Operations: Page 35

  • An image of a small gray building with green Quiznos wording on the side.
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    Courtesy of Rego Restaurant Group
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    Rego Restaurant Group develops modular construction units

    BCubed Manufacturing will provide Quiznos and Taco Del Mar franchisees the option to build 650-square-foot units with drive-thrus and pickup windows. 

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
  • Brinker International launched its second virtual brand, Maggiano's Italian Classics, in 2021.
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    Retrieved from Maggiano's Italian Classics on August 18, 2021
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    Brinker to trim virtual brand menu, hike prices

    The company is rightsizing menus, pricing and kitchen operations for It’s Just Wings and Maggiano’s Italian Classics, which drove 6% of sales in fiscal 2022. 

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
  • 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
  • Chili's expanded its partnership with Bear Robotics into 51 states in 2022.
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    Permission granted by Chili's
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    Brinker pauses robotics server test

    The company is pivoting from the pilot, which involves Bear Robotics’ robot server, to focus on tech it says can better improve speed of service. 

    By • Updated Aug. 26, 2022
  • Black waiter, restaurant
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    FG Trade via Getty Images
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    Danny Meyer’s investment arm injects $10M into voice AI tech firm

    ConverseNow, which partners with 1,200 restaurants across 40 states, plans to use this cash better meet demand.

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 24, 2022
  • drive thru painted on street for directions
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    booker5m via Getty Images
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    Restaurant outsourcing startup Bite Ninja raises $11.3M

    The firm has trained 12,000 workers to take orders remotely, offering savings for restaurants that don’t want to hire traditional employees. 

    By • Aug. 24, 2022
  • An image of a sign with a red apple and the word Applebee's
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    Why an Applebee’s franchisee is going delivery-only

    Doherty Enterprises, which runs 90 Applebee’s units, has a ghost kitchen in Miami and plans to open a delivery-only unit in New York City next year. 

    By • Aug. 22, 2022
  • An image of a table and several plates with a burger and breakfast items
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    Permission granted by IHOP
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    IHOP’s new menu serves up customization

    The Choice menu, which includes made-to-order griddle combos, steakburgers and chicken sandwiches, will be available any time of day.

    By • Aug. 22, 2022
  • Group of friends enjoying a meal in a restaurant.
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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Waze

    Restaurant leaders sound off: Staying on top of the data during uncertain times with 3 key insights

    Three key insights will allow brand marketers and their agency counterparts to tweak their strategies to drive traffic for the remainder of 2022 and beyond.

    Aug. 22, 2022
  • A woman sitting at a table using her phone as a calculator. On the table there are financial charts.
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    Hispanistic via Getty Images
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    How to develop data strategy from scratch

    Restaurants don’t need to spend millions of dollars or outsource to a third-party processor to learn what makes their customers tick, experts say.

    By • Aug. 15, 2022
  • An exterior image of a restaurant with glass windows and a sign that says sweetgreen.
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    Retrieved from Sweetgreen/BusinessWire on August 10, 2022
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    Sweetgreen on track for 1K units by 2030 despite profitability issues

    The salad chain expects to open at least 35 new restaurants this year, with many in suburban markets. 

    By • Aug. 11, 2022
  • Applebee's launched a virtual brand Cosmic Wings February 2021 with Uber Eats.
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    Permission granted by Cosmic Wings
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    Applebee’s to add items from virtual brand Cosmic Wings to core menu

    The strategy will help the wing brand expand its reach from 13% of customers to 100%, Applebee’s President John Cywinski said. 

    By • Aug. 10, 2022
  • An image of three bowls that contain various food items like pepperoni, meats and vegetables
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns’ latest menu item removes the dough

    Papa Bowls is the third product launch at the pizza chain this year, and franchisees are excited about this item because of how easy it is to cook. 

    By • Aug. 9, 2022
  • A QuikTrip convenience store
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    Retrieved from QuikTrip's website.
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    Major c-store chain plans to open more food-focused, fuel-free locations

    QuikTrip will open its second prepared foods-focused location next week in Oklahoma as it and other convenience operators continue to blur the lines with restaurants and grocery stores.

    By Brett Dworski • Aug. 5, 2022
  • Shake Shack opened its first drive-thru location in Maple Grove, Minnesota Dec. 6, 2021.
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    Permission granted by Shake Shack
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    Shake Shack expects up to 25 drive-thrus open by the end of 2023

    With six drive-thrus currently open, the burger chain has seen average weekly sales of over $80,000 compared to $76,000 at a traditional location. 

    By • Aug. 4, 2022
  • A person holds a smartphone showing the Starbucks app
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Despite menu price increases, Starbucks Rewards members keep coming back

    Guest counts reached an all-time high during the quarter, with loyalty customer growth outpacing non-members. 

    By • Aug. 3, 2022
  • A picture of a diamond red sign that has "Fatburger" in yellow letters.
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    The image by Tony Hisgett is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Fat Brands plans to open 900 new restaurants in 5 years

    The aggressive expansion strategy would raise the company’s total location to over 3,200 while also adding $50 million in incremental adjusted EBITDA. 

    By • Aug. 2, 2022
  • Outback Steakhouse exterior
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    Courtesy of Bloomin' Brands
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    Bloomin’ plans to keep menu price hikes below inflation

    The company said during its second quarter earnings call it expects to keep price increases around 6.5% in the latter half of the year.

    By • Aug. 1, 2022
  • An image of various chicken wings products and French fries inside green containers.
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop expects its food costs to shrink this year

    The chain is experiencing a 19% drop in chicken wing costs, allowing it to lean more heavily on value offerings as other restaurants hike menu prices. 

    By • July 29, 2022
  • A man and woman looking at receipts inside a cafe
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    Ridofranz via Getty Images
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    Study: Over one-third of restaurant operators implementing hiring freezes

    Despite an ongoing labor shortage, 4% of small restaurant owners said they are cutting staff, a July Alignable report also found. 

    By Alicia Kelso • July 28, 2022
  • A woman and man at a cash register
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle plans 4% menu increase in August

    The price hike will help offset rising operating costs due to increased wages and inflation, especially around dairy, tortillas and packaging.  

    By • July 27, 2022
  • Large squares containing "ASAP" and "Pick Up Orders"
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    Permission granted by Waitr Holdings
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    Waitr strikes exclusive partnership with New York Giants, New York Jets

    The delivery firm, which is rebranding as ASAP, will provide in-stadium mobile ordering during home games, concerts and events at MetLife Stadium.

    By • July 27, 2022
  • An image of a bag sitting on a makeline with food ingredients in the background.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle on track to reach $3.5B in digital sales in 2022

    Digital sales, which represented 39% of sales during Q2, are expected to grow this year even as dine-in sales rise amid a shift in customer behavior. 

    By • July 27, 2022
  • Jamba by Blendid kiosk at the Walmart in Dixon, California
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    Permission granted by Blendid
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    Jamba by Blendid expands to UCLA

    The University of California Los Angeles marks the third college campus to open a Jamba by Blendid kiosk this year, and fifth overall for Blendid. 

    By Alicia Kelso • July 26, 2022
  • A building with the words "Kitchen United Mix" on the exterior
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    Permission granted by Kitchen United
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    How Kitchen United's new access to grocery stores, malls will fuel its growth

    With $100 million in fresh funding under its belt, the ghost kitchen operator will build out its tech stack and expand within new and existing markets. 

    By • July 26, 2022
  • Cattle grazing in open field.
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    Permission granted by U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
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    Sponsored by U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

    Improving the sustainability of US beef through collaboration

    Yum! Brands Chief Sustainability Officer, Jon Hixson, talks sustainability and resiliency in the beef supply chain, including industry-wide goals.

    By Jon Hixson, Yum! Brands Chief Sustainability Officer • July 25, 2022