All Special Reports

Consumers in the U.S. love to hate the tip. The American style of tipping has long been controversial and people complain about leaving an extra 20% at the end of a meal. Yet the practice remains firmly entrenched in dining culture. And it is spreading to other sectors.

Flavor exploration slowed down a bit in 2020, as operators streamlined menus and focused on best-sellers and customer favorites.

Robots, AI voice and similar technologies are on the rise as restaurants confront a challenging labor situation.

Food and labor costs are historically high and restaurants can't maintain profits by prices alone. Instead, operators are getting more efficient in everything from menu to operations. This package examines everything the industry is doing to counteract inflation.

The Restaurant Business Top 100 ranking of the largest independent restaurants returns after a one-year, pandemic-related hiatus. Restaurants on this year's list represent a wide range of menus and price points and come in all shapes and sizes. They served 272 million meals last year and generated $1.8 billion in sales. There were also some notable newcomers. RB looks at how these restaurants adapted and evolved to meet a changing industry.

The nation's restaurants have long been havens for drinking and drug use. But the influx of dangerous new drugs like fentanyl, coupled with the stress from the pandemic and its impacts, have made matters far more deadly.

Which restaurant chains will be the next big thing? Restaurant Business is taking its annual Future 50 and looking at 50 up-and-coming restaurant chains that could soon become household names.

The nation's restaurants have long been havens for drinking and drug use. But the influx of dangerous new drugs like fentanyl, coupled with the stress from the pandemic and its impacts, have made matters far more deadly.

Despite numerous challenges, demand for franchises has soared over the past year as restaurants gear up to expand. But the business model comes with numerous risks, and disputes between franchisors and franchisees remains common. Here's a look at some of RB's coverage of the topic of franchising.

The pandemic changed the consumer, and restaurants have rushed to change along with it. That has brought about a wave of innovation to menus across the country. Here's RB's look at some of the changing nature of menus.

The 500 largest chains collectively have recovered from the pandemic and then some, with sales up 8.4% since 2019. But success was not spread evenly, and the very biggest concepts performed best, according to the 2022 Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report. RB takes an in-depth look at the companies and sectors on this year’s list, including those that did well, and those that struggled.

The 500 largest chains collectively have recovered from the pandemic and then some, with sales up 8.4% since 2019. But success was not spread evenly, and the very biggest concepts performed best, according to the Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report. RB takes an in-depth look at the companies and sectors on this year’s list, including those that did well, and those that struggled.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, it created massive backlogs throughout the supply chain that continue to reverberate to this day. Restaurants and foodservice companies have struggled to find everything from crackers to refrigeration units. And costs have soared in the process.