Year in review

The best of the 'A Deeper Dive' podcast

By Jonathan Maze on Dec. 26, 2023

A Deeper Dive: This special look back at 2023 features clips from some of the year’s best episodes, including marketing, tipping, delivery, inflation and hot growth concepts.

Operations

6 trends that reshaped the restaurant industry in 2023

By Peter Romeo on Dec. 20, 2023

New challenges emerged, especially downtown, while many operators looked back wistfully at bygone times, their hands held out for help on costs.

Operations

Notable openings (and closings) in this year of 'fluctuating fortunes'

By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 20, 2023

Independent restaurant operators are creatives, by nature, and kept new and exciting concepts coming, despite economic headwinds.

Financing

How will the economy shape up in 2024? That's a great question

By Jonathan Maze on Dec. 20, 2023

Earlier this year, economists—and some big restaurant chain executives—were certain of a recession. Now everybody is certain of a “soft landing.”

Financing

The biggest restaurant stories of 2023

By Jonathan Maze on Dec. 20, 2023

California sets the stage for a new wage; Subway’s never-ending sale saga; the tipping conundrum and Boston Market’s mismanagement highlight the year’s top developments.

Emerging Brands

Automated restaurants, Chipotle's next thing and a plant-based burger with Kevin Hart buzz

By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 20, 2023

Here are a few concepts to watch in 2024. Some have only barely gotten started, but they promise big things.

Leadership

Industry luminaries we lost in 2023

By Peter Romeo on Dec. 20, 2023

The restaurant business said goodbye to a cheeseburger fiend who could also play guitar, the Buster of Dave & Buster's and the genius who came up with the Double-Double. Here's a list of the deaths that made the industry a poorer place.

Food