The Points Guy
Which coffee loyalty program is best: Starbucks, Dunkin' or Dutch Bros?
The Points Guy compared loyalty programs across three major coffee chains, assessing their relative value and benefits for customers.
899 stories · last 30 days by relevance
The Points Guy compared loyalty programs across three major coffee chains, assessing their relative value and benefits for customers.
Cash-based labor practices highlight wage/compliance risks and operational complexity that chains need to address as regulatory scrutiny intensifies.
Sweetgreen has been cleared of links to a cyclospora outbreak, yet customer demand for salads remains depressed; the CEO expressed surprise at the persistence of consumer hesitancy.
An e-commerce risk expert has identified fraud as a significant vulnerability in restaurant loyalty programs.
Steak 'n Shake announced a Bitcoin strategy following a 13.8% same-store sales increase, though the source provides no details linking the two or explaining the company's specific cryptocurrency plans
Square and OpenTable expanded their partnership to integrate restaurant payments with guest data management, signaling movement toward unified point-of-sale and reservation platforms.
HeyGuest has launched a voice AI ordering system amid industry data showing 43% of hospitality calls go unanswered, suggesting restaurants are exploring automation to address gaps in phone service cap
A lender has filed suit against a Philadelphia franchisee to force the sale of 41 restaurants to recover an $18 million debt, signaling financial stress among franchise operators managing multi-unit p
Culver's is opening another location in Florida as part of its expansion in the state.
QSR Magazine reports that value incentives are undermining restaurant loyalty programs, suggesting operators may need to reconsider how discounts and deals interact with program retention strategies.
Dunkin' is returning to Puerto Rico in 2027 through a new franchise partnership.
The source asserts that localized franchising is key to Asia's QSR race, though the snippet does not provide supporting details, examples, or evidence.
California regulators fined Dickey's Barbecue Pit $36,800 for franchise disclosure violations, signaling continued enforcement scrutiny of franchisor compliance with state registration requirements.
Stifel projects Happy Belly could operate 183 restaurants by 2027, signaling analyst confidence in the brand's expansion trajectory.
Chick-fil-A has closed its final experimental restaurant, ending a test initiative.
Dunkin' has returned to a major market after a 12-year absence.
AI-powered CCTV analytics can convert existing restaurant cameras into tools for operational monitoring.
A&W unveiled a new prototype restaurant design that blends its classic heritage with contemporary features.
Block is expanding Square's presence in the restaurant sector, though the source does not provide specifics on the expansion strategy or growth trajectory.
Pan American Group disclosed a data breach following detection of suspicious network activity.
Kalkine Media poses a question about whether Restaurant Brands International can maintain growth trajectory across its global operations.
Happy Belly Food Group reported Q2 systemwide quick-service restaurant sales of $28.4 million, up 75% year-over-year, signaling strong momentum in the group's expansion strategy.
Twisted Egg Shack signed a 60-unit franchise agreement with 1836 Brands to expand across Texas, signaling confidence in franchise-led growth within the regional breakfast-concept market.
Sauce has launched a mobile restaurant management platform, responding to operators' demand for greater control over their digital operations.
Bonchon has appointed two new owners, with the company attributing its growth to innovation and quality.
Deliverect and Bounteous have partnered to expand first-party digital ordering capabilities for restaurant brands.
A study found that restaurants lose revenue when they miss incoming calls.
Regional expansion strategy shift — divesting Japan to bet on North America signals where growth capital is flowing.
Analysts Kyle Grieve and Shawn O'Malley characterize Domino's as a royalty-dependent business model facing long-term headwinds.
Jollibee's president attributes the brand's international expansion to a people-first strategy, signaling how employee and customer focus may differentiate fast-casual growth in competitive markets.
Spur Corp's flagship Spur brand drove strong sales in South Africa, while its John Dory's subsidiary struggled, signaling divergent performance across the company's portfolio.
Jollibee's long-standing leadership team represents institutional stability that the article suggests franchisees may undervalue when evaluating the brand.
Restaurant Dive argues that loyalty programs should move beyond traditional points-based models, suggesting operators may need to rethink engagement strategies to remain competitive.
An analysis piece identifies BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse and sit-down dining stocks as potential performers in Q2, though specific performance metrics or reasoning are not detailed in the available te
Wingstop's recent performance has been driven primarily by franchise operations rather than company-owned locations, suggesting the chain's growth strategy relies on asset-light expansion.
Restaurants are adopting direct delivery apps as an alternative to third-party platforms, signaling a shift toward capturing margin and customer insights that commission-based services limit.
Jollibee has opened its first franchise location in California, marking a shift toward franchising as part of its U.S. expansion.
Layne's Chicken Fingers operates with a simplified menu focused on chicken fingers, a model that the source suggests supports favorable unit economics through operational streamlining.
Sit-down restaurant stocks are outperforming fast-casual peers, marking a shift from pandemic-era trends when faster-service formats gained relative strength.
Kura Sushi's Q2 performance was reviewed against other sit-down dining competitors.
Portion reduction is a widespread 2026 trend — understanding the cost/perception trade-off is critical for multi-unit pricing and value positioning.
Jack in the Box reported Q3 earnings that beat analyst expectations while revenues fell short of estimates, with same-store sales declining.
Sysco has outlined its strategy for integrating the Jetro Restaurant Depot acquisition, signaling potential shifts in how the distributor consolidates independent restaurant supply channels.
Jack in the Box is undergoing menu simplification and operational restructuring in Q2, including franchise closures, signaling a shift toward streamlined operations.
Red Robin's Q2 results show how a casual-burger chain is navigating traffic and margin pressures in a competitive QSR environment.
Black Rock Coffee Bar has reached 200 locations, with the chain attributing its expansion to a focus on guest experience.
A report identifies which fast-food chains are experiencing the steepest declines in customer traffic, signaling shifts in consumer preferences or competitive pressure within the category.
A major Moe's operator has filed for bankruptcy, though the source provides no details about the operator's identity, location, scale, or reasons for the filing.
Culver's is expanding its distribution network in advance of planned store growth.
Pizza franchisee growth momentum in H1 2026 suggests system expansion is outpacing headwinds — investors and franchisees should monitor unit economics and per-unit revenue trends.