The Latest

  • 5 chefs work in a restaurant kitchens
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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.

  • New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gives a speech on the Hudson River tunnel project at the West Side Yard on January 31, 2023 in New York City.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    New York becomes first state to mandate paid time off for prenatal care

    Beginning in 2025, pregnant employees will be eligible for 20 hours of leave, separate from the state’s paid family and medical leave.

  • Donatos Pizza executives Tom Krouse and Kevin King
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    Courtesy of Donatos Pizza
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    Donatos CEO to retire, president will assume post

    Tom Krouse will retire in October after 20-plus years at the pizza chain. President Kevin King will take on the role of CEO upon Krouse’s retirement. 

  • An image of Burger King's Sizzle remodeled restaurant
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King commits additional $300M to accelerate remodels

    The chain will give top-performing restaurants cash incentives to complete remodels and expects to overhaul up to 90% of its U.S. units by 2028.

  • A picture of an IHOP server taking an order using a tablet.
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    IHOP’s POS migration is boosting speed, check totals

    The diner chain has nearly completed a two-year migration of 1,500 restaurants to Tray’s platform, which integrates with handheld server tablets to trim order and pay times at tables. 

  • A photo of a sign in the window of a Foxtrot site. It says "Thanks a lot! As of today, we are closing for the final time. Thank you for the time we had together."
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    Permission granted by Camille Gramont
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    Column

    Pardon the Disruption: What the sudden loss of Foxtrot and Dom’s means for retail

    Their demise underscores just how difficult it is to bring new, innovative ideas to life in the shadow of large-scale competitors and the grinding need for efficiency.

  • A picture of a building with Domino's signage and a car parked on the left side.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s Q1 US sales driven by loyalty, promotions

    Domestic comps rose 5.6%, the highest increase since 2021, due to rewards member growth, successful marketing campaigns and improved operations.

  • Four different juices from Clean Juice
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    Permission granted by Clean Juice
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    Brix Holdings to buy Clean Juice

    The Christian juice chain, which lost dozens of franchise locations over changes to its business model, sold itself for undisclosed terms.

  • 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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    Chipotle makes order fulfillment, not fancier tech, its top CX focus

    Faster order speed is “one of those things that cascades into everything being a lot better,” CEO Brian Niccol said.

  • A hand dips a chicken tender into a dipping sauce.
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    Courtesy of Sticky's
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    Chicken tender chain Sticky’s Finger Joint files for Chapter 11

    Low foot traffic in Manhattan, exacerbated by high prices for chicken and potatoes, left 12-unit Sticky’s in a weak position.

  • An image of food bowls from Chipotle's experimental fast casual brand, Farmesa Fresh Eatery.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle pulls plug on Farmesa fast casual concept

    Farmesa Fresh Eatery marks the third spinoff that the company has attempted but shuttered in the past decade. 

  • The prize center inside a Dave & Buster's restaurant
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    Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic via Getty Images
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    Former Chuck E. Cheese exec takes Dave & Buster’s CFO seat

    The change comes as Dave & Buster's looks to drive growth through a dining experience overhaul, among other initiatives.

  • Chipotle workers prepare food
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle’s traffic rose 5% in Q1 despite price hikes

    Visits outpaced the fast casual industry during the quarter thanks to the chain’s strongest throughput in four years and Barbacoa and Carne Asada promotions.

  • A photograph of packaging and menu items for IHOP/Virtual Dining Concepts' new NASCAR themed brand
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    Courtesy of Virtual Dining Concepts
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    IHOP adds 2 new Virtual Dining Concept brands, expands another

    IHOP is focusing on virtual brands as a solution to traffic problems in non-peak dayparts and thinks two sports-themed brands could lift sales.

  • The exterior of a Cava in Chicago
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    Permission granted by Cava
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    Cava’s Chicago store marks Midwestern debut

    The Wicker Park location is part of the chain’s push to add units after reaching profitability in 2023 and completing its Zoës Kitchen conversions.

  • A picture of a beige building with Tropical Smoothie Cafe branding
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    Permission granted by Tropical Smoothie Cafe
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    Tropical Smoothie Cafe sells to Blackstone

    Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but The Wall Street Journal reports it is worth roughly $2 billion.

    Updated April 24, 2024
    M&A
  • Unionized Starbucks workers strike
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    Permission granted by Starbucks Workers United
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    Starbucks unionization efforts

    Starbucks meets 150 workers at the bargaining table in Atlanta

    While the company still plans store-by-store contract ratification, it is discussing issues impacting all employees with a bargaining committee of union members.

  • 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.