211 stories · last 7 days by relevance
Fractured Prune Doughnuts is launching a new franchise expansion after 50 years built on made-to-order doughnuts fried at point of sale, signaling confidence that the fresh-product differentiation mod
Technomic identified 50 menu trends expected to grow over the next two years, signaling which categories operators should monitor for customer demand shifts.
Jeremiah's Italian Ice appointed Lisa McGill as its first VP of Franchise Development, signaling acceleration of its franchise expansion strategy.
A new research roundup from Modern Restaurant Management covers consumer traffic patterns, resale market dynamics, menu pricing, workplace meal programs, private chef demand, and sports bar attributes
Taco Bell partnered with Olivia Rodrigo to co-create a Baja Blast variant, signaling continued celebrity collaboration as a lever for beverage differentiation in QSR.
Maria Rivera, former Krispy Kreme president, has launched RC Hospitality Group to support emerging restaurant brands led by female and minority entrepreneurs.
Carl's Jr. has shifted to made-to-order burger preparation, a move the chain credits with improving customer satisfaction scores and lowering food waste.
Loyalty program fraud is now a material threat to chain revenue and customer data; credential stuffing and weak authentication are evolving attack vectors brands must defend.
Moe's Southwest Grill is opening its first brick-and-mortar location in the Twin Cities on September 4 in Woodbury, signaling expansion into a new market outside its existing footprint.
Krystal is testing Mike's Hot Honey across four menu items at select Atlanta locations, signaling continued interest in the hot honey trend among quick-service chains seeking differentiation in chicke
Taco Bell has signed an exclusive franchise deal with Americana Restaurants to re-enter the United Arab Emirates market, marking a return to the region after a 12-year absence.
Restaurant consultant David Scott Peters recommends holiday menus focus on operational simplicity and profitability through dish costing, inventory optimization, and testing—suggesting operators shoul
Crisp & Green is accelerating franchise expansion, with existing franchisees planning to open 15+ restaurants by year-end as the wellness-focused chain targets density in priority markets.
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.
Pizza chains are adjusting their limited-time offer strategies for fall, balancing new menu items with value and established favorites as back-to-school, Labor Day, and football season overlap.
The Flying Biscuit Café, an Atlanta-based breakfast and brunch brand, has signed a franchise agreement to expand into McDonough, Georgia and Henry County, signaling continued franchisee interest in th
Wonder laid off approximately 150 employees, representing 7% of its workforce, as part of a streamlining effort.
Lola Beans signed a six-unit franchise agreement to expand into Delaware with founder Donny Bradley's brother Jay and his wife Beth, extending the drive-thru beverage brand's footprint through a famil
Limited-time calzone launch is a routine menu extension — no signal on traffic, economics, or broader strategic positioning.
Perkins Restaurant and Bakery is offering franchise incentives in partnership with Myrtle Beach to expand its presence in the resort market.
Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop added a pulled pork sandwich called the Pit Boss to its menu across all locations, combining barbecue sauce, coleslaw, and pickle chips on brioche.
Burger King has reformulated its chicken nuggets in response to consumer feedback.
Beyond Juicery + Eatery's Senior Director of Brand and Product Innovation Elliott Disner, who joined the brand nearly two decades ago, is transitioning to franchise owner and plans to open his first l
Daily tip payout systems are gaining adoption in restaurants, offering staff faster access to earnings and greater financial visibility.
Brooklyn Water Bagel has opened its first location on a college campus at Nova Southeastern University.
Blaze Pizza is underperforming and has brought in new leadership to reverse the trend, though the challenges may prove more manageable than the severity of the decline suggests.
Grimaldi's Pizzeria is running its 14th consecutive annual fundraising campaign with No Kid Hungry, having raised over $1.4 million for the organization since 2013.
Church's Texas Chicken has launched Big Deal Boxes and is testing chicken and waffles in select markets.
Mike's Red Tacos has signed a 15-unit franchise agreement for Michigan expansion, leveraging recognition from its 2023 Yelp Top 100 designation to enter a new market.
Golden Chick has introduced its first queso product line.
Owner secured $240M in funding led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives to develop AI agents aimed at independent restaurants.
KFC Canada and Cheetos Flamin' Hot have launched a collaborative menu item.
Bank of America data shows bars and independent restaurants are outperforming chains, while consumers are shifting spending from grocers to restaurants.
NYC sandwich shop Alidoro is implementing operational systems designed to support expansion into additional transit hubs and new markets.
Single-brand birthday LTO campaign with discount offers — no strategic signal for multi-location operators beyond standard promotional tactics.
HB Protein Smoothies appointed Tyler Doolittle to lead real estate and expansion efforts.
Celebrity co-creation of limited-time beverages drives trial and social buzz—a scalable playbook for QSR brands chasing Gen Z traffic and shareability.
Restaurant operators are prioritizing expansion strategies rather than scaling back operations in 2026.
Walk-On's is launching a smaller, lower-cost prototype with a company-owned location planned for Baton Rouge in early 2027, suggesting the chain may be testing a more scalable format to manage expansi
Mokas Coffee & Eatery has signed a development agreement to open 9 units in the Kansas City area.
A Deloitte 2025 report found that 82% of restaurant executives across 11 countries plan to increase AI investment, though fewer than half consider their current AI implementations mature, suggesting a
Nelson Peltz, Wendy's largest shareholder, has reportedly decided not to pursue taking the chain private, leaving questions about the company's strategic direction unresolved.
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.
Aroma Joe's achieved a top-5 ranking in Newsweek's coffee chain awards for the first half of 2026, signaling growing consumer recognition of the handcrafted beverage franchise.
A multi-unit franchisee operating Little Caesars and Jersey Mike's locations has added Mike's Red Tacos to its Michigan restaurant portfolio.
The FDA is working to define ultra-processed foods, a regulatory effort that signals potential future shifts in how restaurants may need to disclose or market products.
Taystee's Burgers, a 10-unit quick-service chain based in the Detroit area, operates premium burger concepts inside gas stations and is preparing to expand into new markets.
A dozen restaurant chains including Zaxby's, Dutch Bros, and Blaze launched new menu items in early September, reflecting continued seasonal menu rotation across the industry.
A new study claims a proposed $25 minimum wage could cost 5 million jobs, raising questions about what wage increase restaurant operators might find acceptable.
Dave's Hot Chicken's CMO discusses the chain's approach to AI, using it for backend operations like customer data and financial analysis while excluding it from creative and content work.
