Operations: Page 55

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    Wendy's
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    Wendy's breakfast, digital drive best same-store sales in 15 years

    The QSR chain has plenty of room to grow its morning daypart since consumer awareness of the menu is about 50% and many of its existing customers haven't tried it yet.

    By • Nov. 4, 2020
  • Reginald J. Miller, vice president and global diversity, equity and inclusion officer, McDonald's
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    Permission granted by Reginald J. Miller, vice president and global diversity, equity and inclusion officer, McDonald's
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    McDonald's taps new DEI leader

    The evolution of McDonald's diversity, equity and inclusion practices has been in the spotlight throughout leadership changes, discrimination lawsuits and alleged labor violations. 

    By Sheryl Estrada • Nov. 3, 2020
  • 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
  • Le Pain Quoitidien in New York City
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    "The Image" by bryan... is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Aurify preps for expansion of Le Pain Quotidien brand in New York City

    The company, which bought the cafe bakery chain for $3 million in June, will open at least 10 locations inside former Maison Kayser locations by early 2021.

    By • Nov. 3, 2020
  • Ghostline exterior
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    Emma Liem Beckett/Restaurant Dive
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    A DC ghost food hall gives a glimpse of a post-pandemic restaurant future

    By the third weekend of dining room closures, restaurateur Aaron Gordon was pulling 100% of sales compared to 2019 through delivery and takeout alone. That spurred an idea, and in September Ghostline launched with six restaurants.

    By • Nov. 2, 2020
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    Courtesy of Jordan Strauss for Wendy’s
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    Wendy's turns drive-thru into spooky Halloween experience

    For people not near the Los Angeles "scare-thru," the chain is running a coupon effort on Twitter to ramp up usage of its app and loyalty program.

    By Aaron Baar • Oct. 30, 2020
  • Diners at Soothr in New York City October 2020.
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    "Soothr" by Eden, Janine and Jim is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Restaurants weigh survival chances without full capacity or winterization efforts

    As colder months approach, nearly half of operators think they would last less than a year if they continue to have restricted dining, according to a Rewards Network survey. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 30, 2020
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    PRNewswire
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    Dunkin' closes over 680 underperforming stores

    Closing these locations will allow franchisees to redeploy capital into a NextGen remodel, build new restaurants or relocate to higher-traffic areas where a drive-thru can be added.  

    By • Oct. 29, 2020
  • White Castle
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle will partially close all restaurants every presidential Election Day

    Staff who are scheduled to work between 7 and 11 a.m. on Nov. 3 in its restaurants, manufacturing plants or office will be paid for the four-hour break so they can vote.

    By • Oct. 28, 2020
  • The Brewer's Art restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland, closed during the novel coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
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    "The Image" by Elvert Barnes is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Indoor dining to cease in Chicago Friday

    After reaching 40% dine-in capacity on Oct. 1, restaurants in the Windy City must reclose their dining rooms due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.

    By • Oct. 28, 2020
  • White Castle, Flippy robot
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    Courtesy of White Castle
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    White Castle is bringing Flippy the robot to 10 more restaurants

    The robot optimizes staffing during hard-to-fill, late-night shifts at the 24-hour restaurant, and integrates with delivery applications to sync order completion with driver pickup times.

    By • Oct. 27, 2020
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    The image by Clotee Pridgen Allochuku is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Rubio's among the largest fast casual chains to declare bankruptcy this year

    The company joins a growing list of restaurants, including Ruby Tuesday, Sizzler USA, California Pizza Kitchen and CEC Entertainment, to file for Chapter 11 during the pandemic. 

    By • Oct. 27, 2020
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    Courtesy of Restaurant Brands International
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    Burger King parent to modernize 10K drive-thrus by 2022

    Restaurant Brands International will add over 40,000 digital screens to Burger King and Tim Hortons brands that will provide predictive technology, contactless payment options and integrate with loyalty programs.

    By • Oct. 27, 2020
  • Saladworks opens at The Giant Company
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    Permission granted by Saladworks
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    Saladworks expands grocery footprint with The Giant Company

    The fast-casual salad franchise already has several locations in other grocery stores, including ShopRite, and has plans for at least 10 more by early next year.

    By Jessica Dumont • Oct. 26, 2020
  • ghost kitchen, delivery
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    Kendall Davis/Restaurant Dive
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    Deep Dive

    Independent restaurants go dark to keep the lights on

    The Independent Restaurant Coalition estimates that as many as 85% of mom-and-pop restaurants could close by the end of 2020. But some of them are finding new life in virtual brands and ghost kitchens. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 26, 2020
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    "The image" by Mike Mozart is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Bankrupt Ruby Tuesday granted 2-month rent deferral

    A judge will allow the casual chain to not pay rent for 60 days after hearing the company's plan to provide landlords with a cut of a $22.5 million retirement plan trust fund it will liquidate as part of Chapter 11 proceedings. ​

    By • Oct. 23, 2020
  • A banner outside Izzy's Restaurant in Eugene, Oregon, during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
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    "The image" by Rick Obst is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    New restaurant openings return to pre-pandemic levels, Yelp says

    About 6,600 food establishments opened each in August and September, while 210,000 temporarily closed businesses reopened during Q3, according to the latest Yelp Economic Average report.

    By • Oct. 23, 2020
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    Willis Lam via Flickr
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    72% of franchisees have enhanced delivery, drive-thru amid the pandemic, study shows

    The shift toward delivery and online ordering — which now make up 39% of sales compared to 20% in 2019 — is expected to be long lasting especially as consumer adoption grows, according to TD Bank.

    By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 22, 2020
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    Chipotle
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    Chipotle could exceed $2.5B in digital sales in 2020

    The fast casual chain's digital sales grew just over 200% to $776 million during the third quarter and made up nearly half of total sales. So far this year, digital sales are almost $2 billion.

    By • Oct. 22, 2020
  • Diners at Veselka in NYC during the coronavirus pandemic on Oct. 17, 2020.
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    "The image" by Eden, Janine and Jim is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Restaurant operating profits will rise 15% in 2021, Moody's predicts

    Conditions are expected to continue to slowly improve in the next 12 to 18 months due to easing dine-in restrictions, but the ratings agency also cautioned that more closures are on the horizon. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 21, 2020
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    Thai Phi Le
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    Former Sweetgreen employee alleges he was sexually harassed, misgendered

    The plaintiff, a transgender man, said a co-worker "showed him pornographic pictures, told other employees they were dating and that the plaintiff was her property," according to the complaint. 

    By Lisa Burden • Oct. 20, 2020
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    Mike Mozart via Flickr
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    Wisconsin Applebee's franchisee is latest to file Chapter 11

    The franchisee, which operates 25 units, was appointed a receiver last week, but instead chose to file for bankruptcy to keep its restaurants open and 600 employees on the job. 

    By • Oct. 20, 2020
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    Flickr, Jeri Koegel
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    Del Taco is planning a drive-thru-only restaurant model

    With the Mexican QSR recouping lost dine-in sales through off-premise channels, the chain is in the final stages of a new prototype that removes the dining room and requires less real estate. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 19, 2020
  • Design image for ghost kitchen series from Restaurant Dive
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    Kendall Davis/Restaurant Dive
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    Deep Dive

    How ghost kitchens are helping major restaurants recoup lost revenue

    Chains like Famous Dave's and Brinker International were already moving toward delivery-only concepts pre-pandemic, allowing them to more quickly deploy and expand these concepts compared to other restaurants.

    By • Oct. 19, 2020
  • P.F. Chang's To Go store in New York City
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    Permission granted by P.F. Chang's
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    P.F. Chang's continues takeout-only expansion with NYC launch

    CEO Damola Adamolekun said its three new To Go locations in the Big Apple is part of a larger strategy to reach a more urban population.

    By • Oct. 19, 2020
  • Socarrat restaurant in New York City during the coronavirus pandemic 2020.
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    "Socarrat" by Eden, Janine and Jim is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    NYC releases heater guidance as city faces new restaurant closures, impending winter

    Mayor Bill de Blasio has approved the use of electric, gas and propane heaters for outdoor dining following Gov. Andrew Cuomo's new "Cluster Action Plan" to close or reduce dining capacity in neighborhoods with high COVID-19 cases. 

    By • Oct. 16, 2020