Restaurant Business

Restaurant Business is tracking the unprecedented impacts of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry. Please check back often for round-the-clock updates.

IHOP and Applebee's will permanently close more restaurants

"Less than 100" IHOP locations are expected to close in the next six months, along with 15 units of sister chain Applebee's.

Operations

Plotting a course in a perfect storm

RB’s Top 100 Independents are a successful, savvy—and optimistic—bunch. Here’s how they’re handling the year from hell.

Financing

Applebee's prepares for the launch of its virtual chicken concept

Neighborhood Wings by Applebee's is currently being tested in 700 locations, with a rollout expected in the first quarter of 2021.

RB editors summarize the day’s most important stories.

▶ LISTEN

McDonald’s names Bethany Tate Cornell chief learning and development officer

Delivery surge continues for Grubhub

Restaurant priorities shift in the wake of the pandemic

Lessons learned through pandemic may help restaurants meet challenges ahead

Pizza Hut sales surge, despite its dine-in locations

States start to reopen dining rooms

After a nearly nationwide shutdown to curb COVID-19, states are beginning to lift restrictions on restaurants. RB will update this map with the latest information.

Register for the all-digital Innovation in Foodservice Summit

Recovery and Rebuild: Getting your restaurant back on track

Join the "Coronavirus in the Food & Beverage Industry" private Facebook group

Operations

Delivery fees hurt Noodles’ Q3 profits

The fast-casual chain has seen explosive digital growth during the pandemic, but third-party platform commissions are eating into its margins.

Financing

Dunkin’ Brands talks with Inspire and closes restaurants

The company’s flagship coffee chain has closed nearly 700 locations this year, more than half of them inside Speedways, as it shifts strategy during the pandemic.

Financing

Taco Bell loses business in the morning but gains it in the drive-thru

The chain has about a third of its breakfast business during the pandemic, but its speedier drive-thrus kept sales growing.

America's Favorite Chains

Top 500 Chains

Coronavirus and Restaurant Technology

Future 50 (2020)

50 Great Ideas (2020)

Top 100 Independents 2020

Financing

What restaurant sectors thrived during the pandemic?

This week’s episode of the RB podcast “A Deeper Dive” features Lorn Davis, from the financial services firm Facteus, to talk about industry metrics in the COVID era.

Financing

Chili’s owner has some big plans for It’s Just Wings

Brinker International is looking at ideas to expand the virtual concept and the company is considering other delivery-only concepts..

Financing

Denny's anti-COVID medicine: Resuming 24-hour service

The family chain is providing incentives for franchisees to extend their hours.

Financing

IHOP and Applebee's will permanently close more restaurants

"Less than 100" IHOP locations are expected to close in the next six months, along with 15 units of sister chain Applebee's.

Financing

Applebee's prepares for the launch of its virtual chicken concept

Neighborhood Wings by Applebee's is currently being tested in 700 locations, with a rollout expected in the first quarter of 2021.

Financing

Texas Roadhouse leans in to off-premise as same-store sales turn positive

The chain is investing in its to-go capabilities and will offer steaks for delivery via an online store.

Technology

Grubhub sued for adding 150,000 restaurants without permission

The lawsuit alleges the delivery company used their names and logos illegally and instructed drivers to pretend to be customers when picking up orders.

Future 50 2019

These emerging chains are the growth vehicles to watch—the ones poised to be major industry players in the coming years.

Recipedia

Food trends and recipes to keep menus fresh

Concepts to Watch

New restaurants and soon-to-open concepts worth monitoring

Top 100 Independents

RB’s exclusive ranking of the highest-grossing independent restaurants

Headspinners & Nightmares

Peter Romeo highlights the moments restaurateurs miss at their own peril

50 Great Ideas

Ideas from the field you may want to borrow

Restaurant Business