

    Despite institutions pulling back from offering loans to restaurants, CapitalSpring’s Erik Herrmann says there are other options.

    By • Jan. 30, 2023
  • Happy, neutral and sad emojis above three check boxes
    Image attribution tooltip

    adobe.stock/Kittiphan

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by SpotOn

    How to use online reviews to increase efficiency

    The increasing popularity of online review sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google, makes it feel like everybody’s a critic. When everyone makes their opinions public, conflicting perspectives are inevitable and sorting through the mass of information can seem like a daunting task. However...

    Jan. 30, 2023
  • Chick-fil-A piloted a virtual restaurant brand via Little Blue Menu in fall 2021.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Chick-fil-A on September 15, 2021
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chick-fil-A to open second Little Blue Menu location

    The chain’s original Nashville, Tennessee, prototype offers items from virtual concepts Outfox Wings and Because, Burger in addition to Chick-fil-A’s menu. 

    By • Updated Jan. 30, 2023
  • A picture of chicken wings at Mod Pizza
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Mod Pizza
    Image attribution tooltip

    Mod tries expanding beyond pizza with wings test

    If the pilot is successful, Mod could add wings to its permanent menu, revising its offerings alongside brands like Pizza Hut, Papa Johns and Pie Five.

    By • Jan. 26, 2023
  • An image inside Sprinkles bakery
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Sprinkles
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sprinkles bakes up plan to sign 100 franchised units

    The cupcake chain opened its first franchised unit at the end of 2022 and is eying extensive domestic and international growth.

    By • Jan. 24, 2023
  • A Taco Bell employee wearing a mask hands a drive-thru customer their order.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Taco Bell
    Image attribution tooltip

    Report: QSR traffic down 4.2% in Q4

    Net sales were up 6.1% during the quarter due to an uptick in average check, according to a report from Revenue Management Solutions.

    By • Jan. 23, 2023
  • Robotic Arm
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Remy Robotics
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Remy Robotics

    The solution to the labor shortage is not automation. It’s autonomy.

    Remy Robotics CEO Yegor Traiman proposes a comprehensive solution to the restaurant industry’s labor problem.

    Jan. 23, 2023
  • An image of a Taco Bell store.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Taco Bell
    Image attribution tooltip

    Ransomware attack against Yum Brands follows several incidents targeting restaurant industry

    Criminals see restaurants and mobile ordering apps as ripe targets for credential stuffing and financial fraud.

    By David Jones • Jan. 20, 2023
  • An image of a small restaurant with shelves and an ordering counter.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Chili's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chili’s closes off-premise test unit 2 months after opening

    Brinker International said it closed the store to focus on improving Chili’s core business and innovation, including its Kitchen of the Future 3 program.

    By • Jan. 19, 2023
  • A photograph of a bartaco sign
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Bartaco
    Image attribution tooltip

    How Bartaco eliminated wait staff roles to boost wages

    Retooling employee responsibilities and adding tip pooling allows the chain to pay average hourly wages of $23, higher than the $17 industry average.

    By • Jan. 18, 2023