60 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
Domino's Pizza is expanding its presence in China.
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
Golden Chick is launching a new marketing campaign, loyalty program, and digital-first strategy to compete in the competitive chicken tender category.
Audivi AI has released a new pricing model designed to make drive-thru automation more accessible to quick-service restaurant operators.
Despite access to unprecedented guest data, restaurants struggle to retain customers, suggesting that loyalty programs alone may not drive repeat visits without translating data into personalized expe
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
Nearly half of U.S. diners switched their favorite restaurant last year, up from 33 percent the prior year—a shift that signals growing customer volatility and potential vulnerability in restaurant lo
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.
Dutch Bros reports 74% rewards penetration among customers, with the company attributing boosted transactions and digital engagement to its loyalty program; the metric signals rewards programs' growin
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.
Fast food chains are leveraging collectible cups and limited-edition merchandise to drive loyalty while menu prices have climbed significantly since 2019, signaling an industry strategy to offset cost
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
Wendy's is investing in digital sales, AI-powered ordering, and menu innovation to address weak customer traffic.
Starbucks' loyalty program, personalization features, and faster service are cited as drivers of higher store traffic and customer engagement.
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.
Ben Leventhal's Blackbird Labs tackles independent-restaurant invisibility and profitability through frequency-driven loyalty — a template applicable to multi-unit brands rethinking guest retention.
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.
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.
Labor scheduling is moving to AI — the trade headline signals cost pressure and tech adoption spreading across QSR.
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
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
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 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
GoTab has acquired Fishbowl, a guest marketing and loyalty platform, to expand its restaurant commerce ecosystem that includes POS, ordering, payments, and mobile solutions.
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
MarginEdge added real-time cost management, AI forecasting, and back-office automation capabilities to its platform.
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
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
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
Zaxby's appointed Russell Holland to lead its development strategy.
Mike's Red Tacos, a San Diego-based beef birria franchise, appointed Patrick Cunningham as chief development officer; Cunningham brings development experience from previous roles at Bobby's Burgers by
MashMore Potato introduced an AI operating system it says is reducing management workload at its Albany location; the company frames this as a step toward making its model more scalable and software-d
Hopdoddy Burger Bar's CEO Jeff Chandler discusses the burger chain's sale to Founders Table Restaurant Group on a restaurant finance podcast.
Commerce media platforms struggle with measuring ad impact due to probabilistic attribution and modeled incrementality, but in-store data offers a potential solution to verify whether digital ads tran
Molly Irani, co-founder and Chief Culture Officer at Chai Pani Restaurant Group, will participate in a live Q&A hosted by Restaurant Unstoppable Network on August 3rd, 2026.
Papa John's has appointed an interim CFO following the departure of Ravi Thanawala.
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
A report indicates quick-service restaurants are receiving higher citation shares than fast-casual chains in AI search results.
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
Executive transitions at $10B+ brands, earnings momentum at casual-dining leader, and labor strategy shifts signal shifts in how chains manage growth and workforce engagement.
CEO interview on building franchise loyalty through sampling — relevant franchising lens but founder POV, not a multi-brand trend or operator takeaway.
Loyalty program seasonal offer — vendor/brand content marketing without operator takeaway on program structure, ROI, or enrollment trend.
A 2026 survey finds 22% of diners use AI for restaurant recommendations, yet 83% of restaurants don't appear in AI responses, signaling that most operators lack the verified data infrastructure needed