Restaurant Daily
Your quick morning dose of the restaurant news you need, every weekday, from the editors of Restaurant Business and Nation's Restaurant News.
Little Caesars is on ChatGPT. Dairy Queen is bringing AI to the drive thru. And the slow demise of the tip credit will continue in Chicago.
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AI can now help pick your Starbucks based on your outfit. CAVA is officially launching its first seafood item. And Hardee’s is going big with the prime rib.
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Taco Bell is turning up the heat on its Nacho Fries. Chili’s unveiled its new chicken sandwich. Jack in the Box is trying to keep a franchisee from closing 38 restaurants.
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McDonald’s has some new drinks. Denny’s has a new CEO, and Jersey Mike’s had a pretty solid year under its new private equity owner.
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We have new intel as to what motivates quick-service consumers to eat out. Crumbl continues to ride a bit of a roller coaster. And Saucy by KFC is set to make its debut in the Lone Star State.
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The Power List is out. Chili’s is the new No. 2 in casual dining. And 7-Eleven’s IPO has been delayed.
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Landlords think the FAT Brands sale process is moving too quickly. A bankrupt franchisee is blaming California’s $20 fast food wage for its problems. And Panera has a new menu line.
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Restaurants will feel the pain of higher gas prices. It’s sauce time at Domino’s. And KFC is breaking into song.
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Chick-fil-A’s unit volumes have hit a ceiling. IHOP has trademarked an interesting acronym to promote its newest value offering. And Huey Magoo’s is pushing big into Texas.
Burger King wants to take the crown from McDonald’s. Taco Bell is giving U.S. customers a taste of the world. And the restaurant industry has clawed back some of the jobs lost earlier this year.
Starbucks is giving out bonuses. Red Lobster is still waiting for its post-bankruptcy comeback. And we now know more about McDonald’s $3 menu.
Independent restaurants don’t like the Sysco merger. Chagee is pumping the brakes on expansion. And Shake Shack unveiled big tech upgrades.
Firehouse Subs is sweetening the pot on its franchise development incentives. Restaurants want to help consumers who are feeling the pinch at gas pumps. And KFC is pulling a page from Taco Bell with its latest value play.
Sysco is buying Restaurant Depot. Wendy’s is upgrading its chicken sandwich. And Papa Johns has some new sandwiches and sauces.
Wonder is adding a new Indian concept. Dos Toros is trying it again in Chicago. And women are dropping out of the restaurant industry.
Taco Bell is letting its Rewards members choose which global item to bring to the U.S. Noodles & Company’s turnaround seems to be going well. And Sweetgreen has launched three new chicken dishes.
McDonald’s is teaming up with KPop Demon Hunters. A large Applebee’s franchisee has filed for bankruptcy. And Krispy Kreme has sold a majority stake in a joint venture.
Starbucks wants shorter lines at airports for coffee. Domino’s is updating its pizza tracker. And OpenTable is demanding exclusivity.
The McDonald’s Big Arch has provided a modest traffic bump. DoorDash has launched an emergency relief program to ease the impact of gas prices. And Little Caesars is answering consumers’ increasing demand for shareable offerings.
FAT Brands has bankruptcy financing. CloudKitchens CEO has something new in the works. And Wonder appears to be making IPO preparations.
Andy Wiederhorn is out at FAT Brands. Darden continues to outperform the casual-dining segment. And a Midwest buffet chain is shrinking its footprint.
Maggiano’s is looking for big eaters. Chipotle has another new sauce. And El Pollo Loco is upgrading its rewards program.
Small businesses affected by ICE crackdowns could get relief, Applebee’s is shifting its marketing strategy, and agentic AI is cropping up more in restaurants
Burger King wins the Oscars, Fat Brands is headed toward a sale, and a Popeyes franchisee is closing more restaurants.
Some Kona Grills will soon be converted to other brands. El Pollo Loco is ready to grow again. And Sweetgreen wants to be a lifestyle brand again.
Papa Johns is staying mum on takeover rumors. The big bite taken by Burger King’s president has juiced traffic. And the co-founder of Noma stepped down.
Papa Johns is apparently weighing yet another offer. McDonald’s is introducing a new value offer. And rising gas prices are likely to impact restaurant spending.
Taco Bell is finally unveiling its menu lineup for 2026. Jimmy John's has a new brand president. And the Noma popup in Los Angeles could be in trouble.
Applebee’s is focusing on its off-premises business with its latest promotion. A Taiwanese-style boba tea chain is gunning for 1,000 U.S. locations. And California Pizza Kitchen is expanding its retail business for the first time ever.
February’s jobs report paints a gloomy picture for the restaurant industry. Texas Roadhouse added a high-profile new board member. And full-service restaurants could be in trouble, according to a new report.
Cracker Barrel’s recovery is inching forward. Del Taco’s new owners want the old Del Taco back. And Chick-fil-A is launching its spring menu next week.
The fast-food burger wars are getting a whole new life on social media. Starbucks is planning a new corporate office. And a large Freddy’s franchisee is getting even bigger.
Jack in the Box staves off a board proxy fight. Olo has debuted its first consumer-facing app, and Slutty Vegan’s founder has declared bankruptcy.
Fat Brands is starting to close restaurants after declaring bankruptcy. Is Restaurant Brands International undervalued? And Domino’s appears to be winning the pizza wars.
Fat Brands’ lenders were aware of the company’s financial state, the restaurant operator says. Wienerschnitzel is jumping on the beef tallow bandwagon. And the beverage boom is a boon to equipment makers.
Burger King is upgrading the Whopper. Papa Johns sales took a hit late last year. And Schlotzsky’s is bringing back the Deli.
Outback is growing traffic again. Panera is getting aggressive with value. And an activist investor has made peace with Noodles & Company.
McDonald’s is ready to put its new Big Arch burger to its biggest test yet. Domino’s wants its largest franchisee to get back on track. And Portillo’s continues to face consequences from its previous development strategy.
Domino’s is winning pizza. Panera Bread is facing lawsuits after yet another data breach. And Noble 33 is also embroiled in an ugly court battle after firing its general counsel.
Texas Roadhouse has proven itself once again. The Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s tariffs, only for Trump to immediately levy new ones. And Del Taco has reportedly closed all of its Georgia locations.
Subway is already backpedaling on its newest loyalty offer. Cheesecake Factory is hoping for a sales warm-up. And Jack in the Box is working to get back on track.
Wingstop isn’t worried about its same-store sales declines. Wendy’s interim CEO Ken Cook has made a lot of references to the chain losing its relevance. And Habit Burger & Grill is making several changes to its menu.
The president of Burger King wants you to have his phone number. The Dave’s Hot Chicken team has a new emerging brand. And Burgerville has a new CEO.
Wendy’s had a very rough quarter, Dutch Bros is open to acquisitions, and the National Restaurant Association feels cautiously optimistic about the industry.
The Grinch did wonders for McDonald’s, Spongebob did wonders for Burger King, and nothing did wonders for Popeyes.
Jobs numbers were unexpectedly rosy in January. Is Red Lobster continuing to close restaurants? And Chili’s is launching a margarita club.
No, Chipotle is not raising prices because it’s seeing an uptick in higher-income consumers. Wonder is making its first restaurant acquisition. And Jack in the Box is accusing an activist investor of “volatile behavior.”
Minneapolis restaurants are struggling amid a federal immigration enforcement action in the city. Restaurant delivery keeps growing. And Fat Brands lenders want a new CEO.
Bob Evans has a new owner. Fogo has some AI. And Starbucks is going on offense.
Jack in the Box is playing defense in another proxy battle with activist investor Sardar Biglari. Noodles & Company is attempting to get back into compliance with Nasdaq. And Zaxbys has surpassed the 1,000-restaurant milestone.