Food Safety in Focus
September's National Food Safety Education Month highlights food safety as a core operational concern, with food safety and quality standards ranking among top challenges for a significant share of re
2,407 stories · last 30 days by relevance
September's National Food Safety Education Month highlights food safety as a core operational concern, with food safety and quality standards ranking among top challenges for a significant share of re
Merchants are adopting AI agents for commerce while maintaining control over customer interactions, shifting the industry debate from AI capability to merchant choice about deployment.

7-Eleven is launching the BiG Flavor Bar, a customizable sauce and topping station with new original sauces, signaling the chain's effort to deepen food customization and differentiate its in-store fo

A new research roundup from Modern Restaurant Management covers consumer traffic patterns, resale market dynamics, menu pricing, workplace meal programs, private chef demand, and sports bar attributes
Moe's Southwest Grill is opening its first brick-and-mortar location in the Twin Cities on September 4 in Woodbury, signaling expansion into a new market outside its existing footprint.

Jeff's Bagel Run, an Orlando bagel chain nearing 40 locations, built its own point-of-sale system rather than adopting off-the-shelf software, signaling that specialized operators may see custom tech
McDonald's and Taco Bell are adding energy drinks and refreshers to their beverage lineups as beverage-specialist chains gain market share.

Denny's catering-platform launch via ezCater creates a new off-premise revenue channel for 400+ franchisees; operators should assess whether third-party workplace-dining platforms justify menu and log
Panera Bread appointed Andrew Rebhun, former CMO of Cava and El Pollo Loco, to lead its marketing function as the chain pursues a broader transformation.

Wendy's is taking action to address brand challenges as sales continue to decline, signaling the company is responding to performance pressures.

A barbecue chain closed more locations than it publicly disclosed, suggesting possible gaps between communicated and actual operational changes.
A major pub and restaurant chain is closing 66 locations today, affecting approximately 3,800 jobs.
A podcast episode explores recruitment and retention strategies for restaurant teams, with Vanteo's Tom Kilby discussing approaches to hire and keep employees in an industry facing persistent staffing
Wendy's halved its quarterly dividend to $0.07 per share and withdrew its 2026 outlook following a 7% decline in same-restaurant sales, signaling mounting pressure on the chain's near-term performance
CAVA is targeting 75–77 net new restaurant openings in 2026, supported by strong performance from recent vintages and broad-based demand signals.
Jersey Mike's stock price reached a new low on the NYSE, though the source provides no detail on the cause or timing of the decline.
Beef tallow costs have risen 307 basis points, and Steak 'n Shake distinguishes itself by having its franchisor absorb this cost rather than passing it to franchisees—a structural advantage that signa
Chipotle enlisted 100 creators to produce unscripted social and TV content showcasing the preparation of new menu items Pollo Asado and Chili Lime Chips, signaling a shift toward creator-led authentic
Domino's has launched a Detroit-style pizza called 'the Domino,' shaped like the brand's logo and positioned as its namesake flagship product.
A NAYA restaurant founder, after a single location nearly became insolvent, is now seeking to open 200 additional locations.
Domino's China master franchisee delivered strong unit growth and 20%+ revenue expansion — demonstrates international scale and franchise-model strength in high-density markets.
Multi-brand portfolios are emerging as a growth and resilience strategy — diversification may outpace single-brand scaling in a bifurcated consumer market.
A multi-unit Burger King and Denny's franchisee attributes improved performance to closing underperforming locations.
Rove, a rewards platform, has expanded to include dining and in-store rewards capabilities alongside its existing offerings.
Firehouse Subs has appointed Camp + King as its creative agency of record, handling advertising, social media, and creative work across the 1,500-location chain.
Wendy's CEO acknowledged that cost-reduction efforts compromised food quality, signaling potential tension between margin protection and brand perception in the QSR sector.
Lawmakers have criticized Sysco's acquisition of a competitor, citing concerns about potential negative effects on restaurants and farmers.
Domino's Pizza China (DPC Dash) released interim financial results for 2026, signaling continued operational activity in its core Asian markets.
An iconic fast-food fried chicken chain has closed over 300 restaurants.
Chipotle reported record sales from back-to-school and U.S. Open BOGO promotions while expanding into Saudi Arabia, though an analyst views the stock as fully valued at current levels.
Restaurant resales declined in 2026 while turnkey and franchise deal activity increased, suggesting a shift in how operators are acquiring establishments.
Mike's Red Tacos is pursuing multi-state expansion by partnering with experienced operators, signaling confidence in franchisee-led growth as a path to scale.
Domino's stock declined 15.3% over six months amid weak ticket trends and margin pressure, though order growth and loyalty program expansion suggest stabilizing fundamentals.
Gen Alpha consumers are drawing increased marketing attention from restaurant operators, though the article raises questions about which household members actually influence dining decisions.

Shake Shack has shifted its product-testing approach from small-scale West Village pilots to a more evolved methodology, suggesting the chain is professionalizing its innovation process to scale bever
Activist investor Starboard Value is pressing Shake Shack to accelerate its U.S. franchising strategy, signaling potential investor appetite for faster expansion models in the QSR sector.
Perkins and the City of Dixon have partnered on an incentive package to attract a new franchisee to the area.
A Bernstein analyst observes that Wendy's limited discount strategies from five years ago are no longer resonating with consumers in today's economic climate, suggesting the chain may need to recalibr
Chipotle prevailed against a portion-size lawsuit and social media criticism from investors, signaling the company's ability to weather operational and perception challenges.
Block's Square has expanded its partnership with OpenTable, though the source does not specify the scope of the expansion or current adoption rates.
A chicken wings franchisee has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
LTO nostalgia campaigns (Unicorn Frappuccino) can drive traffic and comps recovery; operators should note loyalty-member exclusivity windows as a lever for baseline activation.
McDonald's labor tech solution quantifies shift-coverage economics — franchisees managing absenteeism costs should track whether similar tools apply to their systems.
Papa Johns has made changes to its marketing leadership amid ongoing operational challenges.
Brinker International's CEO sold over 100,000 shares through a pre-arranged trading plan, marking a potential signal of leadership confidence assessment after a five-year growth run.
Domino's trades at its lowest valuation in nearly a decade, with investors pricing in concerns about demand slowdown and GLP-1 drug adoption among consumers.
Starbucks reported its strongest North America sales weekend, driven by a limited-time Unicorn Frappuccino promotion that leveraged social media and pop culture trends.
Serve Robotics has partnered with Grubhub to expand robot delivery capabilities, signaling continued investment in autonomous last-mile logistics for food delivery.
Jack in the Box is undergoing a menu reset, closing franchises, and simplifying operations in Q2, moves that signal a strategic pivot toward operational efficiency.