The Latest

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    lechatnoir via Getty Images
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    Restaurant trend outlook for 2024

    Slow traffic, growing interest in afternoon snacking and trends toward value menus, digital and in-store personalization will shape the restaurant landscape.

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    iStockphoto.com/JLco - Julia Amaral

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    Sponsored by Instant Financial

    Breaking it down: Why Gen Z demands pay optionality

    Generation Z demands more flexibility in how they’re paid. Employers need to be ready to embrace these new expectations with options for how employees can be paid.

  • A bank of windows below a red sign that says "Chipotle." A man stands in the background inside the restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Study: Chipotle, Starbucks have highest burnout among major restaurants

    Chipotle, which recently added new worker benefits to attract hires, had the second-highest burnout rating of any company in the study, surpassed only by Progressive.

  • A photo of the exterior of a Foxtrot opening in July in Austin City Hall.
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    Courtesy of Foxtrot Markets
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    Foxtrot ceases operations

    The Chicago-based c-store chain’s sister company, Dom’s Kitchen & Market, suddenly announced Tuesday that all operations have come to a close.

  • People hold signs while protesting in front of Starbucks on April 14, 2022 in New York City.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Starbucks argues before Supreme Court to weaken NLRB’s power

    The coffee titan wants courts to use stricter standards when evaluating injunctions in unfair labor practice cases.

  • A close-up of the creamy exterior of the Department of Labor building.
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    Caroline Colvin/Restaurant Dive
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    DOL will raise overtime salary threshold to $44K in July, $59K next year

    The final rule expands overtime pay eligibility to millions of U.S. workers, the department said.

  • An image of a sign with a red apple and the word Applebee's
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    Flynn Group buys 26 Applebee’s units, will build 25 more

    Applebee’s is trying to turn around sliding sales and a shrinking footprint through franchising initiatives and traffic-oriented marketing moves.

  • Fuzzy's Taco Shop CMO Patrick Kirk
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    Courtesy of Fuzzy's Taco Shop
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    Fuzzy’s Taco Shop taps Applebee’s vet as CMO

    In his new role, Patrick Kirk will oversee all aspects of marketing, including advertising, digital marketing and culinary and beverage innovation. 

  • An image of Tijuana Flats
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    Permission granted by Tijuana Flats
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    Tijuana Flats files for Chapter 11, gains new owners

    The fast casual chain also closed 11 restaurants after undergoing a unit-by-unit analysis of financial performance, occupancy costs and market conditions. 

  • Inside a Papa Johns location
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns franchisees accelerating growth this year in light of incentives

    Operators who open new units in 2024 don’t have to pay a national ad contribution for five years, which could save $330,000 in development costs, per a BTIG report. 

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    Permission granted by Zipline
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    Flynn Group, Zipline to deliver Panera Bread orders via drone

    Deliveries are expected to begin next year and will be available from select Panera units in the Greater Seattle area. 

  • An image of Chuck E. Cheese menu items and kids playing at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant
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    Courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese
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    6 restaurants that plotted international growth during Q1

    Chains like Fazoli’s, Marco’s Pizza and Chuck E. Cheese secured deals to enter new countries as part of ongoing global expansion plans.

  • An image of Red Loster sign on the outside of a restaurant
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Red Lobster could be headed toward bankruptcy

    The chain only paid a quarter of its bills on time in February and over half were 61 to 90 days late, according to data from Creditsafe.

  • An image of TGI Fridays signage with red and white stripes
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    4 things to know about TGI Fridays’ acquisition by Hostmore

    The chain’s biggest franchisee has been reducing expenses since 2022, which should help the combined company start on stronger financial footing in the U.K.’s public market.

  • An image of a red and white building with Freddy's signage.
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    Permission granted by Freddy's
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    Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers franchisee must pay $119K for child labor violations

    The operator of seven Alabama Freddy’s locations employed 149 children under 16 years old to work longer hours than permitted by law. 

  • A round red sign hanging off of a glass building that says Chipotle
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    Michael M. Santiago / Staff via Getty Images
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    Chipotle agrees to nearly $3M settlement over alleged paid leave and scheduling violations in Seattle

    The settlement is the largest since the Secure Scheduling Ordinance went into effect in July 2017, the Seattle Office of Labor Standards said.

  • Little Caesars Hot and Ready
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    Courtesy of Little Caesars
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    Little Caesars signs multi-unit deals in 7 states

    The chain returned to net unit growth in 2023 and is looking to build on that momentum this year in markets including California, Tennessee and Texas. 

  • An image of a beige building wiht both Fatburger and Round Table Pizza signage
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fat Brands expands hybrid Fatburger/Round Table Pizza model to NorCal

    Fat Brands franchisee California Burger will add the burger concept to 40 pizza restaurants over the next 10 years, with the first to be completed this year.

  • A box of St. Patrick's Day themed Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
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    Courtesy of Krispy Kreme
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    Krispy Kreme switching to points-based loyalty scheme

    Loyalty members will earn 10 points for every dollar spent starting April 23 as the chain shifts away from a consistent 8.3% discount rate on rewards.

  • MOD Pizza
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    Permission granted by MOD Pizza
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    Mod Pizza hires Raising Cane’s exec as CMO

    Jennifer Anderson brings nearly two decades of marketing and culinary experience to her new position, where she will oversee digital marketing, menu development and consumer insights and engagement. 

  • An image of TGI Fridays signage with red and white stripes
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    TGI Fridays enters $220M agreement to combine with UK franchisee

    The deal with Hostmore, worth over $220 million, will lead to TGI Fridays trading on the London Stock Exchange under “TGIF” symbol. 

  • Wendy's
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Why dynamic pricing sours restaurant dining experiences

    Nearly two-thirds of consumers had a negative reaction to dynamic pricing, a HungerRush survey found.

  • Bojangles restaurant
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    Courtesy of Bojangles
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    Bojangles to enter Los Angeles market in 2025

    California’s recent wage hike hasn’t stopped the chicken chain from committing to open 30 units in the Golden State, continuing its national expansion.

  • Kiosks with biometric cameras at Steak n Shake
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    Permission granted by Steak n Shake
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    Steak ‘n Shake installs facial recognition at self-ordering kiosks

    The chain, which completed its move from full-service to self-service last year, first tested PopID’s technology in October and began deploying it in January.

  • An image of Domino's New York Style Pizza crust
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s adds New York Style Pizza to menu

    As the most popular style of pizza in the country, the new crust option could continue transaction and comp sales momentum noted during Q4. 

  • An empty, dark restaurant has chairs stacked on top of the tables.
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    Halfpoint via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Ask an expert: How can brands protect struggling franchisees from bankruptcy?

    A bad franchisee can do “irreparable harm” to its parent chain, but early intervention can help avoid sales shortfalls and covenant defaults, said Chris Desiderio of Nixon Peabody.