106 stories · last 7 days by relevance
Taco Bell is expanding AI-powered voice ordering in its drive-thrus through a partnership with Omilia, which already operates in nearly 900 U.S. restaurants, signaling continued industry momentum towa
Dairy Queen appointed Phil Crawford as executive vice president and chief technology officer to oversee IT and retail technology across its global system of more than 7,800 restaurants, signaling the
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers plans to open around 60 locations in 2026, nearing 600 total units, with new building formats enabling expansion into different real estate types.
Audivi AI has released a new pricing model designed to make drive-thru automation more accessible to quick-service restaurant operators.
Canadian dessert chain D-Spot Dessert Café is entering the U.S. market with its first location in Dallas, signaling readiness to scale a franchise model beyond its home country.
Yogurtland reported record franchise metrics in 2025, with traditional store AUVs reaching $934,959, signaling sustained demand in the self-serve frozen yogurt category.
HB Protein Smoothies signed a 6-unit franchise agreement for Houston with an experienced restaurant operations group, continuing its geographic expansion.
QSR Magazine highlights untold stories from franchisees about leadership challenges and operational turning points, suggesting that personal experiences with hiring and mentorship often shape franchis
Swig has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement to expand across Chicago's southwest suburbs with experienced operators Derek and Michelle Hincks.
Another Broken Egg Cafe launched a royalty relief program aimed at incentivizing franchisees to open additional units, signaling the chain's focus on accelerating unit growth through financial incenti
Slim Chickens appointed Maureen DiStefano as Director of Franchise Development to strengthen its franchise team ahead of expansion efforts.
Nation's Restaurant News reports on restaurant industry headwinds including mass closures and job losses, alongside Jersey Mike's planned IPO and recent employment data.
Twenty-five restaurant executives changed roles in June, including new CEO appointments at Ojos Locos, Cafe Rio, and Erbert & Gerbert's, reflecting ongoing leadership transitions across the industry.
Denny's has appointed Aaron Howard as Chief Operating Officer.
A major operator of a pizza chain has filed for bankruptcy despite the brand's ongoing expansion, suggesting potential strain between franchisor growth and franchisee unit economics.
Artistry Restaurants acquired Hickory Tavern in early 2025, a 20-unit Carolina chain that has operated for nearly three decades; the article signals the new ownership sees growth potential rooted in i
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers projects 60 new locations in 2026, signaling confidence in its expansion pipeline and potential market appetite for the brand's positioning.
HTeaO opened a new location in Katy, Texas, expanding its presence in the state.
Wendy's is investing in digital sales, AI-powered ordering, and menu innovation to address weak customer traffic.
Restaurant franchising is attracting women entrepreneurs who seek business ownership with built-in operational support and growth potential.
Woof Gang Bakery, a pet-food-focused bakery brand, has secured private equity backing from Great Hill Partners.
Zaxby's has surpassed 1,000 locations, signaling sustained expansion in the competitive chicken sandwich category.
Dog Haus is offering an area director franchise model that includes equity stakes for franchisees.
Freddy's has announced a target of 600 locations by 2026.
Eric Knott, who scaled PDQ as COO before becoming CEO of Kansas City-based Tiki Taco, joined Restaurant Tech Trends to discuss growth discipline learned from both successes and failures.
Quick-service restaurants are receiving a higher share of citations in AI search results compared to fast-casual chains.
Zeus Street Greek attributed its private equity partnership to rising operational costs.
Bad Ass Coffee is expanding through nontraditional unit formats, a strategy that signals growing operator interest in flexible, lower-overhead coffee concepts beyond traditional standalone cafes.
Buffalo Wild Wings appointed Scott Nelson as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing experience in brand-building and digital innovation to lead the company's marketing and culinary efforts.
Chicken Salad Chick signed 52 franchise agreements in early 2026, nearly 50 percent more than the 35 it secured in the same period last year, marking its strongest quarter for franchise development si
Dog Haus is launching an area director program with 15 leaders to accelerate expansion from its current 60 locations, signaling a shift toward franchisee-supported growth infrastructure.
A franchisee of a popular pizza chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
McDonald's hired Bryan Brown, a veteran from Raising Cane's, to lead development efforts supporting its NEXT strategy, which encompasses restaurant redesigns and enhanced hospitality initiatives.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill appointed Florence Ho as CMO effective July 7, bringing over 25 years of marketing leadership experience to the role.
RestaurantNews.com's top 20 restaurant stories for the week ending July 5, 2026 featured Birdcall, Golden Corral, Blue Mint Thai, Red Lobster, and Chili's.
Spur Corporation, a casual dining brand, is exploring expansion into the US market through franchise growth.
Several major restaurant franchisees executed significant acquisition and divestiture deals in the first half of the year, including Red Robin selling company-owned stores and Mas Restaurant Group off
Rosie's Burgers, owned by Happy Belly Food Group, has signed its first franchise agreement in New Brunswick, signaling the brand's expansion into a new Canadian province.
Labor scheduling is moving to AI — the trade headline signals cost pressure and tech adoption spreading across QSR.
Golden Corral's senior director of franchise business development, Dan Doulen, will speak at the QSR Evolution Conference; he brings over two decades of franchising experience, including prior roles a
Restaurant operators are adopting voice AI technology to capture phone call data as a way to recognize and engage customers across locations, suggesting the phone channel may become a key loyalty and
Vibe Restaurants is opening its 100th Wingstop location in Wichita on July 8, marking a milestone in the franchisee's expansion.
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 pizza franchisee has filed for bankruptcy despite pursuing national expansion over the past two years, signaling potential strain in the franchise model even during growth periods.
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
Restaurant technology adoption remains a critical challenge; even sophisticated software fails to deliver value without consistent team engagement, according to a discussion with Decision Logic's CEO
Famous Brands outlined its restaurant portfolio amid investor scrutiny of consumer spending patterns.
A restaurant leadership podcast argues that indiscriminate agreement from hospitality leaders drives burnout and suggests that setting organizational boundaries at all levels can help protect leadersh
Carrols Restaurant Group outlined its fast-food strategy while TAST expands its presence in quick-service dining.