Operations: Page 7

  • Picture of a pizza with various toppings
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    Paul Strabbing

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    Sponsored by Bel Group

    Meet a new pizza trend customers will eat up

    How restaurants can capitalize on consumers’ growing appetite for upscale pies that boost the bottom line in an economical way.

    Aug. 12, 2024
  • An image of Burger King's Sizzle remodeled restaurant
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King remodels driving double-digit sales lifts

    The chain is on track to renovate 400 stores in 2024, with revamps partly offsetting sectoral sales troubles.

    By • Aug. 9, 2024
  • 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
  • People enter a McDonald's restaurant that has posters on the windows advertising meal deals.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Consumers’ curtailed fast food consumption in Q2 hit packaging earnings

    From McDonald’s to KFC, quick-service restaurants’ Q2 results generally haven’t been finger lickin’ good. Their packaging suppliers hope promotions will lure back inflation-weary consumers.

    By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 9, 2024
  • Rendering of a store design.
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    Courtesy of Knuckies Hoagies
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    Walmart adds hoagies to in-store restaurant roster

    The retailer plans to open 14 in-store Knuckies Hoagies locations across six states just weeks after announcing partnerships with Crave’s Hot Dogs and Mr. Gatti’s Pizza. 

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Aug. 8, 2024
  • Pedestrians walk by a Chipotle restaurant in San Francisco, California
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Restaurant industry to grow 0.5% in 2024, IFMA says

    The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association forecasts continued demand for eating out from high-income cohorts, despite a drop off in low-income consumers. 

    By • Aug. 8, 2024
  • An image of Papa Johns sign on a store
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns wants to improve its value perception

    After posting a comparable sales decline of 3.6% in North America, the chain is working to highlight its value offerings instead of just its premium products.

    By • Aug. 8, 2024
  • An evening shot of a Portillo's restaurant
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s pilots ordering kiosks

    Facing traffic pressure as a result of QSR discounting, Portillo’s is testing in-store kiosks, a tech proponents say can boost average check size, in Illinois. 

    By • Aug. 7, 2024
  • Outback Steakhouse exterior
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    Courtesy of Bloomin' Brands
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    How Outback is planning to turn around same-store sales declines

    The chain is implementing technological investments and will simplify its menu to create more value.

    By • Aug. 7, 2024
  • An image of a man wearing a Brooklyn Dumpling Shop vest in front of a blurred out sign.
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    Permission granted by Brooklyn Dumpling Shop
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    Q&A // Meet the exec

    Brooklyn Dumpling Shop’s first CEO has big plans for the brand

    With his extensive experience with franchised models, Jeff Galletly plans to refine the model for the chain, allowing it to expand into new markets with local operators.

    By • Aug. 6, 2024
  • An exterior image of a white restaurant with a yellow decoration and signs that say Church's Chicken
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    Courtesy of Church's Chicken
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    Church’s Texas Chicken rolls out loyalty program

    The launch of Real Rewards is part of the company’s buildout of its digital ecosystem, which also includes a revamped app and website.

    By • Aug. 6, 2024
  • A view of a Wendy's restaurant on May 12, 2021 in Pinole, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s is ‘confident’ experience improvements will drive loyalty — and growth

    A $15 million investment in its app and loyalty program is starting to pay off, CEO Kirk Tanner said. 

    By Kristen Doerer • Aug. 6, 2024
  • An image of a beige brick building with a large sign that says "Buca di Beppo."
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    Clayton Chase via Getty Images
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    Buca di Beppo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, facilitates sale

    The chain closed 13 units last week after shuttering numerous locations across the country over the past several months.

    By • Aug. 5, 2024
  • Walmart storefront.
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    Kaarin Vembar/Restaurant Dive
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    Walmart grows roster of fast-casual, in-store dining partners

    The retailer is entering a tie-up with Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ to house the restaurant’s Express Model in select locations.

    By Peyton Bigora • Aug. 5, 2024
  • A photograph of two drinks, one blue and one green on a table. There is a tablet in the center that says "my chili's rewards," "play games" and "pay now."
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    Courtesy of Chili's
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    Chili’s deploys Ziosk pay-at-table tech

    The tabletop tablets, which Chili’s previously used up until four years ago, are expected to increase guest engagement and loyalty enrollment.

    By • Aug. 5, 2024
  • 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’s drive-thru times are way too long, CEO says

    Customers right now have to wait twice as long as they should in the key service area, Rob Lynch said. To speed things up, the company is taking steps like combining menu items.

    By • Aug. 2, 2024
  • A Denny's location in Emeryville, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Denny’s ramps up value with relaunch of popular menu

    The $2, $4, $6, $8 menu will return in the next few weeks with the addition of a $10 category after initial tests revealed an uptick in traffic and improved customer perception of value.

    By • Aug. 2, 2024
  • An image of a building with "Rubio's Coastal Grill" on the outside.
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    Permission granted by Rubio's Coastal Grill
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    Rubio’s accepts $40M sale bid

    TREW Capital Management, which is owned by former BBQ Holdings CEO Jeff Crivello, will buy the brand months after acquiring its secured debt.

    By • Aug. 1, 2024
  • 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 cracks $2M AUV in another record-breaking quarter

    The fast casual chain’s same-store sales were up 28.7%, the highest growth rate since Q2 2020, which puts it in stark contrast to chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks that posted declines.

    By • July 31, 2024
  • A rendering of a sports bar with people scattered throughout on the right there are batting cages and screens.
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    Permission granted by Batbox
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    Batbox secures $7.3M financing, plots US expansion

    The baseball-focused eatertainment chain will open its first location in Texas in early 2025 and plans to have 25 units by 2030.

    By • July 31, 2024
  • An image of a drive-thru digital menu board with a Taco Bell restaurant with white and purple paint in the background.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell to deploy drive-thru voice AI to hundreds of US locations

    The technology is part of Yum’s ongoing strategy to create a digital ecosystem that can improve operations and boost profits. 

    By • July 31, 2024
  • Starbucks Summer Berry Refreshers beverages, blue drinks with red pearls.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ US traffic troubles continue

    Domestic comparable traffic fell 6% in Q3 despite the chain’s efforts to drive sales with product launches and improved operational throughput.

    By • July 31, 2024
  • An image of McDonald's McDouble and Big Mac.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s pilots a ‘more satiating burger’

    In addition to improving its core burgers, the chain plans to further deploy its McCrispy platform, now available in over 55 markets globally.

    By • July 30, 2024
  • An image of a sign that says $5 Meal Deal on a window of a McDonald's
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s posts first decline in US comp sales since 2020

    Guest counts declined during the quarter, but the chain’s $5 Meal Deal has started to bring back low-income consumers and shift sentiments regarding its value proposition.

    By • July 29, 2024
  • A white building with windows on the front with a large sign that says Cava
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava wants to improve its dining room ambiance. Should other QSRs follow suit?

    QSRs typically don’t want people to linger, but experts say there are steps operators can take to forge a deeper connection with diners while also keeping them moving.

    By Danielle McLean • July 29, 2024
  • Checkers fries
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    Courtesy of Checkers & Rally's
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    Checkers & Rally’s opts for outsourced distribution

    By partnering with McLane Company, the fast food franchise is seeking a more streamlined and cost efficient logistics model.

    By Philip Neuffer • July 29, 2024