Operations: Page 44

  • 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
  • Hand holding phone that has ice cream ordering on the screen.
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    Photo Illustration: Uber; Getty Images

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    Uber ramping up grocery service with new features on Eats app

    Offering more items, improved barcode scanning and order scheduling when stores are closed are a few ways the company is “betting in a huge way on grocery,” said Oskar Hjertonsson, Uber’s global head of grocery and retail. 

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • July 21, 2022
  • An image of a sign hanging on a window that says "Now Serving Open Oven Baked Goodness"
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Domino's US carryout same-store sales rise 14.6% in Q2

    Bolstered by a boost week in late June and its $3 tip campaign for carryout customers, carryout continued to outperform delivery sales.

    By • July 21, 2022
  • A Piestro branded pizza box.
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    Courtesy of Piestro/Matt Lucido
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    Piestro and Capriotti’s pilot automated pizzeria in Las Vegas

    The sandwich chain plans to buy up to 100 Piestro Pods in the five years following the pilot, and to incorporate the pods in future store layouts. 

    By • July 21, 2022
  • An exterior shot of a beige brick building with the words "Jamba," "drive-thru" and "Auntie Anne's."
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    Permission granted by Auntie Anne's
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    Why Auntie Anne's wants to become a drive-thru destination

    The soft pretzel chain opened its first co-branded drive-thru with Jamba in 2021. It now plans to have 15 such units by spring 2023.

    By • July 20, 2022
  • Exterior of a Kroger store with a "Kitchen United Mix" sign on the building and delivery van.
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    Courtesy of Kroger
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    Kitchen United Mix opens in Dallas Kroger

    Food from the unit’s nine brands, including Capriotti's Sandwich Shop and Carl's Jr., can be bundled into one pickup or delivery order.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • July 19, 2022
  • A Jamba by Blendid unit
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    Permission granted by Jamba by Blendid
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    Jamba by Blendid to open in Love's Travel Shops

    The robotic smoothie maker will first pilot in a Love’s Travel Shop in Williams, California, with additional locations and kiosk operations to be announced.

    By • July 19, 2022
  • An Arby's location featuring a double drive-thru operated by Kang Foods LLC in Oroville, California in the summer of 2022.
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    Permission granted by Kang Foods LLC
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    Arby's franchisee opens double drive-thru unit

    Kang Foods LLC, a franchise group in Northern California, said the restaurant is one of a small number of such models in the chain’s system.

    By • July 18, 2022
  • Two cooks making food dishes in restaurant kitchen.
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    Shutterstock/Jacob Lund

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    Sponsored by Mood Media

    How one simple solution can save you time and money

    Engage, inform, train and retain employees with digital kitchen communication.

    July 18, 2022
  • An image of various Asian food items in steamer bowls, like bao buns, rice
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    Permission granted by Wow Bao
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    Why Wow Bao is betting on vending machines for expansion

    With less square footage and easy setup, Wow Bao CEO Geoff Alexander thinks the potential for growth with heat-and-eat kiosks could be endless.

    By • July 14, 2022
  • An image of a vending machine that serves bao buns, potstickers and bowls.
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    Permission granted by Wow Bao
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    Wow Bao to open 50 vending machine kiosks in 24 cities

    Hot steam buns and dumplings will now be available in hotels, hospitals, bars, schools, airports and casinos through Automated Retail Technologies’ Just Baked Hot Food kiosks.

    By • July 13, 2022
  • An exterior shot of a restaurant front with teal colored window tints.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Chopt opens eco-conscious, contactless store in Virginia

    For the next year, the salad chain will test iterations of this model with different square footage and equipment to balance speed of service and energy use.

    By • July 13, 2022
  • An image of two signs, one that says "Please be patient we are understaffed" and "Now hiring cooks, wait staff, bartenders. Apply now."
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    HABesen via Getty Images
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    4 ways to face labor shortages

    From recruitment and retention to operational efficiencies and employee communications, learn how executives are fighting to retain workers and improve costs.

    By • July 13, 2022