521 stories · last 7 days by relevance
Franchising opportunity roundup — useful for growth-focused brands but dependent on which chains and deal types are featured.
Salad & Go's bankruptcy resulted from multiple pressures including a Cyclospora outbreak, rising costs, rapid expansion, weak consumer demand, and declining fast-casual traffic—suggesting that single-
Golden Chick has introduced its first queso product line.
KFC Canada and Cheetos Flamin' Hot have launched a collaborative menu item.
A NAYA restaurant founder, after a single location nearly became insolvent, is now seeking to open 200 additional locations.
Owner secured $240M in funding led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives to develop AI agents aimed at independent restaurants.
NYC sandwich shop Alidoro is implementing operational systems designed to support expansion into additional transit hubs and new markets.
Bank of America data shows bars and independent restaurants are outperforming chains, while consumers are shifting spending from grocers to restaurants.
Single-brand birthday LTO campaign with discount offers — no strategic signal for multi-location operators beyond standard promotional tactics.
Celebrity co-creation of limited-time beverages drives trial and social buzz—a scalable playbook for QSR brands chasing Gen Z traffic and shareability.
HB Protein Smoothies appointed Tyler Doolittle to lead real estate and expansion efforts.
International expansion of an emerging fried-chicken franchise signals growth opportunity and market consolidation in a competitive segment.
An industry analysis piece examines operational challenges ahead for 2026, signaling that restaurants face continued cost and margin pressures in the coming year.
Restaurant operators are prioritizing expansion strategies rather than scaling back operations in 2026.
Roundup of seasonal menu launches and promotional bundles across segments — routine news without strategic insight for multi-unit operators.
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
A major global pizza chain has been officially sold for $2.7 billion.
Mokas Coffee & Eatery has signed a development agreement to open 9 units in the Kansas City area.
Red Lobster is reducing its footprint to 540 locations following bankruptcy proceedings, signaling continued portfolio rationalization in the casual dining sector.
EMVCo is proposing a new technical standard layer to distinguish whether an AI agent is authorized to make a specific payment versus having general card access, signaling industry movement toward stru
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.
Spreedly suggests that beneficial automated agents may emerge as a legitimate commerce channel, shifting industry perception away from bots as solely fraudulent threats.
McDonald's returned $37 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends while its stock underperformed the broader market, raising questions about capital allocation efficiency.
Brinker International issued fiscal 2027 guidance above Wall Street consensus, projecting adjusted EPS of $12.60–$13.40 and revenues of $6.15B–$6.27B, which helped drive a recent stock surge despite m
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.
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.
A multi-unit franchisee operating Little Caesars and Jersey Mike's locations has added Mike's Red Tacos to its Michigan restaurant portfolio.
UBS predicts US restaurant traffic will stabilize in the second half of the year following weak first-half performance, suggesting operators may see relief from consumer spending pressures.
Chipotle placed content creators in its kitchens as part of a restaurant-focused marketing initiative.
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.
The article explores how merchants integrating multiple payment processors often struggle to achieve meaningful performance improvements, suggesting that technical connectivity alone may be insufficie
Chick-fil-A has closed its final experimental restaurant, ending a test initiative.
A&W is emphasizing flexible restaurant formats—including small-footprint non-traditional locations like airports and college campuses—as a core part of its expansion strategy to reach more customers a
Owner, a restaurant tech platform, raised $240 million to expand its AI-powered technology and marketing services.
A dining chain competing in Denny's market segment has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Congressman Nadler and Representative Frost have called for an antitrust investigation into Sysco's $29.1 billion acquisition of Restaurant Depot, citing concerns that the deal could raise costs for r
la Madeleine introduced a $9.99 weekday breakfast deal featuring Classic French Toast, signaling an effort to drive weekday traffic during a traditionally slower daypart for casual dining.
Wheat, sugar, and cocoa prices jumped in August due to war, weather, and supply chain disruptions, signaling potential food cost pressures for restaurant operators in the near term.
US restaurant sales increased despite fewer dine-in visits, suggesting operators shifted successfully toward off-premise channels or adjusted their business models.
CC's Coffee House appointed Bailey Richard as Director of Marketing to support the brand's efforts to expand its reach and positioning.
Wendy's stock declined following apparent setback in takeover prospects, raising questions about the company's strategic direction.
Restaurants facing sustained inflation across food, labor, and operations cannot rely on pricing alone; back-of-house optimization alongside menu strategy may help preserve margins.
Pret a Manger is running a one-day promotion on Sept. 9 offering free Pick Your Pair meals to customers wearing retired-athlete jerseys at U.S. locations, limited to one meal per customer.
Wonder acquired Salt Hank's, Uber exited its Serve delivery platform, and Qu Foods hired Paul Rubin—three separate moves signaling ongoing consolidation and leadership shifts in restaurant technology
Two beverage chains—7 Brew and Dutch Bros—are competing in a court-supervised auction for bankrupt Salad and Go's closed locations, with Dutch Bros having initially offered $105 million.
