41 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
Dairy Queen appointed Phil Crawford as executive vice president and chief technology officer to oversee IT and retail technology across its global system of more than 7,800 restaurants, signaling the
Audivi AI has released a new pricing model designed to make drive-thru automation more accessible to quick-service restaurant operators.
QSR Magazine highlights untold stories from franchisees about leadership challenges and operational turning points, suggesting that personal experiences with hiring and mentorship often shape franchis
Slim Chickens appointed Maureen DiStefano as Director of Franchise Development to strengthen its franchise team ahead of expansion efforts.
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.
Twenty-five restaurant executives changed roles in June, including new CEO appointments at Ojos Locos, Cafe Rio, and Erbert & Gerbert's, reflecting ongoing leadership transitions across the industry.
Denny's has appointed Aaron Howard as Chief Operating Officer.
Artistry Restaurants acquired Hickory Tavern in early 2025, a 20-unit Carolina chain that has operated for nearly three decades; the article signals the new ownership sees growth potential rooted in i
Wendy's is investing in digital sales, AI-powered ordering, and menu innovation to address weak customer traffic.
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 restaurants are receiving a higher share of citations in AI search results compared to fast-casual chains.
Buffalo Wild Wings appointed Scott Nelson as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing experience in brand-building and digital innovation to lead the company's marketing and culinary efforts.
McDonald's hired Bryan Brown, a veteran from Raising Cane's, to lead development efforts supporting its NEXT strategy, which encompasses restaurant redesigns and enhanced hospitality initiatives.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill appointed Florence Ho as CMO effective July 7, bringing over 25 years of marketing leadership experience to the role.
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
Sweetgreen's leadership met with Chili's CEO Kevin Hochman, a executive known for operational turnarounds, signaling the chain may be exploring strategies from the casual-dining sector to address its
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
A restaurant leadership podcast argues that indiscriminate agreement from hospitality leaders drives burnout and suggests that setting organizational boundaries at all levels can help protect leadersh
MarginEdge added real-time cost management, AI forecasting, and back-office automation capabilities to its platform.
McDonald's appointed Bryan Brown, a former Raising Cane's development executive, as U.S. chief development officer to oversee domestic growth strategy.
Papa John's CFO Ravi Thanawala is departing after leading turnaround efforts and serving in an interim leadership role over the past three years.
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
Zaxby's appointed Russell Holland to lead its development strategy.
Mike's Red Tacos, a San Diego-based beef birria franchise, appointed Patrick Cunningham as chief development officer; Cunningham brings development experience from previous roles at Bobby's Burgers by
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
Hopdoddy Burger Bar's CEO Jeff Chandler discusses the burger chain's sale to Founders Table Restaurant Group on a restaurant finance podcast.
Molly Irani, co-founder and Chief Culture Officer at Chai Pani Restaurant Group, will participate in a live Q&A hosted by Restaurant Unstoppable Network on August 3rd, 2026.
Papa John's has appointed an interim CFO following the departure of Ravi Thanawala.
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation partnered with American Express and Resy to launch a free leadership development program featuring James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs as
A report indicates quick-service restaurants are receiving higher citation shares than fast-casual chains in AI search results.
Executive transitions at $10B+ brands, earnings momentum at casual-dining leader, and labor strategy shifts signal shifts in how chains manage growth and workforce engagement.
CEO interview on building franchise loyalty through sampling — relevant franchising lens but founder POV, not a multi-brand trend or operator takeaway.
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
Bob Wright's Potbelly turnaround record now tested at a 7000+ unit chain — major CMO hire signals strategy shift worth tracking.
The Big Biscuit's VP of Finance is building a data-driven financial strategy to support the chain's expansion into new markets.
Erbert & Gerbert's founder Eric Wolfe transitioned day-to-day operations to an experienced restaurant operator to focus on brand growth.
Broad H1 marketing spend trends mention AI but lack restaurant-specific data or outcomes.
Single-location franchisee ownership change — local operator news with no relevance to chain-wide strategy or multi-location systems.
AI visibility platform could tangentially help restaurant brands control their appearance in LLMs, but not directly operational or marketing-focused for QSR chains.
