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Hickory Tavern closed four locations as parent company Artistry Restaurants narrows its footprint to focus on higher-potential sites, signaling a shift toward quality-over-quantity positioning during
Murphy USA is testing White Castle kiosks in its convenience stores.
Olive Garden's pasta pass demonstrates that exclusive promotions can drive customer engagement, though experts signal that sustained brand loyalty depends on consistent execution of the dining experie
Red Robin is using data-driven marketing to identify and re-engage lapsed customers, suggesting targeted retention strategies are becoming a competitive tool in casual dining.
Graze Craze reported a 65% increase in same-store sales for the first half of 2026 compared to the prior year, signaling strong consumer demand for the charcuterie franchise format.
Cyclospora contamination in the food supply poses distinct challenges for restaurant operators because the parasite spreads through supply-chain routes that are difficult for individual restaurants to
Restaurants posted job growth in August after two consecutive months of losses, suggesting a near-term stabilization in hiring across the sector.
Wendy's breakfast exit and Subway's late-night expansion illustrate that extended hours can backfire operationally and financially for some chains, signaling the need for careful unit-level economics
Pressed Juicery and Chick-fil-A are operating delivery-focused ghost kitchen locations to serve demand and reach new customers, suggesting the model remains viable for select brands despite broader sk
Little Caesars has partnered with NFL players Justin Jefferson, Jared Goff, and George Kittle for a marketing campaign.
Red Robin reported its highest traffic in over three years, attributed to value meal offerings and staffing optimization as part of its ongoing turnaround effort.
P.F. Chang's appointed Jim Mazany, a veteran of casual-dining chains including Applebee's and Joe's Crab Shack, to lead the brand as it seeks a turnaround—signaling renewed confidence in executing a p
Full-service restaurants have shifted their delivery strategy from simply launching a channel to optimizing operations across kitchens and labor models, signaling that delivery management is now a cor
Fast food chains' heavy promotional activity in 2024 failed to maintain value perception gains as market saturation and economic uncertainty set in, signaling operators may need to recalibrate their d
Starbucks' fall menu, headlined by the Pumpkin Spice Latte and new beverages with food pairings, achieved record sales performance at launch.
Chick-fil-A is closing its remaining Little Blue Menu location in College Park, Maryland, and will convert it to a standard Chick-fil-A format, signaling a shift away from its delivery-focused experim
Yogurtland's franchise model has generated strong operator loyalty, with franchisees expressing reluctance to exit their locations, suggesting the brand has built sustainable unit economics or brand e
Owner secured $240M in funding led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives to develop AI agents aimed at independent restaurants.
A new study claims a proposed $25 minimum wage could cost 5 million jobs, raising questions about what wage increase restaurant operators might find acceptable.
Dave's Hot Chicken's CMO discusses the chain's approach to AI, using it for backend operations like customer data and financial analysis while excluding it from creative and content work.
Beef prices have risen 25% since 2023, driving higher consumer spending despite fewer eating occasions—signaling margin pressure on operators reliant on beef-heavy menus.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is approaching 100 locations following strong first-half 2026 performance, signaling continued momentum in the fast-casual Mediterranean segment.
El Pollo Loco's CEO announced the chain is doubling its development pace year-over-year and exploring fried chicken additions, signaling accelerated expansion and product diversification following a b
A PAR survey found that three-quarters of diners are open to AI use in restaurants, suggesting operators are unlikely to face widespread consumer resistance to automation adoption.
Some restaurant operators are using AI to develop their own software rather than buying from vendors, a shift that suggests the traditional build-versus-buy calculus may be changing in the tech-enable
Walk-On's is shifting to smaller, less expensive restaurant formats to expand beyond the large venues that have defined its two-decade track record, signaling a strategic pivot to access territory whe
Slim Chickens launched a Development Fund Program in August 2026 offering franchisees up to $200,000 per new restaurant, signaling an effort to accelerate unit growth through direct financial support.
Jet's Pizza achieved double-digit sales growth last year while most top-10 pizza chains saw negative results, suggesting a quality-focused strategy may have insulated the chain from broader category h
Dine Brands posted flat-to-positive portfolio sales last quarter but saw same-store sales decline 1.8 percent year-over-year at Applebee's in Q2 2026, suggesting momentum from its turnaround may be so
Swig has signed a six-unit franchise agreement with Athena Franchise Group to enter the Greater Boston market, signaling the brand's geographic expansion strategy into a new state.
Your Pie shifted its business model during the pandemic, with off-premises orders growing from roughly 10% of sales pre-2020 to near 40% today, signaling that fast-casual pizza operators have successf
Pizza Hut's global CEO Aaron Powell is stepping down following the completion of the chain's sale to LongRange Capital.
Quick-service restaurants face persistent entry-level labor shortages that have evolved from temporary hiring challenges into a structural operational problem affecting staffing, scheduling, and reten
The FTC will distribute $23.8 million from Grubhub's 2024 settlement over alleged deceptive practices around driver pay and consumer restrictions, signaling ongoing regulatory scrutiny of gig-delivery
Papa John's is deploying field teams and incentives to address operational inconsistency, which CEO Todd Penegor identified as a key weakness limiting the chain's potential.
Fast-food chains are scaling back aggressive marketing efforts, signaling a recognition that operational and promotional complexity may be undermining returns.
McDonald's has added Red Bull energy drinks to its menu, a move that signals potential interest in capturing afternoon daypart traffic when beverage sales typically lag.
Starbucks is launching its fall pumpkin menu on August 25, later than competitors including Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, Scooter's, IHOP, and Panera, which are releasing their autumn lineups earlier.
Beyond Juicery reports that all franchise owners adopted its new pricing strategy while maintaining customer traffic in a difficult operating environment.
A major foodborne illness outbreak involving cyclospora and other pathogens is highlighting vulnerabilities in restaurant supply chains and food safety protocols.
Industry experts debate whether recent moves at Wendy's and Pizza Hut will improve performance, while data indicates independent restaurants are gaining ground relative to chains.
Fast-food chains are prioritizing menu quality improvements to counter declining sales, though such upgrades signal operational trade-offs that may strain existing systems.
Caribou Coffee appointed Zane Thomas-Rogers as COO, restructuring operations to separate coffeehouse management from warehouse and logistics oversight.
Restaurant technology has not produced a major IPO in five years; industry observers are tracking 10 companies as potential candidates to break the drought.
Bank of America data shows bars and independent restaurants are outperforming chains, while consumers are shifting spending from grocers to restaurants.
Denny's is expanding its catering business, with CEO Chris Bode noting that two major competitors generate roughly $150 million in combined annual catering sales compared to Denny's $1.5 million last
DoorDash launched a season-long rewards program called 'Don't Fan for Free' tied to college football, aiming to capture fan engagement and order frequency during the 2026 season.
7 Brew expanded its canned coffee and energy drink distribution to thousands of Walmart locations, signaling confidence in scaling its ready-to-drink portfolio beyond its core coffee shop model.
7 Brew will begin selling bottled coffee and energy drinks in Walmart stores this month, extending the drive-thru chain's retail presence beyond its core locations.
AI is collapsing the cost of labor-intensive consulting work (prime cost optimization) — operators should expect faster, cheaper tools for operational diagnostics.
