Loyalty programs alone will not solve QSRs’ frequency problem
Loyalty programs alone are insufficient to boost visit frequency at QSRs; making loyalty interactions more relevant to individual customers is needed to drive repeat visits.
55 stories · last 7 days by relevance
Loyalty programs alone are insufficient to boost visit frequency at QSRs; making loyalty interactions more relevant to individual customers is needed to drive repeat visits.
Los Tacos No. 1 secured investment from TSG Consumer Partners to fuel expansion, signaling investor confidence in the NYC-based Mexican concept's growth potential.

KFC Global appointed Amy Ellis Durini as Chief Brand Officer in a newly created role, reporting to CEO Scott Mezvinsky starting November 2026, to lead global brand strategy and loyalty initiatives.

Chipotle, Domino's, and food delivery platforms have announced layoffs.

California regulators penalized Dickey's Barbecue Pit for deceptive practices toward franchise entrepreneurs, signaling enforcement of disclosure standards in the QSR franchise sector.
Nearly half of restaurant operators surveyed by Toast plan to maintain current staffing levels in 2026, up 10 percentage points from the prior year—signaling growing stability in labor planning after

Uber cut over 3,000 employees (10% of workforce) and Wonder laid off 150 this week, signaling that delivery platforms are shifting strategy as they navigate profitability pressures amid market maturat

A proposed change to SNAP benefits may affect quick-service restaurant sales across nine states.

PAR Technology launched Guest360, a guest data platform that tracks restaurant customers across transactions regardless of loyalty program enrollment, designed to work with its existing Punchh loyalty

McDonald's loyalty program collects granular customer data including visit frequency predictions and churn scores, illustrating how QSR operators now build detailed behavioral profiles that extend wel

Burger King is running a weeklong promotional series for Royal Perks members from September 14–20, anchored around National Cheeseburger Day with daily deals including a free Rodeo Burger and buy-one-

Wendy's breakfast exit and Subway's late-night expansion illustrate that extended hours can backfire operationally and financially for some chains, signaling the need for careful unit-level economics

Restaurants posted job growth in August after two consecutive months of losses, suggesting a near-term stabilization in hiring across the sector.

A restaurant news roundup covers Chili's performance, operational roles, and iconic breakfast establishments, reflecting ongoing industry dynamics across chains and independent operators.
A majority of quick-service restaurant workers who perceived onboarding as inefficient left before their first day, signaling that streamlined hiring processes may reduce pre-employment attrition in t
A recent ruling involving Starbucks has highlighted tensions between maintaining brand standards and complying with labor rights obligations.
Denny's launched a Fall Fest Menu nationwide featuring autumn-themed dishes with apple and pumpkin offerings.

Panera modified its rewards program structure, signaling an effort to deepen customer retention through revised earning mechanics.
Canadian Tire and Tim Hortons have launched a partnership to enhance their loyalty programs.
Haidilao has adopted Infobip's data-driven personalization platform to enhance its global loyalty program, suggesting the chain is investing in customer retention tools as it expands internationally.
Fast Casual Executive Summit (Oct. 4-6 in Arlington, Texas) will explore how integrating fragmented tech systems into a unified customer view can improve returns for fast casual brands.

McDonald's is testing whether international markets can sustain growth through value deals, menu innovation, and loyalty initiatives despite ongoing consumer pressure.
Farmer Boys is discounting its Big Cheese cheeseburger to $3.99 for rewards members on National Cheeseburger Day, a promotional move that signals chains are using calendar-driven occasions to drive lo

Loyalty programs are increasingly serving as data collection tools rather than purely transactional offers, enabling restaurants to build first-party customer insights.
Major QSR's first-ever loyalty program represents a late-to-market entrant entering a table-stakes competitive battleground with 100+ units expected.
A major pub and restaurant chain is closing 66 locations today, affecting approximately 3,800 jobs.
A podcast episode explores recruitment and retention strategies for restaurant teams, with Vanteo's Tom Kilby discussing approaches to hire and keep employees in an industry facing persistent staffing
Capriotti's is running a month-long promotional campaign in September offering weekly deals to rewards members, part of its 50th anniversary marketing push.

Over half of Americans support rounding up purchases for charity, signaling potential for QSRs to mobilize customer bases for fundraising tied to education, hunger, and disaster relief causes.

Industry experts are examining the potential federal definition of ultra-processed foods and its implications for restaurant operators, signaling possible regulatory shifts ahead.
The Points Guy compared loyalty programs across three major coffee chains, assessing their relative value and benefits for customers.
An e-commerce risk expert has identified fraud as a significant vulnerability in restaurant loyalty programs.
Restaurants are exploring Gen X and Baby Boomer hiring as a potential response to labor turnover, signaling a shift toward older demographics who may bring different workforce characteristics than you
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.
Maria Rivera, former Krispy Kreme president, has launched RC Hospitality Group to support emerging restaurant brands led by female and minority entrepreneurs.

Loyalty platform unifies multiple restaurant groups — real product deployment, but no named brands, financials, or adoption scale provided to assess impact.
Dillas Quesadillas is running loyalty-program promotions tied to National Queso Day and National Quesadilla Day across its 11 Texas and Louisiana locations.

Wonder laid off approximately 150 employees, representing 7% of its workforce, as part of a streamlining effort.

SupplyCaddy, a restaurant packaging and supply chain service founded in 2020, secured growth investment from existing partner CEAS Investments and counts more than 70 brands among its clients.

Bloom Intelligence reports that high-frequency restaurant guests (10+ visits) represent 2.7% of typical guestbooks, suggesting modern segmentation strategies now layer behavioral signals beyond tradit
A U.S. court ruled that Starbucks' dress code did not violate labor rights for workers in New York City, suggesting the company's uniform policy survived legal scrutiny on worker protections.
A Sussex-based restaurant chain acknowledged a processing error that resulted in staff being underpaid.
Franchising employment is expected to grow 1.8% in 2026, but this is largely promotional content without operational insights for multi-location brand operators.

Pokeworks is running September-long promotions including tiered bonus points for loyalty members and Labor Day offers, signaling continued focus on member engagement and seasonal traffic drivers.

Restaurant operators are increasingly shifting focus from transaction-based metrics like cover counts to guest lifetime value, suggesting a broader industry move toward understanding and retaining ind

Case study on franchisee workforce practices — value depends on whether story reveals replicable retention tactics or operator cost-saving strategies.
EU plastic-cup mandate for dine-in service — a compliance cost and operational friction point for multi-country operators.
Smashburger renewed its Arizona State University athletics sponsorship for a third consecutive year, expanding its presence at game-day activations.
