RB Daily
Your quick morning dose of the restaurant news you need, every weekday, from the editors of Restaurant Business.
It looks like Panera Bread is not, in fact, exempt from California’s fast-food wage hike. Get to know unified commerce, the latest tech buzzword. And Virtual Dining Concepts continues to collect concepts.
Corner Bakery is bouncing back from bankruptcy. Subway franchisees just hired a high-powered attorney. And former employees of the struggling Boston Market say they’re having problems filing their taxes.
The new concept from Chipotle’s founder is looking to reimagine fast-casual dining. Digital restaurant group C3 has made another acquisition. And &Pizza has a new-ish CEO.
Get ready for bigger burgers at McDonald’s (again). Five Iron Golf gets a high-profile endorsement. And Pizza Hut tries the bagel business.
Restaurant menu prices are easing. There’s a new partnership between two delivery-focused fast casuals. And what is the Keith Lee effect?
Boston Market appears to be down to just a couple dozen locations. Is the supermarket the next restaurant bastion? And here’s how to tell if restaurant employees are looking to unionize.
Starbucks passes Subway on the list of biggest restaurant chains. Noodles has a new CEO and a new menu strategy. And Potbelly is seeing good results from a revamped loyalty program.
Bojangles franchisees are taking their franchisor to court over marketing. Will Panera Bread ever go public? And Florida lawmakers are changing the way restaurants can communicate with delivery customers.
A Taco Bell operator is facing sexual harassment claims. Many restaurants want more from their loyalty programs. And First Watch co-founder Ken Pendery dies at 70.
The activists lobbying for seats on Starbucks board have withdrawn their nominations. First Watch opened a significant number of new stores during its fourth quarter. And DoorDash said New York City’s wage boost for couriers is hurting its sales.
The members of California’s Fast Food Council have been named. Whole Foods has a scaled-down new store design. And a look at a salad concept that grows all of its lettuce on site.
Sweetgreen is going all in on its digital kitchens. Starbucks received some key endorsements in its board fight with a union-backed group. And expect to see a lot more from Papa Johns.
Delivery apps are beating Papa Johns at its own game. Red Robin wants you to know about its free refills. And Subway pressures franchisees on remodels.
Wendy’s isn’t testing dynamic pricing after all. Panera Bread is revamping its menu. And Applebee’s and IHOP could soon co-brand in the U.S.
Wendy’s recent mention of a surge-pricing test is going viral. A buffet chain is in the midst of a data breach. And Cava had an impressive first year as a public company.
Emergency pizza has been a hit for Domino’s. Here’s the inside scoop on the latest Jack in the Box burger. And Walmart has a new delivery-focused food hall.
Bloomin’ Brands is doing some pruning of its older restaurants. Starbucks’ board is getting some attention from labor activists. And reports of the restaurant industry’s demise are, apparently, greatly exaggerated.
Jack in the Box is cooking up a bigger burger. No news is good news at The Cheesecake Factory. And an update on the federal case against the founder of Burgerim.
Wingstop is seeing double-digit same-store sales growth, but investors aren’t impressed. Some McDonald’s franchisees want to get in on the CosMc’s action. And yet another QSR is putting energy drinks on the menu.
Focus Brands is rebranding. Andy Wiederhorn is facing charges from the SEC. And a record number of Starbucks stores filed to form unions.
Another restaurant tech supplier is in the midst of a major restructuring. Bad weather had a bad effect on the earnings of at least one casual-dining chain. And Texas Roadhouse appears to be grabbing customers from some of its competitors.
Inspire Brands is reportedly considering an IPO. Wendy’s is planning big investments in digital and marketing. And 7 Brew coffee has a high-profile new investor.
McDonald’s franchisees are lobbying for the return of a popular snack item. A look inside the current state of restaurant labor. An
Restaurant prices keep rising. BJs Restaurants is facing pressure from an activist investor. And Burger King franchisees are having a big year.
Taco Bell just divulged its marketing plan for the year. Boston Market’s owner is filing for bankruptcy yet again. And there’s an emerging taco chain that’s worth watching.
The world’s largest restaurant franchisee might be for sale. California fast-food workers get a union ahead of a big wage hike. And a look at how restaurants in the state plan to handle that 25% raise.
TikTok is wielding an influence on restaurant menus. Yum Brands is making a major growth push. And Whataburger is popping up in some unexpected locations.
Chipotle bucks industry traffic trends with a monster quarter. Taco Bell is winning with lower-income guests. And some restaurants are embracing the darker side of Valentine’s Day.
Diners appear to be cutting back on fast-food spending. McDonald’s has reached a big sustainability goal. And KFC has a new rewards program.
Grocery stores are hurting McDonald’s sales. Burger King is letting customers create its next burger. And find out which brand dominated the conversation on Reddit last year.
Restaurants are going all in on AI. The original lifestyle influencer will be the keynote speaker at RLC this spring. And restaurants didn’t add any jobs last month, though consumer confidence continues to grow. Welcome to RB Daily, a quick look at the industry’s top stories from the editors of Restaurant Business. I’m Heather Lalley, RB managing editor.
Footlong cookies and other treats are helping sales at Subway. The shuttered Sweet Tomatoes concept is making a comeback. And news tidbits from Starbucks recent earnings.
Starbucks is having some traffic troubles. Chili’s customers are tightening their belts. And the Savory Fund is now the private-equity owner of better-for-you concept.
Boston Market will have to pay US Foods $12 million. Olo agreed to settle a shareholder lawsuit. And McDonald’s revamped burgers are going national.
Domino’s Pizza is apparently the latest chain to experience backlash over violence in the Middle East. A little-known sushi chain has plans to go public. And, are food costs actually, finally, going down?
Is this the end of the Bagger Dave’s chain? Two members of the family behind a cheesesteak concept are in hot water with the feds. And restaurants appear to be missing that boost that could come from EV charging stations
Digital coupons are causing headaches for some California Subway franchisees. Starbucks’ sales appeared to have slowed late last year. And Jersey Mike’s is getting a high-tech assist with answering its phones.
Potbelly’s franchise acceleration efforts are working. Dave & Buster’s is sporting a new prototype. And Chipotle is boosting its benefits again.
People eating less lunch at fast-food restaurants. Burger King is suddenly a big restaurant operator. And ezCater is spotlighting underrepresented groups.
Craveworthy Brands is buying a dessert concept. In-N-Out Burger is making an unusual move. And Subway’s new snack line has some interesting partners.
Boston Market is facing yet another censure. Subway’s new slicers aren’t quite cutting it, franchisees say. And newly public eatertainment chain Pinstripes said it hopes to grow significantly.
Peet’s is taking over coffee roasting for Caribou Coffee. A big Applebee’s franchisee is expanding. And Craveworthy Brands has a packed 2024 agenda.
Inside Wetzel’s Pretzels new franchise program. Jersey Mike’s is heading north. And Jimmy John’s is going global.
Red Lobster is for sale again. Burger King makes a big acquisition and Subway franchisees in California are joining forces to face a frightening labor landscape ahead.
7-Eleven is going to become the owner of a 600-unit taco chain. Restaurants appear to have scored a victory on the joint-employer standard. And Shipley Do-Nuts has sugar-fueled growth plans.
Struggling Boston Market is waiving traditional franchising rules, allowing just about anyone to operate under its brand. Veggie Grill has a new owner. And Chipotle’s founder is germinating a new concept.
Flippy the burger-flipping robot is ready for the big time, its CEO says. Might Qdoba go public? And here’s how Famous Toastery whipped up a college bowl title sponsorship in just a few weeks.
First Watch is buying up more franchised locations. One small coffee chain is opting out of its union. And BurgerFi’s turnaround is on the horizon, its CEO says.
MOD Pizza gets a new CEO. Dutch Bros adds three c-level executives. Papa John’s wants to spend more on marketing amid an expansion push. And a Las Vegas operator discovers how tough Uncle Sam can be when you try to cheat on your taxes.
Kura Sushi had a solid quarter. A Boston restaurateur is closing several restaurants and selling others. And the National Restaurant Association has a new chairman.