77 stories · last 7 days by relevance
Taco Bell is expanding AI-powered voice ordering in its drive-thrus through a partnership with Omilia, which already operates in nearly 900 U.S. restaurants, signaling continued industry momentum towa
GLP-1 drugs have drawn intense media attention for their potential appetite-suppressing effects on food and beverage consumption, though the article questions whether restaurant operators may be overe
Jersey Mike's filed for a public listing on the NYSE under ticker JMKE, signaling confidence in the sandwich chain's business model and potentially unlocking capital for expansion or franchisee buyout
Audivi AI has released a new pricing model designed to make drive-thru automation more accessible to quick-service restaurant operators.
Tiered menu pricing programs may be losing effectiveness as saturation sets in, signaling that restaurants could need to recalibrate their value positioning strategies.
Nearly half of U.S. diners switched their favorite restaurant last year, up from 33 percent the prior year—a shift that signals growing customer volatility and potential vulnerability in restaurant lo
Nation's Restaurant News reports on restaurant industry headwinds including mass closures and job losses, alongside Jersey Mike's planned IPO and recent employment data.
Jersey Mike's ranks highly on the ACSI customer satisfaction index, attributed to its fresh ingredients and made-to-order sandwich model.
A QSR Magazine analysis suggests that GLP-1 drugs' effect on restaurant sales involves nuances beyond simple demand reduction.
Wendy's is investing in digital sales, AI-powered ordering, and menu innovation to address weak customer traffic.
Woof Gang Bakery, a pet-food-focused bakery brand, has secured private equity backing from Great Hill Partners.
Inspira has provided ₹1,800 crore in credit financing to fuel a Burger King India acquisition, signaling continued consolidation activity in the Indian QSR market.
Eric Knott, who scaled PDQ as COO before becoming CEO of Kansas City-based Tiki Taco, joined Restaurant Tech Trends to discuss growth discipline learned from both successes and failures.
Quick-service restaurant traffic declined 4.4% in May, signaling softer consumer demand in the sector.
Quick-service restaurants are receiving a higher share of citations in AI search results compared to fast-casual chains.
Jollibee launched new chicken nuggets, a move the market views as potentially supporting its U.S. IPO ambitions and franchised expansion plans.
Grocery stores are emerging as a competitive threat to fast food, suggesting a shift in how consumers choose between convenience and prepared meals.
Labor scheduling is moving to AI — the trade headline signals cost pressure and tech adoption spreading across QSR.
Restaurant operators are adopting voice AI technology to capture phone call data as a way to recognize and engage customers across locations, suggesting the phone channel may become a key loyalty and
Grocery retailers are expanding prepared meal offerings, creating new competitive pressure on traditional fast-food chains.
The restaurant sector is not following a K-shaped recovery pattern, suggesting broader economic divergence among operators may differ from expectations.
Restaurant technology adoption remains a critical challenge; even sophisticated software fails to deliver value without consistent team engagement, according to a discussion with Decision Logic's CEO
Restaurant Brands International's Burger King and Popeyes units gained U.S. traffic share relative to McDonald's and Wendy's in late June, even as the broader QSR sector faced headwinds—suggesting the
Liberty Mutual provided $320 million in financing to inKind, a platform designed to help restaurants access capital for expansion, renovations, and operational needs.
MarginEdge added real-time cost management, AI forecasting, and back-office automation capabilities to its platform.
Skyline Essentials launched SkAI, an AI forecasting platform designed to help independent and multi-unit restaurant operators predict revenue and labor costs—capabilities historically available mainly
MashMore Potato introduced an AI operating system it says is reducing management workload at its Albany location; the company frames this as a step toward making its model more scalable and software-d
Fast-food sandwich chains are losing market share to fast-casual competitors, suggesting that consumers may be prioritizing perceived quality and business sustainability over traditional quick-service
Richmond restaurants are facing pressure from rising costs and declining customer traffic.
Placer.ai released its June 2026 mall traffic index, tracking retail foot traffic momentum as the year progresses.
Restaurant transactions in US World Cup host cities saw a significant lift during group stage play, suggesting major sporting events drive measurable foot traffic to dining venues.
Revenue management piece on hidden leaks in comp-set analysis — relevant for multi-unit operators rethinking how they benchmark and optimize pricing strategy.
A report indicates quick-service restaurants are receiving higher citation shares than fast-casual chains in AI search results.
Chef Michael White and attorney Bruce Bronster co-founded BBianco Hospitality Group in 2020, suggesting a shift toward exploring pricing strategy as a margin lever distinct from operational efficiency
McDonald's Q1 headwinds analysis reveals category-wide traffic and pricing pressures affecting even the largest QSR.
A Toast survey of 1,466 U.S. adults found that 64% of guests discovered new restaurants in 2025, suggesting diners are increasingly balancing exploration with loyalty to established favorites.
Palmer Digital Group has launched a dual-concept fast casual restaurant chain under the Canopy brand.
Fresh tomato prices dropped 8.5% month-over-month in May but remain 32% above year-ago levels, suggesting sustained cost pressures for restaurant operators despite recent relief.
Darden's premium brands and LongHorn are contributing to its 2025 performance.
Q1 performance analysis of two major franchise platforms shows flagship brands and fast-casual concepts driving growth in a mixed macro environment.
A 2026 survey finds 22% of diners use AI for restaurant recommendations, yet 83% of restaurants don't appear in AI responses, signaling that most operators lack the verified data infrastructure needed
Retail foot traffic shifting to evening/weekend windows — multi-location operators should monitor daytime labor and daypart mix strategy against traffic trends.
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Foot-traffic data confirms Chick-fil-A's expansion is driving sustained customer visits — a benchmark for QSR growth strategies.
Q1 performance analysis of a major fast-casual chain offers insights into 2026 dining trends and consumer behavior for operators benchmarking their own results.
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Comparing growth strategies of two major coffee chains reveals different playbooks for traffic and unit expansion in a maturing segment.
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Placer.ai published a March 2026 dining traffic index recap.
Chipotle's World Cup buy-one-get-one promotion drove record traffic on a single day in 2026, according to foot-traffic data.
Swig is experiencing rapid growth that is attracting longer lines and a broader customer base.
The National Restaurant Association's 2026 show highlighted industry discussions on current challenges and opportunities facing restaurant operators.
