The Latest
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lechatnoir via Getty Images
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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Permission granted by ECRS
Sponsored by reciProfityUnderstanding the true cost of ingredients
With wholesale food prices up nearly 30% from pre-pandemic levels, many restaurants are struggling to maintain even the slimmest of profit margins. How can restaurateurs understand and control ever-changing ingredient costs?
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Rex_Wholster via Getty Images
NLRB appeals joint employer ruling to 5th Circuit
A federal judge vacated the Board’s joint employer final rule in March, holding that it was “contrary to law” and “arbitrary and capricious.”
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Stephen Chernin via Getty Images
Starbucks’ late-night delivery pilot ‘doubled our business,’ CEO says
A third-party partner prepared Starbucks orders for delivery offsite between the hours of 5 p.m. and 5 a.m., and the coffee giant aims to make a $2 billion business out of this model over the next five years.
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Courtesy of Bloomin' Brands
Bloomin’ Brands CEO David Deno to retire
The restaurant industry executive has been CEO at the Outback parent for five years. The board has begun a search for his successor.
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Courtesy of Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen targets dinner customers with steak
The salad chain is following up the successful rollout of protein plates last year with steak, which accounted for nearly one-fifth of dinner orders in a pilot.
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Stephen Brashear via Getty Images
Starbucks needs to focus on experience, not transactions, former CEO says
Howard Schultz called on the chain's executives to “spend more time with those who wear the green apron” and to better understand customer needs.
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Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco’s new CEO unveils 5-part operations overhaul
From digital investments to incentivizing franchisees to bolster growth, Liz Williams laid out a path she expects will drive sales while decreasing costs.
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Courtesy of Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut taps Wendy’s exec as US president
Carl Loredo, Wendy’s former global chief marketing officer, joins the pizza chain after U.S. sales slid 6% year over year last quarter.
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Permission granted by Denny's
Denny’s virtual brands engage Gen Z, fuel off-premise growth
By leveraging slow dayparts like dinner and late night, the casual chain’s three delivery-only brands are increasing sales and capturing younger demographics.
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Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
Biden vetoes bill against joint employer rule
The president scotched Congressional efforts to block a broadened definition of joint employment, though court decisions may yet kill the rule.
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Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Papa Johns names new chief supply chain officer
Kurt Milburn takes up the role as the pizza chain looks to cut supply chain costs and boost productivity.
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JazzIRT via Getty Images
The restaurant labor market in 6 key statistics
Slowing turnover, steady unemployment and flat real wage growth point to growing restaurant employer power over workers compared to 2022 and 2021.
Updated May 3, 2024 -
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
McDonald’s credits speed, personalization for high satisfaction
The fast food chain is attracting consumers with customized messaging and cementing their loyalty with swift and consistent service.
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Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Shake Shack’s kiosks are now its largest ordering channel
The chain added upselling options to its kiosks and made the channel’s customization experience more similar to online ordering.
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Courtesy of Wingstop
Wingstop accelerates growth trajectory amid record-breaking Q1
The company, which now expects to open up to 25 more net new units than initially planned, reported 21.6% same-store sales growth.
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Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Starbucks’ mobile ordering is so popular, it’s slowing some orders down
Starbucks will roll out new procedures that will help workers reduce wait times, CEO Laxman Narasimhan said Tuesday.
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Courtesy of Subway
Back to Basics: What builds a good snacking menu?
Diner demand for specific snack items depends on their mood, time of day and ease of travel, experts said, opening up an array of traffic-boosting innovation opportunities for restaurants.
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John Hazard and Lisa Burdige
How McDonald’s and Burger King diverge on value-driven messaging
Price-conscious consumers are forcing the QSR giants down different paths around how to advertise value and invest in their marketing.
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Don Wu via Getty Images
Yum’s digital sales mix tops 50% systemwide
Following several quarters of kiosk and e-commerce deployment, digital is on track to generate $30 billion in annualized sales.
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Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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.
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Courtesy of Donatos Pizza
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.
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Courtesy of Burger King
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.
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Courtesy of IHOP
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.
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Permission granted by Camille Gramont
ColumnPardon 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.
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Courtesy of Domino's
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.
