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Chipotle has relaunched its Chipotle IQ trivia game, offering Rewards members chances to win free entrée codes and points.
Teriyaki Madness hired Jake Lowell as Franchise Development Real Estate Manager, a newly created position, signaling the chain's active focus on site selection and franchise expansion infrastructure.
Toast is positioning AI tools as a solution to help restaurant operators find operational efficiencies, betting that time constraints prevent most restaurants from implementing such technologies indep
Qdoba and Chipotle halted jalapeño service after they were linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak affecting hundreds of customers, signaling potential supply chain vulnerabilities in produce sourc
G. Brint Ryan has acquired full ownership of Mr. Gatti's pizza chain, which the source notes has seen material growth recently.
Applebee's and IHOP are prioritizing new menu items over discounting to attract customers, with executives citing innovation as a traffic driver.
Rōti Modern Mediterranean has launched a franchise incentive program aimed at supporting and accelerating development for its franchise partners.
Dave & Buster's CEO Tarun Lal is retiring effective August 3, with CFO Darin Harper taking over the role.
Checkers & Rally's named Peter Busse, a veteran of two decades in restaurant development, as Chief Development Officer to oversee franchise growth and support the brand's turnaround efforts.
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
Wings Etc. is repeating its September Fan Challenge promotion, offering free appetizers to rewards members who meet spending thresholds, timed with football season.
Papa Johns has completed a refranchising of its Orlando-area restaurant portfolio.
Pizza Hut launched a football season campaign featuring NFL player Josh Allen that plays on the brand name's similarity to the football term 'hut'; the effort signals the chain is tapping sports partn
Einstein Bros. plans to expand to 300 new units by 2030, partly through converting existing Bruegger's Bagels locations, signaling confidence in bagel-category growth in underserved Midwest and Sun Be
Red Robin reported traffic approaching breakeven in Q2 with same-store sales up 1.3%, signaling early momentum in reversing years of declining customer visits—a critical marker for casual-dining opera
Chicken Salad Chick appointed Drew Travis as CFO, continuing a recent round of C-suite hires that includes a new CMO and CDO.
Palona AI launched a multimodal AI system designed for physical businesses, initially deployed with restaurant operators including Din Tai Fung, Mountain Mike's Pizza, Giordano's, Rooted Hospitality,
Flytrex and Nash have partnered to offer delivery options combining drones and traditional couriers, signaling a shift toward hybrid logistics that lets restaurants choose delivery method by order.
Dutch Bros and 7 Brew are competing for closed Salad and Go locations, highlighting the strategic value of securing prime real estate in expansion markets.
McDonald's USA named Patrick Gerber, a 25-year company veteran, as chief restaurant officer to oversee operations and standards improvements.
Gen Korean BBQ disclosed a non-binding letter of intent to sell its U.S. restaurant business for over $100 million to a multi-concept operator, signaling potential consolidation in the Korean BBQ segm
Domino's introduced a two-slice Detroit-style pizza called the 'Domino' aimed at solo diners, signaling an effort to capture demand from single-serving occasions.
Yum China has completed its acquisition of Mainland China Pizza Hut operations.
Dutch Bros, a fast-growing drive-thru beverage chain, is acquiring real estate assets from bankrupt Salad and Go locations across Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texas, signaling potential expansion in
Shake Shack achieved 2% traffic growth and 3.5% same-store sales increases in Q2, extending its streak to four consecutive quarters of positive traffic, suggesting the chain is sustaining customer vis
QSR Evolution Conference is adding a Startup Alley exhibition space to showcase emerging restaurant technology and culinary innovations.
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
Mokas Coffee & Eatery has signed a development agreement to open 9 units in the Kansas City area.
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.
Hickory Tavern closed four locations as parent company Artistry Restaurants narrows its footprint to focus on higher-potential sites, signaling a shift toward quality-over-quantity positioning during
Murphy USA is testing White Castle kiosks in its convenience stores.
Olive Garden's pasta pass demonstrates that exclusive promotions can drive customer engagement, though experts signal that sustained brand loyalty depends on consistent execution of the dining experie
Red Robin is using data-driven marketing to identify and re-engage lapsed customers, suggesting targeted retention strategies are becoming a competitive tool in casual dining.
Graze Craze reported a 65% increase in same-store sales for the first half of 2026 compared to the prior year, signaling strong consumer demand for the charcuterie franchise format.
Pressed Juicery and Chick-fil-A are operating delivery-focused ghost kitchen locations to serve demand and reach new customers, suggesting the model remains viable for select brands despite broader sk
Little Caesars has partnered with NFL players Justin Jefferson, Jared Goff, and George Kittle for a marketing campaign.
Red Robin reported its highest traffic in over three years, attributed to value meal offerings and staffing optimization as part of its ongoing turnaround effort.
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.
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.
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.
Beef prices have risen 25% since 2023, driving higher consumer spending despite fewer eating occasions—signaling margin pressure on operators reliant on beef-heavy menus.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is approaching 100 locations following strong first-half 2026 performance, signaling continued momentum in the fast-casual Mediterranean segment.
El Pollo Loco's CEO announced the chain is doubling its development pace year-over-year and exploring fried chicken additions, signaling accelerated expansion and product diversification following a b
A PAR survey found that three-quarters of diners are open to AI use in restaurants, suggesting operators are unlikely to face widespread consumer resistance to automation adoption.
Some restaurant operators are using AI to develop their own software rather than buying from vendors, a shift that suggests the traditional build-versus-buy calculus may be changing in the tech-enable
Walk-On's is shifting to smaller, less expensive restaurant formats to expand beyond the large venues that have defined its two-decade track record, signaling a strategic pivot to access territory whe
Slim Chickens launched a Development Fund Program in August 2026 offering franchisees up to $200,000 per new restaurant, signaling an effort to accelerate unit growth through direct financial support.