100 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
Domino's Pizza is expanding its presence in China.
Golden Chick is launching a new marketing campaign, loyalty program, and digital-first strategy to compete in the competitive chicken tender category.
Bobby's Burgers is incorporating global flavors into its core burger menu through limited-time offerings rather than creating entirely new categories, suggesting QSRs are finding ways to drive variety
Audivi AI has released a new pricing model designed to make drive-thru automation more accessible to quick-service restaurant operators.
Restaurant beverage programs, particularly fountain soda, are attracting operator focus due to favorable unit economics and shifting guest expectations, according to Enliven's CEO.
Despite access to unprecedented guest data, restaurants struggle to retain customers, suggesting that loyalty programs alone may not drive repeat visits without translating data into personalized expe
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
Smashburger launched a summer menu featuring two new smash burgers and two limited-time Häagen-Dazs shakes, signaling the chain's continued focus on flavor innovation and premium indulgence to drive s
Spritzes have expanded beyond their traditional single iteration to multiple variations on restaurant menus, signaling a broader trend toward spritz-forward beverage offerings during warm seasons.
Dutch Bros reports 74% rewards penetration among customers, with the company attributing boosted transactions and digital engagement to its loyalty program; the metric signals rewards programs' growin
Fast food chains are leveraging collectible cups and limited-edition merchandise to drive loyalty while menu prices have climbed significantly since 2019, signaling an industry strategy to offset cost
Wendy's is investing in digital sales, AI-powered ordering, and menu innovation to address weak customer traffic.
Starbucks' loyalty program, personalization features, and faster service are cited as drivers of higher store traffic and customer engagement.
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.
K-Café beverages—featuring customizable drinks, cheese foam, and dalgona coffee—are gaining traction in North American foodservice, particularly among Gen Z consumers, signaling a shift toward novelty
Quick-service restaurants are receiving a higher share of citations in AI search results compared to fast-casual chains.
Sweetgreen launched a limited-time peach and goat cheese salad featuring Alice Waters' recipe, available nationwide from July 7 through August 10 as part of its summer campaign tied to peak peach seas
Ben Leventhal's Blackbird Labs tackles independent-restaurant invisibility and profitability through frequency-driven loyalty — a template applicable to multi-unit brands rethinking guest retention.
Jollibee launched new chicken nuggets, a move the market views as potentially supporting its U.S. IPO ambitions and franchised expansion plans.
Luckin Coffee introduced a limited-time Health Series of functional beverages blending fruit, vegetable juices, and jasmine tea, signaling the brand's continued focus on innovation-driven menu expansi
Labor scheduling is moving to AI — the trade headline signals cost pressure and tech adoption spreading across QSR.
Burger King is expanding its Original Chicken Sandwich lineup with two new variants launching July 7, signaling continued focus on the core menu item as a driver of traffic and ticket building.
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
7-Eleven is launching chicken sandwiches as part of a broader shift toward hot meal offerings, signaling the chain's effort to compete in a crowded category and move beyond its traditional convenience
Fuzzy's Taco Shop is running a summer promotion through August 30 featuring limited-time menu items, rewards offers, and events designed to drive repeat visits and engagement during peak season.
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
GoTab has acquired Fishbowl, a guest marketing and loyalty platform, to expand its restaurant commerce ecosystem that includes POS, ordering, payments, and mobile solutions.
Ten restaurant chains including Portillo's, Potbelly, and Wingstop are leading menu innovation focused on bold flavor profiles.
Smalls Sliders has launched Soda Shakes, a line of concentrated syrups developed with Coca-Cola.
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
Domino's is distributing $1 million in rewards to loyalty members following a penalty card issued to U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun during a World Cup match, triggering a promotional commitment th
Restaurant brands are increasingly centering their apps around loyalty programs, personalization, and direct customer engagement rather than just order-ahead convenience, signaling a shift toward usin
Burger King introduced new chicken sandwiches, Jersey Mike's disclosed details ahead of a public filing, and industry observers are questioning whether tiered menu pricing remains an effective strateg
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
Commerce media platforms struggle with measuring ad impact due to probabilistic attribution and modeled incrementality, but in-store data offers a potential solution to verify whether digital ads tran
Bareburger is launching a blended burger made with beef and roasted mushrooms across its locations starting mid-June, signaling growing restaurant interest in health-positioned burger innovations to a
Gong cha partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery to launch a Harry Potter-themed product line marking 25 years since the Philosopher's Stone film premiere, signaling how beverage brands are leveraging I
Sbarro is introducing a limited-time pizza featuring spicy Calabrian pepperoni and sausage.
Limited-time co-branded product tie-in — routine promotional merchandise without broader operator or loyalty implications.
Ruby Tuesday is launching a significant menu refresh after years of relative quietness following its 2020 bankruptcy and substantial store closures, signaling an attempt to rebuild brand momentum in t
A report indicates quick-service restaurants are receiving higher citation shares than fast-casual chains in AI search results.
Burtons Grill & Bar is offering premium lobster rolls at $29 in Maine or Connecticut style throughout July and August at all locations.
A podcast episode explores how restaurants can use guest recognition and personalization technology to improve customer loyalty, addressing what the source frames as widespread guest retention challen
Plant-based offerings are moving away from meat mimicry toward vegetable-forward products as restaurant operators respond to slower retail growth and consumer flexitarianism.
Glory Days Grill is reintroducing its seasonal Lobster Roll across all 36 U.S. locations through July 31st, signaling continued reliance on limited-time offerings to drive traffic during summer months
Moe's has launched a build-your-own meal kit offering.
Taco Bell Canada's nugget entry and limited-edition beverage signal aggressive LTO/trial strategy in a crowded QSR category — but this is category play, not a systemic competitive threat.
Carnitas LTO is a routine menu refresh with no broader trend or competitive insight for operators.
