Operations: Page 7

  • A menu with photos of shrimp, lobster tail with "The Utlimate Way to celebrate any day" underneath. The menu sits atop a dark table.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    What operators can learn from Red Lobster’s downfall

    While the full-service chain’s food options have remained relatively unchanged during the past few decades, restaurants like Angry Crab Shack have found success by constantly innovating.

    By • June 11, 2024
  • An image of Tijuana Flats
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    Permission granted by Tijuana Flats
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    Tijuana Flats appoints turnaround expert as CEO

    James Greco, who has helped revitalize brands like Sbarro and Bruegger’s, joins the fast casual brand two months after it declared bankruptcy.

    By • June 11, 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
  • A phogrpah of fried chicken, biscuits and variuous sides on a white countertop with a yellow bag that says Bojangles in the background.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles launches catering through ezCater partnership

    The channel is expected to provide a sales boost, especially with average catering orders about 10 times larger on average than digital transactions.

    By • June 10, 2024
  • An image of a white and red building with Red Lobster signage on the front.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    How a bad real estate deal sunk Red Lobster

    Trouble began in 2014 when the chain’s owner sold its real estate in a sale-leaseback, putting the seafood brand on the hook for millions in rent.

    By • June 10, 2024
  • Landscape view of the Las Vegas strip.
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     Matthias Mullie via Unsplash

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    Sponsored by Pulley

    ICSC highlights: Permitting challenges serving up trouble

    At ICSC, retailers underscored the current economic climate and the trouble with permitting.

    June 10, 2024
  • Foxtrot
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
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    Foxtrot is returning — but with plenty of questions about its future

    Founder Mike LaVitola plans to reopen several locations this summer, yet it’s unclear how he’s been involved with the retailer amid its bankruptcy process.

    By Brett Dworski • June 6, 2024
  • Kellanova's Cheez-It makes its way to Taco Bell food items.
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    Retrieved from Taco Bell.
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    Taco Bell brings Kellanova’s Cheez-It to the menu

    The Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme and Big Cheez-It Tostada feature a cheesy cracker that is 16 times larger than its typical snacking size.

    By Christopher Doering • June 6, 2024
  • A photos of &pizza CEO Mike Burns
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    Permission granted by &pizza
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    Q&A // Meet the exec

    How &pizza’s CEO brought the cool back into the brand

    Mike Burns, now seven months into his tenure at the pizza chain, turned the music up in stores and told employees to be who they are as part of reviving the brand’s culture.

    By • June 6, 2024
  • An image of a bar with red chairs and TGI Fridays signage in the background
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    Courtesy of TGI Fridays
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    Why TGI Fridays expects hotels to be a growth channel

    The full-service chain, which opened a unit inside Hilton Garden Inn in Hollywood, California, says converting generic restaurants inside hotels decreases time and cost to develop.

    By • June 6, 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 files for bankruptcy protection

    The company, which has been under financial pressures due to diminishing traffic and rising costs, said a Chapter 11 filing is part of facilitating a sale. 

    By • Updated June 5, 2024
  • An evening shot of a Portillo's restaurant
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s enters late-night daypart

    As part of the company’s strategy to add more convenience and flexibility for guests, its 86 restaurants now open at 10 a.m. with 15 operating past 10 p.m. 

    By • June 5, 2024
  • Blaze Pizza
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    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
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    Blaze Pizza to move HQ to Atlanta

    Its East Coast headquarters will help the chain during the next phase of growth, CEO Beto Guajardo said.

    By • June 5, 2024
  • A couple look at cupcakes displayed in a case. A man is pointing at one of the cupcakes.
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    doble-d via Getty Images
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    Restaurant openings up 6%, but momentum slowing

    Sweets and snack concepts had the most openings with new dessert stores up 52%, followed by shaved ice outlets up 22%, according to a Yelp report. 

    By • June 5, 2024
  • A photo of a variety of Mexican-style food on a wooden table, including a variety of tacos, nacho chips with cheese and churros. A plastic drink cup says "Rusty Taco."
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    Permission granted by Rusty Taco
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    Good 2 Go grows partnership with Mexican QSR

    Rusty Taco will open its first seven shops in Colorado alongside the convenience store chain’s locations

    By Jessica Loder • June 4, 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 closes 48 CA stores following minimum wage hike

    Following a review of operations and given the current economic environment, the chain decided to close the locations due to the increased cost of doing business in the Golden State. 

    By • June 3, 2024
  • A drive-thru menu board with a speaker box at Taco John's
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    Courtesy of Presto Automation
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    Taco John’s rolls out drive-thru AI test with Presto

    Following the completion of a pilot phase, the Mexican chain will expand the technology to franchised locations later this year. 

    By • June 3, 2024
  • Happy female friends on holiday together eating ice cream sundaes
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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by MARS Foodservices

    Is your dessert menu hitting the sweet spot?

    Streamlined dessert options can increase kitchen efficiency and a focus on cross-training gives confidence to all staff to handle a variety of tasks.

    June 3, 2024
  • Various burgers, chicken tenders, fries and onion rings on a gray table.
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    Courtesy of BurgerFi
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    BurgerFi seeks strategic alternatives

    The company will consider all options as it continues to face liquidity challenges, sales growth problems and net losses. 

    By • May 31, 2024
  • An evening shot of a building with white and red coloring and signage that says "Portillo's."
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s COO to depart chain

    Derrick Pratt’s departure comes amid the company’s execution of a four-pronged plan to improve operations, including drive-thru speeds. 

    By • May 31, 2024
  • A photo of McDonald's menu
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s disputes claims prices have risen 100%

    Joe Erlinger, McDonald’s U.S. president, said pricing on the Big Mac has gone up 21% since 2019 and is in line with inflation.

    By • May 30, 2024
  • Three people stand outside a closed coffee shop holding signs.
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    Permission granted by Holly Costanzo
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    Deep Dive

    Workers at DC’s Wydown cafes got organized. Then they lost everything.

    The owners of the two-unit coffee chain shut down operations in the middle of a union drive, leaving workers fighting for severance.

    By • May 29, 2024
  • A white sign that says Cava in front of a glassed facade building.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava to add grilled steak to core menu

    The item yielded positive sales mix in Boston and Dallas tests and will fill a “perceived gap” after the chain removed beef meatballs over a year ago.

    By • May 29, 2024
  • McDonald's Q1 Earnings Up On Higher Menu Prices, Overseas Growth
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Fast food is too expensive, says a majority of Americans

    Sixty-two percent of U.S. consumers surveyed by LendingTree said they are eating fast food less due to rising prices. 

    By • May 28, 2024
  • Three smart phone screens with CosMc's branding
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    Permission granted by CosMc's
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    CosMc’s launches loyalty app

    The McDonald’s spinoff launched an app despite having only four locations, in a possible show of the burger giant's confidence in its new brand.

    By • May 28, 2024
  • The outside of a Starbucks store
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    NLRB judge tells Starbucks to rescind ‘respectful communication’ policy

    The employer also must reinstate an employee fired for alleged violation of the rule, the judge ruled.

    By Ginger Christ • May 24, 2024