161 stories · last 7 days by relevance
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers plans to open around 60 locations in 2026, nearing 600 total units, with new building formats enabling expansion into different real estate types.
Golden Chick is launching a new marketing campaign, loyalty program, and digital-first strategy to compete in the competitive chicken tender category.
Thanx has integrated its first-party ordering system directly into Square's POS platform, combining Thanx's ordering interface with Square's commerce infrastructure.
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
Canadian dessert chain D-Spot Dessert Café is entering the U.S. market with its first location in Dallas, signaling readiness to scale a franchise model beyond its home country.
Yogurtland reported record franchise metrics in 2025, with traditional store AUVs reaching $934,959, signaling sustained demand in the self-serve frozen yogurt category.
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
Pizza Ranch has selected NCR Voyix to manage restaurant operations across its system, signaling a shift toward modernizing point-of-sale and back-office infrastructure.
Tiered menu pricing programs may be losing effectiveness as saturation sets in, signaling that restaurants could need to recalibrate their value positioning strategies.
HB Protein Smoothies signed a 6-unit franchise agreement for Houston with an experienced restaurant operations group, continuing its geographic expansion.
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
Swig has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement to expand across Chicago's southwest suburbs with experienced operators Derek and Michelle Hincks.
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
Another Broken Egg Cafe launched a royalty relief program aimed at incentivizing franchisees to open additional units, signaling the chain's focus on accelerating unit growth through financial incenti
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.
Jersey Mike's ranks highly on the ACSI customer satisfaction index, attributed to its fresh ingredients and made-to-order sandwich model.
A major operator of a pizza chain has filed for bankruptcy despite the brand's ongoing expansion, suggesting potential strain between franchisor growth and franchisee unit economics.
A QSR Magazine analysis suggests that GLP-1 drugs' effect on restaurant sales involves nuances beyond simple demand reduction.
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers projects 60 new locations in 2026, signaling confidence in its expansion pipeline and potential market appetite for the brand's positioning.
HTeaO opened a new location in Katy, Texas, expanding its presence in the state.
Wendy's is investing in digital sales, AI-powered ordering, and menu innovation to address weak customer traffic.
Restaurant franchising is attracting women entrepreneurs who seek business ownership with built-in operational support and growth potential.
Woof Gang Bakery, a pet-food-focused bakery brand, has secured private equity backing from Great Hill Partners.
Zaxby's has surpassed 1,000 locations, signaling sustained expansion in the competitive chicken sandwich category.
Dog Haus is offering an area director franchise model that includes equity stakes for franchisees.
Restaurants are treating in-store audio as a trackable engagement channel alongside other customer touchpoints like loyalty programs and mobile apps, signaling a shift toward measuring and optimizing
Freddy's has announced a target of 600 locations by 2026.
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.
Zeus Street Greek attributed its private equity partnership to rising operational costs.
Bad Ass Coffee is expanding through nontraditional unit formats, a strategy that signals growing operator interest in flexible, lower-overhead coffee concepts beyond traditional standalone cafes.
Birdcall is pursuing Midwest expansion supported by technology and real estate capabilities.
Grocery stores are emerging as a competitive threat to fast food, suggesting a shift in how consumers choose between convenience and prepared meals.
Chicken Salad Chick signed 52 franchise agreements in early 2026, nearly 50 percent more than the 35 it secured in the same period last year, marking its strongest quarter for franchise development si
A franchisee of a popular pizza chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Dog Haus is launching an area director program with 15 leaders to accelerate expansion from its current 60 locations, signaling a shift toward franchisee-supported growth infrastructure.
RestaurantNews.com's top 20 restaurant stories for the week ending July 5, 2026 featured Birdcall, Golden Corral, Blue Mint Thai, Red Lobster, and Chili's.
Spur Corporation, a casual dining brand, is exploring expansion into the US market through franchise growth.
Several major restaurant franchisees executed significant acquisition and divestiture deals in the first half of the year, including Red Robin selling company-owned stores and Mas Restaurant Group off
Rosie's Burgers, owned by Happy Belly Food Group, has signed its first franchise agreement in New Brunswick, signaling the brand's expansion into a new Canadian province.
Golden Corral's senior director of franchise business development, Dan Doulen, will speak at the QSR Evolution Conference; he brings over two decades of franchising experience, including prior roles a
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
A Mountain Mike's franchisee in Medford filed for bankruptcy amid debt pressures, signaling potential financial strain within the chain's franchise system.
Domino's is expanding its global presence while prioritizing digital ordering channels.
Vibe Restaurants is opening its 100th Wingstop location in Wichita on July 8, marking a milestone in the franchisee's expansion.
Grocery retailers are expanding prepared meal offerings, creating new competitive pressure on traditional fast-food chains.