Restaurant Dive
Why Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s CFO champions CX
Tropical Smoothie Cafe's CFO frames customer experience improvements as drivers of repeat visits, spending, and word-of-mouth—positioning CX as a business lever for the chain.
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Tropical Smoothie Cafe's CFO frames customer experience improvements as drivers of repeat visits, spending, and word-of-mouth—positioning CX as a business lever for the chain.
Kyuramen launched a limited-time gaming collaboration with HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero, running through mid-October, signaling the ramen chain's bet on gaming IP to drive foot traffic and appeal to
Delaware North promoted Seth Rose to president of Patina Group, which operates premium restaurants and catering venues across major U.S. markets.
Chipotle is targeting Gen Alpha while Mike's Red Tacos installed new leadership, as restaurant marketing trends echo 2016 approaches.
Ella Coffeehouse opened its first franchise location in Boynton Beach, signaling validation of its franchise model as it expands in South Florida.
Subway is relaunching its Hot Honey offering as a limited-time promotion that now includes Doritos-topped nachos and two signature sandwiches.
Saladworks introduced a weekly $6.99 Tuesday promotion for made-to-order salads and wraps at participating locations, signaling competitive price positioning in the fast-casual segment.
First Watch is launching a limited-time fall menu featuring pumpkin spice and maple flavors alongside Italian-inspired savory dishes, capitalizing on seasonal dining patterns as weather cools.
Little Caesars enters its fifth season as an NFL sponsor, featuring partnerships with prominent players including Justin Jefferson, George Kittle, and Jared Goff.
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Flying Biscuit Café has franchised two units in the Houston area through a new agreement, signaling continued expansion of the Atlanta breakfast concept into new regional markets.
Krispy Kreme launched a Pokémon-themed doughnut collection in partnership with The Pokémon Company International to mark Pokémon's 30-year anniversary, featuring five character-inspired designs.
Sonic has introduced an iced dirty soda menu option for the early fall season.
The Big Biscuit's CEO discusses the chain's regional expansion strategy from Kansas City while maintaining operational practices like human phone answering, suggesting established regional operators c
Shipley Donuts, a handmade donut chain, is entering Michigan through a 15-unit franchise deal in the Detroit metro area, signaling continued expansion into new regional markets.
Con Huevos is opening a sixth location this fall while declining expansion into markets like Nashville, signaling that the founders prioritize brand consistency over rapid growth—a strategy that may a
A commercial director who has worked on campaigns for major QSR chains argues that restaurant advertising must now prioritize value messaging and brand personality alongside food aesthetics to break t
Urban Bird's founders were inspired by a hot honey chicken sandwich at Bruxie during a 2018 Vegas trip, launching what has become a notable emerging brand in the fast-casual segment.
Market Hall at Manhattan West will open this fall with 12 restaurant concepts, a full-service restaurant, two bars, and retail across more than 34,000 square feet.
Motto Motto has signed a deal to open 10 restaurants in Western Australia, signaling the brand's expansion beyond its established markets.
Ice machines warrant dedicated food-safety oversight rather than routine equipment maintenance, since ice contacts nearly every guest's beverage or food.
Insomnia Cookies is offering six free Classic cookies to incoming college students as part of a limited promotional program aimed at the Class of 2030, signaling the brand's focus on acquiring loyal c
Papa Johns is adjusting its marketing strategy, while separate bankruptcy filings from a Moe's franchisee and a New York restaurant operator signal financial stress among different segments of the ind
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers signed a three-unit franchise agreement for eastern Wyoming, marking further expansion in the Mountain West region.
Panera Bread is launching a fall-focused pumpkin lineup on August 19, including the return of its Pumpkin Spice Latte—a seasonal move that signals continued reliance on limited-time offerings to drive
Jollibee has signed a franchise agreement to open 16 locations in British Columbia as part of its broader expansion into the Canadian market.
P. Terry's founder Kathy Terry will discuss the restaurant's choice to establish an employee ownership trust rather than pursue a traditional exit, in a live Q&A hosted by Restaurant Unstoppable on Au
Don Daszkowski, founder and CEO of the International Franchise Professionals Group, has moved into the role of Executive Chairman focused on mergers, acquisitions, and corporate development.
Single drive-thru-only location opening signals format testing, but one Canadian outlet offers no material signal for multi-location U.S. operators.
Single-location site plan in one market — local real-estate news with no signal for multi-location strategic expansion or site-selection trends.
Nutrition-focused franchise model emphasizes recurring membership and coaching rather than kitchen operations—relevant for franchisors exploring recurring-revenue models.
Routine LTO sandwich introduction — standard category innovation with no chain-strategic or competitive implication.
Passive franchise ownership, promoted as a low-effort income model, carries risks to customer experience, employee welfare, and business sustainability according to franchise industry analysis.
Panera has launched a tiered points loyalty program called MyPanera Points.
Restaurant leaders are deploying AI to accelerate customer service responses, analyze customer sentiment across locations, and redirect staff toward higher-value hospitality work—signaling a shift tow
Bahama Breeze continues to close restaurant locations.
McDonald's and Domino's both pursue growth through global expansion, digital initiatives, and customer engagement, though their strategies differ.
Fresh Brothers has added Wing It On, a wing concept, to its Southern California pizza restaurant locations.
Chipotle's CFO Adam Rymer sold $327,000 in stock through automatic RSU vesting, a routine transaction that signals no material change in his conviction—he retains a $3.2 million stake in the company.
Happy Belly operated 95 restaurants in Q2 with system-wide sales of $28.4 million.
Starbucks launched a refreshed fall menu featuring returning seasonal drinks, coinciding with traffic improvements that signal early momentum in the company's turnaround efforts.
Huddle House is offering incentives to support franchisee expansion.
Chartwells Higher Education identified five campus dining trends for fall including Gen Z grazing, fibermaxxing, and texture-focused innovation, signaling where student food preferences are shifting.
A Food Institute news brief covers leadership changes at Wendy's and new data on U.S. protein consumption trends.
Texas Roadhouse responded to allegations that servers tampered with food for certain guests, according to a worker claim reported by BroBible.
Otto and Restoke have partnered on AI-powered restaurant ordering.
Trump's tariffs create a mechanism that shifts wealth toward upper tiers of the food supply chain, suggesting cost pressures may concentrate unevenly across producers and retailers.
Domino's is launching a new Detroit-style, single-serve pizza shaped like its logo nationwide on August 31, signaling an effort to capture more customizable and portable eating occasions.
Starbucks is laying off over 200 employees as part of a corporate relocation to Nashville, signaling potential shifts in how major restaurant chains are managing real estate and workforce restructurin
San Antonio's casual dining sector is experiencing more closures than openings, signaling sustained pressure on the midscale segment in that market.
Massachusetts passed H.4813 regarding liquor licenses, a development that could prompt other states to reconsider their own liquor licensing frameworks and potentially affect restaurant valuations.