153 stories · last 7 days by relevance
Sweetgreen's leadership met with Chili's CEO Kevin Hochman, a executive known for operational turnarounds, signaling the chain may be exploring strategies from the casual-dining sector to address its
A Woody's Bar-B-Q franchisee in Florida filed for bankruptcy a second time in three years, citing rising food costs, management issues, and expensive merchant cash advance financing as contributing fa
Fuzzy's Taco Shop is running a summer promotion through August 30 featuring limited-time menu items, rewards offers, and events designed to drive repeat visits and engagement during peak season.
Restaurant operators in major U.S. metros are paying elevated commercial real estate costs for dine-in space even as delivery orders grow, creating a potential mismatch between lease expenses and cust
Ten restaurant chains including Portillo's, Potbelly, and Wingstop are leading menu innovation focused on bold flavor profiles.
GoTab has acquired Fishbowl, a guest marketing and loyalty platform, to expand its restaurant commerce ecosystem that includes POS, ordering, payments, and mobile solutions.
Liberty Mutual provided $320 million in financing to inKind, a platform designed to help restaurants access capital for expansion, renovations, and operational needs.
American Express acquired TheFork for $700 million as part of a broader wave of restaurant-tech dealmaking in June.
Food service and drinking establishments cut nearly 33,000 jobs in June after a hiring surge earlier in the summer, signaling potential softness in consumer demand or seasonal labor adjustments in the
Smalls Sliders has launched Soda Shakes, a line of concentrated syrups developed with Coca-Cola.
McDonald's appointed Bryan Brown, a former Raising Cane's development executive, as U.S. chief development officer to oversee domestic growth strategy.
Papa John's CFO Ravi Thanawala is departing after leading turnaround efforts and serving in an interim leadership role over the past three years.
Skyline Essentials launched SkAI, an AI forecasting platform designed to help independent and multi-unit restaurant operators predict revenue and labor costs—capabilities historically available mainly
Futurist op-ed on long-term trends — speculative and generic, lacks concrete operator takeaways or data.
Domino's is distributing $1 million in rewards to loyalty members following a penalty card issued to U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun during a World Cup match, triggering a promotional commitment th
Outback Steakhouse is offering 60 wings for $60 through July 25 via curbside or delivery, a limited promotion timed to World Cup viewing occasions.
Your Pie, an Ischia-inspired pizza chain with customizable brick-oven offerings, is targeting Wilmington, North Carolina for expansion, signaling confidence in regional demand for fast-casual pizza co
Restaurant brands are increasingly centering their apps around loyalty programs, personalization, and direct customer engagement rather than just order-ahead convenience, signaling a shift toward usin
Social-first growth playbook — organic content scaled The Taco Spot to 400-unit pipeline, showing how brands can use owned channels to accelerate franchising velocity.
Restaurants are increasingly treating catering as a dedicated sales channel rather than an ad-hoc service, suggesting a shift toward more systematic catering operations and revenue capture.
Industry observers identify three focus areas for restaurant success in 2026: omnichannel customer experience, transaction tracking as a performance metric, and leadership investment.
Quick-service restaurants are deploying incremental technology upgrades like digital menus and tablets, along with outsourced services, to address drive-thru inefficiencies such as slow service and or
Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is opening its first New Jersey location in Wall on July 18, signaling the brand's geographic expansion beyond its traditional Hawaiian market.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar's CEO Jeff Chandler discusses the burger chain's sale to Founders Table Restaurant Group on a restaurant finance podcast.
Bareburger is launching a blended burger made with beef and roasted mushrooms across its locations starting mid-June, signaling growing restaurant interest in health-positioned burger innovations to a
Australian café chain Two Hands Hospitality has signed a lease for its first Kansas City location, continuing geographic expansion beyond its existing markets in New York, Texas, Tennessee, and Colora
Gong cha partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery to launch a Harry Potter-themed product line marking 25 years since the Philosopher's Stone film premiere, signaling how beverage brands are leveraging I
McDonald's is launching a limited-time Happy Meal promotion featuring 10 collectible BT21 character toys with ring clips, starting July 14 at participating locations.
Papa John's has appointed an interim CFO following the departure of Ravi Thanawala.
Pizzerias are leveraging viral food moments and unofficial endorsements as marketing strategies, signaling a shift toward organic, social-media-driven promotion rather than traditional sponsorships.
Fast-food sandwich chains are losing market share to fast-casual competitors, suggesting that consumers may be prioritizing perceived quality and business sustainability over traditional quick-service
Red Lobster's bankruptcy in 2024 followed its Endless Shrimp promotion, raising questions about whether the deal was a strategic misstep or the result of deeper operational or intentional issues.
Sbarro is introducing a limited-time pizza featuring spicy Calabrian pepperoni and sausage.
Just Salad named New York Knicks player Jalen Brunson as an equity partner in the brand's first athlete deal, marking an expansion of its investor base.
Limited-time co-branded product tie-in — routine promotional merchandise without broader operator or loyalty implications.
A Popeyes franchisee facing bankruptcy is divesting most of its restaurant locations.
Ruby Tuesday is launching a significant menu refresh after years of relative quietness following its 2020 bankruptcy and substantial store closures, signaling an attempt to rebuild brand momentum in t
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation partnered with American Express and Resy to launch a free leadership development program featuring James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs as
Restaurant transactions in US World Cup host cities saw a significant lift during group stage play, suggesting major sporting events drive measurable foot traffic to dining venues.
Eggs Up Grill announced its 110th restaurant opening in South Carolina, reaching a scale position among actively franchising breakfast chains.
Burtons Grill & Bar is offering premium lobster rolls at $29 in Maine or Connecticut style throughout July and August at all locations.
Golden Corral is launching a $2.50 value-deal promotion starting July 4 to coincide with the nation's 250th anniversary, signaling continued investment in price-driven offerings to attract budget-cons
A podcast episode explores how restaurants can use guest recognition and personalization technology to improve customer loyalty, addressing what the source frames as widespread guest retention challen
Marco's Pizza's chief development officer and his father, a commercial real estate enthusiast, collaborate on the chain's expansion strategy, suggesting family involvement in site selection and growth
Glory Days Grill is reintroducing its seasonal Lobster Roll across all 36 U.S. locations through July 31st, signaling continued reliance on limited-time offerings to drive traffic during summer months
A Toast survey of 1,466 U.S. adults found that 64% of guests discovered new restaurants in 2025, suggesting diners are increasingly balancing exploration with loyalty to established favorites.
Peter Piper Pizza is testing a redesigned prototype location in Mesquite, Texas that combines its longstanding family appeal with modern digital features and expanded adult amenities, signaling an eff
Restaurant operators who scale successfully tend to excel at structuring capital deals rather than operating skill alone, suggesting financing architecture—not concept strength—is the primary constrai
Dessert LTO tied to a calendar event — promotional tactic, no broader strategic relevance.
Limited-time promotional event — typical chain-wide offer with no broader operator insight.