Operations

Week in Review: Restaurant Show wraps up, Krispy Kreme angst, Wingstop's new tech and more

A look back at the week’s biggest news in the restaurant industry from Restaurant Business.
National Restaurant Association Show
The National Restaurant Association Show wrapped up Tuesday. | Photo: Heather Lalley.

The National Restaurant Association Show kicked off over the weekend in Chicago, with industry uncertainty, immigration, AI and more among the hot topics. 

Krispy Kreme shareholders are suing the doughnut chain over the delay in the McDonald’s partnership expansion. 

Wingstop is rolling out a new Smart Kitchen initiative the chicken chain hopes will boost speed of service, cutting order wait times in half. 

Technomic data shows customers prefer dine-in service. That’s a fact restaurants must not ignore as they increasingly cater to takeout consumers. 

A large Hardee’s franchisee is suing the struggling brand amid a long-running dispute, arguing that its franchise agreement should not be terminated.

The vast majority of McDonald’s restaurants will start staying open until midnight or later this weekend, with some returning to 24-hour operations. 

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Technology

This restaurant tech company just raised $3M from its own customers

Tech Check: Nearly a dozen operators invested in Ovation, a customer feedback specialist. Could it be a new blueprint for tech funding?

Financing

Wendy's again proves the difficulty of breaking into breakfast

The Bottom Line: The fast-food chain, which debuted the morning daypart in 2020, is giving operators the ability to stop serving breakfast following a brutal 2025.

Consumer Trends

Can Chipotle get its higher-income diners to stick around?

Retail watch: The fast-casual burrito chain can take some lessons from discount retailers that have also seen an influx of wealthier consumers.

Trending

More from our partners