64 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.
The restaurant industry is experiencing weak hiring, which signals potential market saturation.
Full-service restaurants face mounting staffing challenges as legal labor pathways become unclear, compounding existing pressures from volatile demand and turnover.
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
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
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
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
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.
Job cuts are occurring across retail and restaurant chains, according to new employment data.
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
A restaurant manager reflects on how generic praise like 'good job' misses an opportunity for more meaningful employee recognition that acknowledges specific effort or skill.
QSR Magazine argues that front-of-house labor retention is critical for restaurant operations.
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 Cape Town Spur franchise is facing labour abuse allegations, highlighting potential compliance risks within the quick-service restaurant franchise model.
Food service and drinking establishments cut nearly 33,000 jobs in June after a hiring surge earlier in the summer, signaling potential softness in consumer demand or seasonal labor adjustments in the
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.
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
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
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
A Binghamton, New York operator built a five-concept portfolio within one block after acquiring a university bar at age 21 through seller financing, suggesting that owner-operator experience and geogr
Sacramento sushi chain Mikuni settled a lawsuit with former employees for $2.25 million, signaling ongoing wage-and-hour compliance risks for regional restaurant operators.
7shifts released findings on restaurant employee priorities for 2026, signaling where operators may need to focus retention and management efforts.
Jack in the Box's turnaround effort is being pressured by inflation and California labor costs, signaling broader challenges facing QSR operators managing profitability in a cost-intensive environment
A podcast episode featuring a steakhouse general manager discusses leadership practices and financial systems that distinguish high-performing restaurant managers from average ones.
California has enacted a law requiring chain restaurants to label allergens on menus.
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.
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
Wage-dispute headline signals labor risk but lacks detail on brand, scale, or systemic lesson for operators.
Restaurant operators are being urged to look beyond rapid hiring as a solution to high turnover, with a focus on examining kitchen complexity as a root cause.
Beef-a-Roo has secured payroll funding and is restructuring operations, with several locations temporarily closed during the process.
Plant-based QSR scaling via franchising and grassroots loyalty—relevant for understanding how niche fast-casual concepts build unit growth and customer retention.
Loyalty platform migration is a real operational headache; this vendor guide covers the real risks (points loss, tier slippage) chains face when switching systems.
